Evaluation System

Members can choose Scoring and Rating, or Feedback Only!

Some members have said they joined the club to become a better photographer, and rating their pictures, Certificate of Merit (CM), Gold, Silver, or Bronze, is not important for them (and sometimes, it’s a little discouraging).

To help meet the needs of all members, instead of submitting images for rating and scoring (i.e. Bronze, Silver, Gold, CM), members can choose to submit anonymously, for feedback only.  No pressure, just good information.

How the Feedback Only System Works

For any given Digital Projection Night or Print Night, members may choose to submit their work for Feedback Only, instead of submitting for Star Level rating and scoring.

Within Feedback Only, there are two categories... a) 'New to Photography' and, b) 'Experienced in Photography'. At the time of submission, members upload under whichever category best describes them.

When each Feedback Only image is shown at the meeting, the category and image title will be announced but the Star Level and image-maker's name will not be announced. Neither will the image be rated or scored.

Feedback and comments on each image will focus on, a) the strengths of the image, and, b) how the image could be improved.

A Feedback Only image may be submitted at a later date as a Star Level Digital Projection or Print image for rating and scoring. At that point it will be treated as a first-time Star Level submission, and will not be considered to be a re-submitted image.

Members choosing to submit for Feedback Only are making the decision for one night only, they are not locked-in for future nights. Members decide for each individual meeting night whether to submit for Feedback Only, or Star Level rating and scoring.

Please read the sections below for further details.

Digital Projection Images

For each Digital Projection meeting, members may submit either, a) two projection images in their Star level, or, b) one projection image for Feedback Only.

Prints

For each Print Night meeting, members may submit either, a) 1 - 4 prints in their Star level (1 or 2 Monochrome/B&W and/or 1 or 2 Colour), or b) 1 - 4 prints for Feedback Only (1 or 2 Monochrome/B&W and/or 1 or 2 Colour).

Evaluation System

This is not a club competition and there is no competition between members. The judge's score (for Star Level images) is a reflection of his/her own opinion of each image. Feedback Only images are not scored.

Projection and Print Scoring (Star Level Images)

The judge enters a score, from 1 to 10 for each submission, via an electronic scoring system. A score of 1 or 2 is almost never used and a 9 or 10 is rare but welcome!

1-2 points:        No award - a poor projection or print
3-4 points:        Bronze - a fair projection or print
5-6 points:        Silver - a good projection or print
7-8 points:        Gold - an excellent projection or print
9-10 points:      Certificate of Merit - an outstanding projection or print

Note for the purposes of our Star Level Criteria and Promotions, each image award is the worth the following:

No Award  = 1 point
Bronze      = 2 points
Silver        = 3 points
Gold          = 4 points
CM            = 5 points

Star Levels

There are 5 Levels of accomplishment through which our members advance. Advancement through the levels requires members to accumulate a predetermined number of points and awards in each category. The count starts at zero in each new Star level.

The requirements to move from one Star Level to the next is:

1 to 2 Star: 20 points including 3 Gold or Certificate of Merit awards received for Level 1 images
2 to 3 Star: 40 points including 6 Gold or Certificate of Merit awards received for Level 2 images
3 to 4 Star: 60 points including 12 Gold or Certificate of Merit awards received for Level 3 images
4 to 5 Star: 200 points including 20 Gold or Certificate of Merit awards received for Level 4 images

Normally, new members begin at Star Level 1 for each category (Digital Projection, Colour Prints and Monochrome Prints). However, new members who are not new to photography may, at their option, self select to start at Level 2 in any category.

5 Star Honour Roll

For members who have achieved level 5, there is an added incentive award: The 5 Star Honour Roll. A member must receive one Certificate of Merit or 8 gold evaluations within a club-year to obtain 5 Star Honour Roll status. To remain on the Honour Roll, members must re-qualify each club-year.

Judging Guidelines

Please refer to our Star Level Criteria.

Judges should evaluate photographs following these guidelines when scoring projections or prints:

1 Star: Correct exposure, subject in focus, and basic composition.
2 Star: Above requirements, plus appropriate depth of field, no distracting elements, competent use of composition, and suitable light.
3 Star: Above requirements, plus critical depth of field, creative use of light.
4 Star: Above requirements, plus creative photographic technique, attention to detail.
5 Star: Above requirements, plus high artistic merit.

In all cases, the judge can comment on the technical and compositional merits of the projection or print. The evaluation process is an educational experience for our members. They want specific information about their images. Scores are a less important consideration than comments. Judges should indicate what was successful and what was not successful and tell us what might have worked to improve the image. Making suggestions about filters, lenses, shutter speeds, depth of field, etc. can be particularly useful.

Star Level Considerations

It is important that our 1 Star and to a lesser degree, our 2 Star members not be discouraged by receiving low scores for their images. We ask judges to consider that these members may not have the experience to be judged on the same level as those who have attained a higher Star status. They may be entirely new to the photo club scene. The 4 and 5 Star members have demonstrated considerable photographic skills, so their work is judged accordingly.