State Fair Photo Competition - the Good, the Bad, the Ugly!

The Good:  Opportunity

The best part of participating in the annual State Fair Photo Competition is the opportunity to see images from other amateurs and picking up pointers from the judges. For this reason, I really enjoy attending the judging. It is a six hour marathon; sitting on hard benches; bringing and eating a bag lunch; and timing bathroom breaks to not miss anything!  Once the judging starts at 10 a.m. it does not stop until it is over; about 4:00 p.m. I always make a new friend during the process and we share one another's triumphs and defeats.

The Bad:  Preparation

Preparation requires effort. Only one photo per class; total photos allowed 35.  They must be printed 8 x 10; mounted with hot glue to black foam core cut to 12 x 14. Hanging hardware and photo tags need to be added to the back. I'm guessing for every photo I enter; at least 2 more were printed. Sometimes the same photo gets reprinted several times until I'm satisfied. The foam core and hanging hardware if it hasn't fallen off usually can be re-used. But the photos are pretty trashed when they are removed after the competition.

The Ugly:  Judges

"I don't know what it is; but I like it so I'm giving it second place".  These words were spoken by a new judge at the 2014 Wisconsin State Fair Photo Competition. The class being judged: "Transportation, ships, boats, watercraft".  Really? Of the 22 entries in this class you had to pick one that you couldn't recognize and give it a second place ribbon?

When judging the "Weather, lightening" class only three photos were entered. The new judge however decided the third one would get fourth place and the other two first and second. How does that work?

"I like this one because they used a Sepia tone".  Same new judge when awarding first place in the Black and White ONLY category - class "Patterns and textures".  Once again...really?  Of the 23 entries in this class you picked one that was NOT Black & White????

While there are three judges, only one is judging each class (there are 100+ classes). The staff spreads out all the photos on conference tables in a particular class (could be anywhere from 3 to over 60). The judge has about 5 minutes to scan the bunch and pick out four. Of course their eyes will look for something that stands out - like a Sepia that was allowed in the Black & White Only category.  Or a Black & White photo that was allowed in the Color category. I saw several of them getting awards too.

The judges are on a two-year plan.  Of the three judges this year, Mr. Wayne Brabender, who brought out the UGLY will be back again next year! The other two will be replaced with who knows what!  I may provide feedback about the inconsistencies but given this is a "state" run event I doubt anything will change.

I may skip 2015.

Carol's winners for 2014

Carol's losers for 2014