Stamford Photographic Society

 

Critique

Please post your comments on our photographs here

The page can also be used as a guestbook or for general SPS discussion.

 

Competition rules

1. Exhibitors must complete a judging sheet.
2. The competition will be in two parts:-
a. Individual Print (this may be titled if desired)
b. Group Prints up to a maximum of four.
3. The print size shall not exceed A5 in size. (Variation in format e.g. panoramic is permitted as
long as square area is within A5 square area). This may be varied for designated competitions but
no image can be larger than A4.
4. Using the official marking form, members should indicate which image they consider to be
1st ,2nd, 3rd and 4th ( by writing 1,2,3,4) under appropriate letter code for image (or set of images).
When considering placings members should take account of the Society’s Guide to Marking
(PICS).
In addition each absent member who has entered photographs for the competition shall give each
member competing one mark. (This compensates for absent members awarding no marks to
others) This adjustment is made automatically within the marking system. No action is needed by
competitors.
5. Individual prints will be displayed first, followed by the group.
6. Individual print MUST be part of Group.
7. Images can be manipulated if the changes are of a type that would normally be possible in the
darkroom unless the subject is a ‘Natural History’ one. However, adding or removing significant
elements of a composition is generally discouraged unless the subject is specifically designed to
be ‘creative ‘ where the member can use his/her skill, equipment and technique and/or also by
post processing in the darkroom or by computer manipulation.
8. When judging is complete, the results will be tabulated and counted. Finalised scores will be
double checked by two members and displayed.
9. Each 1st place scores 5, each 2nd place scores 4 and so on. The exhibitor with the highest total
will be deemed the winner and descending scores thus enumerated. The points awarded are as
follows:
1st 10 points
2nd 9 points
3rd 8 points
4th 7 points
All other positions 6 points.
The first four places of the monthly competition will be announced at the meeting and the result
grid will available on the laptop and will be attached to the next month’s newsletter.
10. Name labels will be available if exhibitors wish to identify their photographs.
11. Formal discussion the images submitted for the competition is encouraged but members
should reserve any comments until after all members have marked the photographs and handed
in their score sheets. Unless there is a Speaker at the meeting all prints will be retained on view
for a period in order for members to review and talk about the pictures submitted for the monthly
competition.
12. Monthly totals will be aggregated as the competition progresses throughout the calendar year
and a year winner announced.
13. Members not present at the meeting and wishing to exhibit may do so. Their prints will be
marked in accordance with the above rules by members present.
14. At the December Meeting an Open Competition will be held. Each Member who has a current
membership of at least three months can submit one photograph up to a maximum of A4 size
which may or may not have been submitted previously in the relevant calendar year to compete
for the 'Best Picture of the Year' Competition. An external judge may be used, if not the scoring
for this competition will use the system used for scoring 'single' prints during the monthly
competitions
Dec 2011

 

Marking the competition P-I-C-S

P…………………..Presentation………………………………………Suggested mark out of 1
Is the image presented well?
Is the presentation clean and neat?
Is it a mount in sympathy with the photos elements?
/ Does it enhance the image?
Is the colour of the mount in sympathy with the colours of the image?
Is any border present in sympathy with image?
Is the image printed well? (eg Details in highlights and shadow)
I………….............Interpretation……………………………………… Suggested mark out of 3
Is the competition title interpreted?
Is the interpretation straightforward/obtuse/clever/amusing/etc?
Is the colour reproduction suitable?
OR Is contrast and tone suitable (monochrome)?
Is composition of image elements used to advantage?
(eg Rule of thirds, perspective, vanishing point , symmetry, Triangulation, colour combination,)
C…………………..Camera technique………………………………………Suggested mark out of 3
Is the technique used well executed?
Is the technique used to enhance the image?
Is the technique used to enhance the interpretation used?
Are f stop / shutter speed/ ISO setting used to an advantage?
Is noise / film grain used to advantage?
Are focus / blurring used to an advantage?
S…………………..Suitability…………………………………………………Suggested mark out of 3
Does the whole e package please you?
Do you like it?