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Judging photo contests
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Jan 27, 2023 19:31:31   #
JimGray Loc: Albuquerque, New Mexico
 
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
Sadly, Mr. Adans is no longer with us- except in spirit! It is therefore not likely he or anyone else from his era will be judging a competition any time soon. This does not mean that folks who are currently judging their various events are incompetent, stupid, narrow-minded unfair. At major associations' competitions, there are statute requirements, qualifications, training, and standards that judges must qualify for before they can sit on a judging panel. Even at camer club events,.... If the averages stay in my favor, I know I am doing OK!
Sadly, Mr. Adans is no longer with us- except in s... (show quote)


Very good comment. Thank you.

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Jan 27, 2023 19:51:55   #
rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines
 
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
Sadly, Mr. Adans is no longer with us- except in spirit! It is therefore not likely he or anyone else from his era will be judging a competition any time soon. This does not mean that folks who are currently judging their various events are incompetent, stupid, narrow-minded unfair. At major associations' competitions, there are statute requirements, qualifications, training, and standards that judges must qualify for before they can sit on a judging panel. Even at camer club events, the competition chairpersons usually select s professionals or at least folks who know what they are looking at and talking about.

Nonetheless, judges are human beings who make mistakes, have prejudices, and suffer for all the human frailties that everyone has. Every now and again, one can encounter a judge who should 't be a judge. He or she may be a good photograher but can't think even a little out of THEIR box, or is prone to render harsh and nonconstructive judgments and criticisms. That can be enough to discourage fols and scar the off contests and competitions or make the quite photograher. Some disappointed folks spend the rest of their involvement in photography with a sour grapes attitude. My advice is simple. If a poor score or critique is disappointing you can take the advice for what it is worth and try to improve- suck up and do someth about it! If you sincerely feel it is unfair, enter more competitions. If every judge gives all your work the "thumbs down"-, you may have some real issues to work on and improve.

Good judges make concise judgments and offer constructive critiques and encouragement. The WORST judges will want to give everyone a trophy and make the feel good. They will try to "read in" good points about work that's simply poorly crafted with NO really redeeming characteristics.

I'll let y'all in on a little secret. Weh I was 14 years old I took on my first employment in professional photography. I got the boos to hire me as a gofer, janitor, darkroom cleaner/chemical mixer/and kinda slave. Later on, I was promoted to "official passport photo photographer" When I started to soothe odd portraits or assist at weddings as a second shooter, the boss encourage me to enter my prints in the local P.Pof A branch competitions. The boss insisted that I stay for open judging and critique sessions. I had lots entire in the reject pile- fodder for the cannons of the Master judges! Someof these judges were tough old guys who made mincemeat out of someof my prints. Well! I have a kida "juvenile delinquent" mindset at the time, I love when they got aggravated and said harsh things. I enter a shot of a rat that discover in my basement while changing a fuse, in the pet=portrair- one judge howled a really cool series of expletives and I couldn't stop laughing! To make this worse, I yelled out, I'm too poor to afford a cat or a dog so I adopted that rat". Everyon in the room was laughing uncontrollably and I was banned, for a couple of months, for open judgings.

Seriously, I did the critiques to hear and began to improve. I still relished in aggravating the judges but I stopped shouting. I come into the studio every day after school and the boss would sometimes ask how I did in athe last print competition. I would laugh and say."Well, they didn't say my work was "S**T like last time so I improved a bit! He would smil and say "that's better"! Now I am an old man with a gray beard but I still enjoy the competition. They are still FUN and I win some and lose some! If the averages stay in my favor, I know I am doing OK!
Sadly, Mr. Adans is no longer with us- except in s... (show quote)


How do they allow you to stay on the HOG??? Your comments always are so clear (disregarding the typos, of course), complete and well reasoned, drawing from your years of great experience and your character as a human being. I continue to look forward to reading - and learning - from them. I especially like your detailing relevant past experiences, which affords insight into the reasoning behind, and validity of, your contributions. Keep them coming!!!

Loren – in Beautiful Baguio City

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Jan 27, 2023 22:25:19   #
Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb
 
"TopCat" Try what we do. Complete all the judging and then go back over them and have an open discussion. All of us can put in our two cents in. We go quickly and any one can challenge (with a question) or disagree more specifically.
We go fast and just make our points no drawn out discussions in most cases.

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