Like most people who are on the Judges list I can honestly say that I enjoy looking at other photographers pictures and hopefully when I comment on them this pleasure comes across. I would say that it is always easier to talk about the better pictures indeed there is often not a lot that you need to say as they speak for themselves. The quality of the printing, the way that the picture has been organised with distracting details removed, the way that the heart of the picture has been placed within the frame making it easy to appreciate what the photographer has been aiming for.
Most judges would say that in any competitions they would probably pick the same top six or eight pictures as other judges even though they would not be in the same order. Where perhaps they would differ would be in their interpretations of the pictures. We all look at things in different ways and view pictures in a different manner. It is rather like a group of club members going to take photos from the same place and yet coming back with a very different set of pictures. There is no need to agree with the judge but it is often worth listening as on another occasion something that has been said may stand you in good stead in slightly altered circumstances.
I think that it is so important that club members do not start to take pictures to please judges as only by following their own thoughts will they develop ideas and a style of their own. Be prepared to talk to the judge afterwards and perhaps seek advice from him, explain what you are trying to do.
In spite of rumours to the contrary judges are only human and can and do drop clangers with the way they interpret pictures. At the present time with the mix of digital and conventional prints we need to be so careful in what we say. A couple of years ago I was looking at some prints among which was one that could only be described as having very way out colours. It must be digital I thought and said so only to be met with gales of laughter. I was told afterwards that it was a conventional print processed in a very unconventional way. Washing up liquid and bleach were mentioned to me. I won't say which club it was but our President and his wife were both on the front row and thoroughly enjoyed my discomfiture.
Some years ago when I was still an active member of the Durham PS I entered a Black and White print of a back street in Skipton. I had been involved in a considerable amount of effort retaining the detail on a white wall whilst at the same time keeping the shadow detail in an almost black doorway. I was very pleased with the print but to my dismay the judge did not like it and marked it down accordingly. It took quite a few of my friends to convince me that he was right and this was a case where I had become so involved in the technique of the print that I lost sight of the picture. This I believe can often happen. Technique is always necessary but the resulting picture is what really counts.
Keith Smith LRPS. (for and on behalf of the Judges Sub-Committee)