I was in my first show last week and I was disappointed with the judging. First, there were no judges that were photographers. They were all sculptors, painters and crafts-people. Granted this is not a great start for judging photos but it was local and it was a start for me. Secondly, the shooter that one first was outstanding. His work was huge, sharp and of exotic locales full of color and fair composition. However it wasn't original. It was like he took it trying to re-create National Geographic shots. However they were flawless. Third, the person that got second did so with little effort. His images were very good but the presentation was horrid in my mind. The images were 5x7 at the largest and framed poorly. The "booth" was a cart of some kind with an umbrella attached. Fourth and most annoying to me was third place. This shooter had EXACTLY the same shot I did, and I mean EXACTLY. It was like he shot it over my shoulder. His presentation was framed where my version wasn't (it was a fill in for me, not my first choice submission, and only 1 of six submitted). His booth was very large but more "shabby sheik that stylish (IMHO). Perhaps what bothered me most was that he got third and I didn't even get an honorable mention. If the images had been of different subject I can understand, but these images were virtually identical! The only person to get an honorable mention had works that didn't even look like photographs. I think if they were presented here they would be placed in 2D or Mixed Medium. Now add to this that every person that walked past my booth swooned over some of my work. I only sold 5 pieces but I am proud of that. My goal was 10 but it was my first show. We are mostly all shooters here and I think some of you are 100 times better than the winners of this show. So I wanted to ask those whose opinion I trust and prefer, What makes an award-winning photo for you? Input needed! Magick Michael

I don't think it's necessary to have judges who are photographers. In my own experience, the juried shows I've been in, not a one of the judges was a photographer (keep in mind these were also multi-media shows). I don't feel one necessarily has to be to be a photographer, in order to be a competent judge of what makes a good photograph, if they have an art background, have experience in the art field, then they should be qualified I would think. That being said you are at the mercy of the judges whimsy and mood.... There is no set formula for what makes a winning photo... It's all personal, and if the judges are partial to any one particular type of photography or subject matter, then chances are that is the work they will choose. It's always nice to find out who the judges are before you prepare, to get an idea of what they do, style, etc... What makes an award winning photo? Well that really is hard to say.... the one that jumps out and grabs my attention the most probably.... Hmmm... Tells a story, strikes a chord emotionally, and hopefully still technically well done. And congratulations on selling 5 pieces... I think that's fabulous! You're off to a great start Michael.... Hugz!

What a difficult question! What makes an award-winning life? Is the award necessary, or just nice to have once and a while? Competency (usually through dedication and practice). Originality. Certainly Luck! More specifically, I've known situations where photographers have carefully researched the Judges, and learned what they like. As a practical matter, Read the Rules! [You'd be surprised how many worthy entries fall by the wayside because they do not fit the rules.]

Here are the images that got the most response at the show. This one fascinated and I was asked numerous times how I did it: http://www.zhounder.com/photos/places/photos/midnightblue.jpg This was the one that got the most emotional responses: http://www.zhounder.com/photos/places/photos/vietnam1.jpg This was by far the most popular and taken only 4 miles from where the show was held (some knew where it was most didnt): http://www.zhounder.com/photos/nature/photos/rainyfall.jpg And this is the image that was the virtual duplicate: http://www.zhounder.com/photos/nature/photos/snowyfalls.jpg Honestly, these are not my favorites of my work. Well perhaps the first on is up there in my top 20...

Oh and the judges were announced after the show not before, so it would have been difficult at best to pre-judge the judges. Honestly I don't think I should have won but what bothered me was the image that did was identical to my own, and I think that is really what bothers me, not that I didn't place but that an identical shot to mine won over mine. In my opinion that should have knocked both out of the judging. But then again I wasn't a judge. For me a winning shot is one that evokes emotion, thought or both. I know that the person that got an honorable mention in my opinion should have been 2nd or 3rd. Her work was well composed, had unique but wonderful color and made me think. Her presentation for her entire set of works was by far the best in the show. Her stuff blew mine away, but it inspired me also.

My own favorite images aren't necessarily the images that get attention from other people... at least that's been my online experience, here and elsewhere. I think that's true for many people. Now see.... Looking at those 4 examples from your portfolio, the one I like best is rainyfall.... but I'm a sucker for those color fall days and windy country roads.... Did you get to choose which piece of work was judged or did they just look at all of it?

I got to choose 6 images for judging. For the life of me I can't remember what the other 2 were. I think my wife piked them. I was a bit of a wreck it being my first show.

The judges, without doubt. Are the judges, don't worry about this and don't change nothing to satisfy the judges. If a photo is good for you it's good. Personally I'll be really worried if some photographers will like my photos. Just now I received an ebot of one comment on my last image upladed, the person who wrote it understood very well what I wanted to say, this is the best award.

I agree with Enax. IMHO, for your personal work, you shoot what you want, the way you want and in the format you want. If other people like it, that's really nice. If not, each to his/her own. What matters is, do you like it? Does it show what you wanted to show in the way you wanted to show it? If you begin to try and shoot what will "win" I think in the end you're going to drive yourself crazy trying to guess what the current crop of judges wants and you'll probably end up pretty disgusted with photography because you are no longer making your art. I think it's very interesting to "see" my photos through other peoples eyes (good or bad), but I'm not going to change the way I shoot or what I shoot to please them.

I do hope it didn't sound as if I thought you should enter/shoot only what the judges like........ that would be foolish, and that isn't what I meant when I said find out who they are, what they do, etc.... I do agree with enax and Donald on that.

What I am taking from this is that you shoot what you want to shoot. However when picking those few shots to be judged try to pick what best matches the what the judges want to see. This increases your odds without comprimising your art.

Michael - yea, I think that pretty much sums it up. I mean, you're not going to enter a contest held by the local ladies flower club with your riveting shots of pit bull dog fights taken in Tijuana. :) -=>Donald

@Donald: I can hear the judges of a local ladies flower club judging my photos of flowers... "This guy needs to learn a lot to get the photos in focus,... look this one... the title is Elena's Intimacy... also he don't get centered photos..." Anyway the winner won't be an award winning photograph, will be a catalog of flowers winning photograph.

thanks guys... helps to read this... calms some of the questions i've had running around in my head & hey, congrats michael... even though you didn't place (bastarges) you sold 5! something i'd be very happy about :] lol@enax