How to Judge Photo Contests

Judging photo contests requires concentration and adherence to standards.

With the development of digital technologies, it has become easier than ever to enter photo contests. There are many photo contests geared for students, photo enthusiasts and professionals. Yet judging these contests is no simple task. It is a time-consuming process which requires concentration as well as adherence to standards.

Things You'll Need

• Notepad to keep score

Instructions

1. Do a quick scan of all the entries and pull those photos which give you a strong emotional response, according to Black Star Rising. These images will most likely also have the strongest lighting, composition and subject matter. Consider the image as a whole first, without studying the details.

2. Create a scoring sheet. List categories for technical qualities such as lighting and composition. On a scale of one to 10, assign points to each category for each entry. Give the most points to entries in which the lighting and composition best match the subject.

3. Use the contest as a teaching experience, according to Bnet. If you have a strong image, write comments about why the image is strong. If you have a weaker image, write first what is good about it, then describe what areas can be improved.

4. Tally up the score sheets and rank the entries accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• Some contests have strict guidelines for each category. Make certain you consider these when evaluating each entry.

References

• Photofocus.com: Contests -- How I Judge A Winning Picture
• Bnet.com: Judging seminar - on judging photographs
• Black Star Rising: National Geographic's Jim Richardson: How I Judge Photo Contests