Instead of judges being limited to awarding 1st, 2nd,3rd and a couple of commended we are going to try a new system that will give members more feedback on their progress and allow judges to reward a larger number of images. It is anticipated that up to half the entries in each section could receive one of these awards, sometimes more sometimes less, the end result will be more and better feedback on your photography and how it is progressing.
We have all attended competition nights when we see an image that we thought should have got a place but didn't.
This has a lot to do with the limitations placed on judges with the 1 2 3 system where judges need to get real picky to narrow their final selection down to 1, 2, 3, and at the same time as the club grows and entries rise and we have all noticed how the standard has improved in recent times.
This new system is modelled on one used in some clubs in New South Wales.
The judge has 3 categories to award with no limitation on the number awarded to each category. The Judge may also elect not to award any Gold awards if he/she feels that none of the entries are of a gold standard.
Gold: Gold will go to those images that are seen by the judge to be of a very high standard and would more than likely be accepted and do well in any photographic competition these images will have a high first impression and be of a high technical standard, Gold awards will receive 6 points towards the Photographer of the year award.
Silver: Images awarded silver will be those the judge considers are almost Gold, they will have most of the boxes ticked but need a little more to be considered a Gold, the Judge will explain what changes he or she feels would make these images a Gold. Silver will receive 4 points towards photographer of the year.
Bronze: award would go to images that are on the right track but have work needed in composition and or technique and or post processing to lift them to a Silver. Bronze images will receive 2 points towards Photographer of the year.
All images not receiving either Gold, Silver or Bronze will be given 1 point towards Photographer of the year.
The Novice section
Novices will be judged in a similar way but with lower criteria for Gold Silver and Bronze points for novice will be
1. Novice Gold 4 Points
2. Novice Silver 3 Points
3. Novice Bronze 2 points
4. entering 1 Point
As soon as a Novice receives 2 Gold awards or any open awards then he/she is automatically promoted to the open competition.
