Jurying Photography

I received a call about a month ago asking me to jury a photography show in Folsom. As I am saying "yes", I'm thinking, "...I can do this. I've got the background and it's all about offering support to newcomers in the field."

Tuesday was the day. I was all prepared. I'd done my homework and developed a guideline worksheet that comprised the following categories: composition, background, technical work, craftsmanship, and my 'personal feelings'. It was the second version. The first version was too complicated I decided. I was trying to cover all the bases in 'digital' photography as all the entries were digital. The evaluation sheet was more for ME than the ARTISTS. There were some very good entries, and then there were definitely the newbie entries, and I hope I offered them some good advice. I've been asked many times if I gave classes. And I don't. I'm self-taught, and that's more than half the journey. Go experience it yourself. One can collaborate with other photographers as I did. It's good to get a critique from someone else now and then, and at the same time, critiquing is often too close to personal preferences by individuals.

I think if I had to come up with one piece of good advice to instill in a newcomer to photography, it would have to be COMPOSITION. If you can get that down, the rest will follow. You can learn film and/or digital processes out of a book. I think passion is what lends itself to good composition. So if you have the passion - you'll achieve the composition aspect.

The show is tonite, I wonder how it all goes? ; )