This is the sixth in a series of articles written by members of the Judges' Sub-Committee. My topic is picture presentation. Whilst picture content should be the main criterion of competition entries, the way they are presented can help or hinder their appearance.
Most of the points below affect prints, but there are some that exist within projected images as well. Taking these first. Sharpening to some degree is required in all images and this is best applied as the last action in the chain of editing. Excessive sharpening is unwelcome and if it can be seen, it is excessive. The use of the brightness control in photo-editing programs should be avoided as this lifts/lowers the threshold of the entire image. This moves the upper or lower ends of the image with the total loss of image at the ends of the tonal range.
Titles are required to identify the pictures but they also act as mini captions. This helps the viewers - in these instances the judges - to clarify the competitors' intentions.
Prints are usually entered into U.K. competitions mounted on boards. Some people view mounts as only physical supports for the prints, others view them as part of the overall entries' presentation. Card mounts come in various colours and surface textures, the choice of which is at the discretion of the photographers. The mounts if they add to the overall presentation of the pictures can be claimed to have been successful whereas if the mounts stick out like a sore thumb the opposite can be inferred. There is little need to have multi-layered masks as these only add to the weight of the mounted prints without significantly helping to enhance the prints. Whatever the fashion, remember that good taste should reign supreme!
Finally, if prints that have been hung in exhibitions are reused, please ensure that all traces of hanging supports such as Velcro fasteners are removed to avoid damage to other prints when being handled or transported.
Bryan Gilbert, (for and on behalf of the Judges Sub-Committee)