Camera Club Critiques

This is a place for you to upload your photograph so that others may enjoy it, comment on it and/or critique it. During the monthly competitions it is not possible to get comments on every photograph but everyone learns when we critique and are critiqued. We ALL love to see photographs and learn what might be done to improve them.

Constructive criticism only, remember the maker took that photograph for a reason and they chose it to compete for a reason.

You can offer constructive criticism. You can also "score" the photo if you want (0-10). Please remember that what constitutes a GREAT photo for CAMERA CLUB competition does not necessarily constitute a GREAT photo for hanging on your wall, in an art studio, on the cover of a magazine, etc. Camera club competition is but one set of guidelines. If you want to be on the cover of a magazine you usually shoot vertical and leave lots of sky (or negative space) for the TITLE and words. This same image would have to be cropped tightly to do well in camera club competition. At a John Shaw seminar John remarked "If you are attending my seminar in hopes to improve your camera club competition scores then I will NOT be able to help you as my images would not necessarily do well in camera club competition. Howver, I have made my living with them and they have been published in many places".

The bottom line: Shoot what you love.

Judging Guidelines:
Light and exposure
0= badly over or under-exposed.
1= Use of light is appropriate with some tolerance for exposure range.
2=Use of light and exposure well handled & absolutely correct with no obvious lighting problems.
3=Light and exposure have been used effectively, beyond mere recording. The exposure may be deliberately unusual but correct, and the image shows skill in the use of light direction, character, and color.

Sharpness
0=the subject image is not sharp or as sharp as required in subject areas
1=the subject area is sharp (blurred areas are an enhancement)

Composition and Design
0=composition is careless with significant distractions. Design is not apparent or not satisfactory.
1=Composition and design are satisfactory. Distractions may be apparent but not dominant.
2=Composition and design are without fault. There are no distractions.
3=the organization of the elements is critical to the success of the image. Composition and design are both with out fault or distraction.

Mood, Impact, Subject Matter
0=the image has little emotional appeal and fails to communicate an objective.
1=the image initiates some emotional response or recognition of the makers perceived objective.
2=the subject conveys a sense of place or an event and is accurately rendered. There is an automatic emotional response.
3=the image is powerful and evokes an immediate emotional response which is strong and lasting. The subject matter is well selected and portrayed.