Competition Photography - What Judges Really Look For
Understand the criteria professional photography competition judges use to evaluate entries. Learn how to prepare winning competition photos with insights into scoring, presentation, and common mistakes.
Inside the Mind of a Photo Competition Judge
Entering photography competitions can feel like sending your work into a black box. You submit, wait, and receive a score or ranking with little insight into what the judges actually evaluated. This article pulls back the curtain on competition judging to help you understand what makes photos stand out.
The Judging Process
Most photography competitions follow a similar evaluation structure, whether it's a local camera club or an international salon. Understanding this process helps you prepare more effectively.
Initial Impression
Judges typically view each image for just seconds in the first round. This means your photo must make an immediate impact. Ask yourself:
- Does the image grab attention instantly?
- Is the subject clear and compelling?
- Does the overall presentation look polished?
Photos that fail to engage quickly rarely survive to subsequent rounds, regardless of their technical merit.
Technical Evaluation
Once an image passes the initial impression test, judges examine technical execution:
Exposure: Is the image properly exposed? Are highlights and shadows well-managed? Focus: Is the intended subject sharp? Is the depth of field appropriate for the scene? Noise and Artifacts: Is image quality maintained? Are there distracting technical flaws? Processing: Is post-processing skilled and appropriate? Does editing enhance or detract from the image?Artistic Merit
Technical excellence alone doesn't win competitions. Judges also evaluate artistic elements:
Composition: Does the arrangement of elements guide the viewer's eye effectively? Lighting: Does the light enhance the mood and reveal the subject well? Storytelling: Does the image convey emotion, narrative, or meaning? Originality: Does the photo offer a fresh perspective or unique approach?Common Scoring Criteria
While specific criteria vary by competition, most use some version of these categories:
Impact (25-30%)
Does the image command attention? Does it evoke an emotional response? Impact is often weighted heavily because it reflects the total effect of all other elements working together.
Composition (20-25%)
Are visual elements arranged effectively? Does the composition support the subject and message? This includes traditional principles like rule of thirds, leading lines, and balance, as well as creative departures that work.
Technical Excellence (20-25%)
Is the image technically sound? Judges look for proper exposure, accurate focus, appropriate depth of field, and quality processing. Technical flaws can sink otherwise compelling images.
Creativity (15-20%)
Does the image show original thinking? This could be an unusual perspective, creative use of light, innovative processing, or simply a fresh approach to a familiar subject.
Subject Matter (10-15%)
Is the subject interesting and appropriate for the category? Does the photographer make the viewer care about what's depicted?
What Separates Winners from Runners-Up
After years of judging feedback analysis, clear patterns emerge about what distinguishes winning entries:
Winners Have Clear Subjects
There's no confusion about what the photo is about. The subject is obvious, compelling, and well-presented.
Winners Show Decisive Moments
Whether capturing action or stillness, winning photos feel intentional. Nothing in the frame is accidental.
Winners Demonstrate Technical Mastery
Small technical flaws become more visible at high competition levels. Winners don't give judges easy reasons to deduct points.
Winners Evoke Emotion
The most memorable competition photos make you feel something - awe, joy, sadness, wonder. Technical perfection without emotional resonance rarely wins top awards.
Common Mistakes That Cost Points
Understanding what judges penalize helps you avoid preventable deductions:
Overcropping or Poor Framing
Cutting off important elements or leaving excessive negative space suggests lack of care in composition.
Heavy-Handed Processing
Judges recognize over-saturation, excessive HDR, and other heavy editing. Subtle, skilled processing serves the image; obvious manipulation distracts from it.
Cliched Subjects Without New Perspective
Sunset photos and flower macros are submitted constantly. Without a fresh approach, these common subjects struggle to stand out.
Distracting Elements
Anything in the frame that doesn't support the main subject is a potential problem. Judges notice cluttered backgrounds, sensor spots, and other distractions.
Wrong Category Entry
Submitting a portrait to a landscape category (or similar mismatches) almost always results in lower scores. Understand category definitions before entering.
Preparing Your Entry
Choose Your Strongest Work
Enter your best photos, not just your favorites. These aren't always the same. Seek feedback from others before finalizing entries.
Print Considerations (if applicable)
For print competitions:
- Use quality papers appropriate to the image
- Calibrate your monitor to your printer/lab
- Consider how the image appears in different sizes
Digital Considerations
For digital competitions:
- Follow submission specifications exactly
- Ensure proper color space (usually sRGB)
- Optimize file size without losing quality
Title Thoughtfully
Titles can enhance or undermine your image. Avoid cliches, puns, or overly explanatory titles. When in doubt, keep it simple.
Using AI Critique for Competition Prep
AI photo critique can help you prepare competition entries by:
- Identifying technical weaknesses before submission
- Highlighting composition strengths and issues
- Providing objective evaluation without personal bias
- Offering consistent feedback you can trust
Consider it a pre-competition review that catches issues you might miss after looking at your images repeatedly.
The Judge's Perspective
Remember that judges see hundreds or thousands of entries. They're not looking for reasons to reject your work - they're hoping to find images that stand out for the right reasons.
Make their job easy by submitting technically excellent images that tell compelling stories with clear subjects and emotional resonance.
Want to test your competition-ready photos? Upload to LENSIC and receive the kind of objective critique that helps you improve before entering.
Written by LENSIC Team