It can be very difficult to be a judge. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln you can please some of the people all of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.
On Saturday a version of this picture
won third place in a competition at the Village Fete. I was pretty chuffed. One kind person came up to me to say they felt mine should have been the winner!
Last year the photo judge’s choice was questioned and it was suggested that there should be, in addition, a ‘people’s vote’ this year – which there duly was, run by the Scouts. And the ‘people’s vote’ proclaimed that a lovely shot of the sun rise seen through the lower branches of a tree should win! It actually had my vote as a picture which I’d like to have on my wall.
Later I spoke to the judge, a lovely local photographer who currently works freelance after years on ‘The Independent.’ I really like the photo he chose as the winner and asked him why he had chosen it. He told me he had judged each photo without looking at the details on the back and that the winning shot was both technically good, and appealing to the eye.
‘Plus,’ he said, ‘ it was romantic.’ What a man! And the picture? Toads mating. The focus was so sharp and especially so on the half closed eyes of both parties.
Whenever I enter a competition I have no idea what will appeal to the judges really: though some people enter various writing competitions having studied the judges style – I certainly don’t do that. A lot of the time I don’t know the judge or their work.
On Friday I was invited to read at a meeting of ‘The Ware Poets’- I had been commended in their yearly competition. Although it was quite a way to go I decided I should make the effort as I would know no one there! (It’s much easier to read aloud when there are no close friends or relatives around, so I’ve found, not being a natural performer.)
I was late. Rain, and traffic congestion. I so hate being late. One traffic report made my chest cramp when the cheerful chappie on the radio broke in to say it was the worst he’d ever seen it on the M25, in his x number of years of broadcasting.
So it was a stressful start to the evening.
In the end I arrived (only) 15 minutes late. But they were lovely to me, giving me a glass of wine and a breather before it was my turn. I stood up and read quite early on, for which I was grateful – and then I could enjoy the rest of the evening.
There were 5 prizess: the poems were placed first, second, and joint third with a separate additional prize for the sonnet section – and it was the latter which caused consternation. One woman had written in complaining about the use of language and how distasteful she had found it. It was read aloud and it was true, there was a lot of swearing in it. It didn’t ‘do it’ for me, but the judging of the other poems, was in my opinion very good.
Later the judge, Carole Satyamurti stood up to hand out the prizes and then after a break she read from two of her collections. I really enjoyed her writing: especially appealing was her use of humour. And when I spoke with her I was really taken by her calm manner and her wise, humorous wit. Of course I bought one of her collections, which I have been reading and enjoying greatly. I can recommend it to you Countdown, by Carole Satyamurti
Soon it is my turn to be a judge: in a small on-line photo competition. Go on. Have a go.
Then the shoe’s on the other foot.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Lovely post Pseu, and what a super photograph. Only 3rd place? what a cheek, this deserves a first. Okay, I didn’t see the the 1st and 2nd, but this is stunning, technically, and good old fashioned, appealing.
Its difficult being a judge, but photographs should be judged on whether the photographer has kept to theme, or project of the competition, which includes observing, if the photographer went that extra mile to produce a good image. I don’t envy you, your task as a judge, good luck, let us know how it goes.
Thanks, Val!
The photos entered were of a high standard and in several categories. This was in ‘wildlife’ and ‘adult’ (!)
It’s a superb photo, Nym and well done. I don’t know how one judges these competitions, but it’s not easy. I just choose the one that appeals most, but all of them are good in their own way, and all very different.
Ja well, I know exactly what you mean about not winning photo comps, my last contribution should have been a shoe-in, however!
😦
Oops, now I’m feeling guilty, Soutie. 😦
But but…
Maybe we should have a people’s vote… if we have enough photos to judge….
Good idea, Nym, if we have enough entries. Perhaps in the Autumn. I know I keep saying that, but I hope that the people are not too put off by the technical challenge, photography-wise, and then posting entries.
I’m sure that our admins are more than willing to help with the occasional mistake.