Competition is
A friendly tool for recognizing good work
and improving techniques
Competition Overview
A major portion of the monthly club meeting is devoted to viewing and evaluation of the photo images made by the members. We encourage each other to grow as a photographer by providing a 'kind kritique' of the individual images, and scoring each entry on a scale of 1 to 9 points. Club members take part not only by providing the competition images, but also by serving as evaluators and judges. This gives members an enhanced opportunity for learning, listening to comments on your own photos, and then studying and providing commentary on the work of others. Images are submitted in two categories, OPEN or NATURE, which are alternated each month:
- OPEN images may include any subject matter. They can be shown as taken, or they can be computer manipulated to any degree you choose. Nature images are also eligible in the Open category. In short... the Open category has NO restrictions.
- NATURE images depict the natural world, and do not show the hand of man, nor any domesticated plants or animals. Computer enhancement is limited to cropping, clean-up, or lighting... the same things that can be applied to a film photo.
Send your submissions to photos@mtbakercameraclub.com, in the following format:
Full Name~Title~Anything else.jpg
Judging Guidelines
| 4 points | Significant technical deficiencies, weak and poorly presented. |
| 5 points | Some technical deficiencies, not showing photographic skill. |
| 6 points | Shows some good technique and an interesting subject. |
| 7 points | Fairly strong in interest, composition and technique. |
| 8 points | Well balanced, strong in interest, composition and technique, excellent use of lighting, shows 'artistic' interpretation. |
| 9 points | Exceptionally good, immediate impact together with strong interest and excellent composition and technique. The photographer demonstrates artistry and imagination. |
Note that it is exceedingly rare for a member to get a bad rating. Rather than to discourage, we aim to encourage. We comment on the good, and offer tips on to how to improve on the not-so-good.
International Club Competition
Mt. Baker Camera Club participates in the PSA-sponsored international inter-club competitions. Top images from the monthly club meetings are sent to competitions with other PSA photo clubs three or four times a year. MBCC has earned a good standing in these events, competing in Class A in both Open (Projected Image) and Nature.
