And don't forget - you only get out what you put in!
Very true Maria.
Although I kept away from camera clubs for years, mainly because most of them appeared to be obsessed with competitions, and little else amateur photography, I have entered the IMO sensible number (3) in the year at my club.
These I entered for the fun of it, and to be supportive as a club member.
However, I do not see them as serious competitions in the real sense of the word, as there is no defined winning line to be crossed.
They are subjective, and although judges attend judges courses, and from them learn the basic criteria, beyond that it is down to their personal preferences.
I'm not having a go at the judges, as they make reasoned decisions, but at the end of the day, this decision is theirs. If all the images obey all the basic rules, and are technically equal, then it comes down to the judges interpretation of artistic merit. As I said, its all very subjective.
I have seen the same print image, submitted on two separate occasions, and on each it was a different judge. The comments made, and the marking given was quite different. I say again, its subjective, and nothing more.
Its not the judges fault, they are human like the rest of us, and we all have our personal preferences when we look at an image.
Photography competitions = good fun, and we can learn from the judges comments, if only what to place before them next time around. Just give them your best shot (no pun intended
), enjoy the evening, but just don't take the marking too seriously.
Dave