Photography News issue 21

16 BEFORE THE JUDGE Martin C Grahame-Dunn Each issue, a respected judge or exhibition selector shares their thoughts and experiences. This month, we hear fromMartin C Grahame-Dunn

Opinion

Words by Martin C Grahame-Dunn

MEET THE JUDGE MartinCGrahame- Dunn: FMPA, FRSA, Hon. FMPA, ABIPP, QEP, Hon. Master Photo-dk, Cr. Photog. (PPA) MPPhotog. (MPIO) etc. A pro photographer, Martin now esteemed national and international photo competitions, including but not limited to chairman of judges at the CBRE Urban Photographer of the Year Awards and past national president of the United Kingdom Master Photographers Association. Favourite camera: To be honest, it’s the one between my ears. The conceptual camera that’s always enabled me to create images that is only completed by the mechanical process. Favourite accessory: Nik Software by Google. As one of their original evangelists it’s been close to my heart as a creative design tool. I’m not into gadgets and live by the maxims, keep it simple and shoot like film. Favourite photographers: I can honestly say I don’t have favourite photographers, but I do have favourite artists to whom I have always looked for inspiration and marvelled at their mastery of light. I’d have been in my element sharing a meal with Caravaggio or Raphael Santi. Favourite subjects: The world I love. The people, the places, its culture, history and the marvels that a camera has the ability to record. participates as chairman and judge in many Years in photography: 36 years

Getting into photography was a happy accident. Having been a fine artist it seemed a logical form of expression, a different medium to pencils or paints. I started in commercial photography, especially industrial, fashion and automotive. In the late eighties I took my first sojourn into social photography, opening my own high-street studio in Warwick which I operated until I left for Spain in 2001. I became involved in judging at a regional level through one of my professional organisations, the Master Photographers Association (MPA) – I would later become national president and chairman of its Qualifications Board. All in I have been judging professional imagery for well in excess of 25 years. I was never involved in amateur photography due to my professional career, so I haven’t had the opportunity to judge local or club photography. I do have many friends and colleagues deeply involved in the amateur and camera club level including the President and Secretary General of FIAP whom I have judged alongside in the HIPA Awards. My reputation in the industrywas the primary reason I’ve been selected as a judge and chair on many occasions. One of the pivotal eras in my career was being involved with the Kodak European Gold Awards. In the late eighties to the late nineties, they were the most sought-after awards in the industry. The system, presentation and accessibility were a perfect blend for the most iconic of all awards. I miss those awards above all else. I still enjoy judging at national level but more typically I judge or chair in worldwide awards. This in itself presents numerous issues not the least, translation and cultural differences. In the professional

RIGHT Martin C Grahame-Dunn presents a workshop as part of HIPA’s ethical responsibility to deliver education across the globe.

The greatest challenge of judging is putting together the perfect teamwithdiverse skills to assess every situation fairly

privileged to be instrumental in its growth and the quality of images in the superb annual book. I’ve also been involved with HIPA but there I’m educating entrants on four continents. The delivery of education, particularly in the Third World, is an ethical responsibility the organisers have taken to heart. Most professional awards are judged behind closed doors though there are exceptions. The prestigious WPPI annual awards in Las Vegas are judged before an audience. In this case it is expected that the judges will provide invaluable feedback on every image. Those intensive pearls of wisdom are highly prized by the entrants and are often deemed more valuable than winning glittering trophies! In August 2015 I’ll be training and retraining a new generation of judges and chairmen for the AIPP, which contains many of the world’s best professional photographers. The governing body’s determination to continue to lead the world of imaging led to a reviewof judging practices and ethics. Theworkshops I present will go further than ever before in analysing themechanics andaestheticsof judgingphotography. What I truly want changed is the attitudes of those judging. It should be humbling and a pleasure to pay forward hard sought-after knowledge and skill to new generations of image makers. Being entrenched in your own ideas and values without flexibility to listen and learn, must be discouraged in every judge.

arena at times one must consider a degree of difficulty, somewhat akin to Olympic high diving. The greatest challenge of judging is putting together the perfect teamwith diverse skills to assess every situation fairly. At the highest levels the best jurors become close friends and sources of inspiration to each other. Seeing so many great images provides challenges to keep their own work or attitudes fresh. As with any industry there is good and bad. Photography, photographers and image judges are no different. I’ve witnessed what is best described as ‘political judging’ and collusion among judges to obtain a particular outcome. Thankfully, these situations are rare and an experienced chairman will nip issues in the bud before they reach problematic proportions. The most important asset a great judge can have is the ability to score fairly even if you hate the photograph before you. In such cases it’s vital that the key elements of a great image are adhered to and personal taste never comes into the equation. I’ve never forgotten that my knowledge of art, geometry and ethics are more important than any notions or so-called rules. There are laws of physics that concern light, without which there would be no photography. My true strength has been in chairing judging panels, overseeing ‘fair play’ and ensuring every entrant is respected and treated fairly. I love to hear reasoned and passionate exchanges of opinion by well-trained and knowledgeable judges; the love of various genres being discussed and extolled to others. It’s also a phenomenal opportunity to make daily advancements in knowledge. Indeed, we never stop learning and that process is often best delivered by passionate mentors. The judging environment brings such talented people together. Every competition has attractions, be it financial rewards or the kudos of having your images in an exhibition. It’s not possible to have a favourite competition, although the CBRE Urban Photographer of the Year Awards is close to my heart as I’ve been chairman of judges from its inception. I’ve been

π To find out more about Martin C Grahame- Dunn, go to www.martingrahamedunn.com.

Have you seen a photographic judge at work who you’d like to see profiled in Photography News ? If so please drop us a line to opinion@photography-news.co.uk with the judge’s name and, if possible, their contact details. What do you think?

Photography News | Issue 21