Photography News issue 27

Photography News Issue 27 absolutephoto.com

Profile

Before the Judge

Biography

Each issue, a respected judge or exhibition selector shares their thoughts and experiences. This month, we hear from award junkie and relative newcomer to the judging scene, Ross McKelvey RossMcKelveyMPAGB FIPF EFIAP/B ABPE

Words by Ross McKelvey

I am a relative newcomer to international judging, but am extremely proud of the fact that the prestigious Edinburgh 2014 was my first international exhibition to judge. I was lucky to have two very experienced co-judges in Chris Palmer FRPS and Kevin Adlard FRPS. I have only recently finished judging the Tallaght International here in Ireland, and one thing I have learned is that you only get one chance to hit the five button. If an image has impact, whether because of subject matter, contrast, colours or whatever, hit the five button! With three experienced judges, you always like to think that the best images will come out on top, and so long as they hit the four or five button on appropriate images, that should happen. The cream of the crop can be sorted out at the point when you are selecting the images to actually award, but I do like to see a clatter of the best images score in the 13-15 range, rather than just a handful. I am currently booked to judge at the Southampton International competition in 2017, as well as the Scottish Print Championships in February 2016 and the PAGB Inter-Federation Print and PDI Competition in June 2016. My own Federation in Northern Ireland is NIPA, and I was painfully aware that NIPA clubs were not performing well against the opposition in the UK. I made it my personal goal to try to change that. It is often joked that I have more letters after my name, than I have in my name, but as I moved from one distinction to another, the standard of my photography definitely improved. As others in my club followed, getting distinctions like the DPAGB and regularly entering the various British Photographic Exhibitions, the standard of photography in the club improved also. So much so, that I am proud to say that Catchlight Camera Club became the first club fromNorthern Ireland to win silverware in a UK-wide competition, winning the Plate in the PAGB Print Championships in 2013. We followed that last season by winning the GB Cup for small clubs. In my view, this was only possible by getting that handful of fellow club members interested in open exhibition photography.

For this reason, I am a staunch supporter of the whole distinctions process. There are literally all types of distinctions out there, to suit all types of photography, whether they be panel-based like the RPS and the IPF, or individually scored images such as the PAGB Awards for Photographic Merit. Currently I have the Fellowship of the Irish Photographic Federation, the Master of the PAGB, the EFIAP Bronze and am working towards the Fellowship of the BPE. IfpeopleaskmewhyIbotherwith so many distinctions the answer is primarily because I thoroughly enjoy the whole process. At the end of the day, I would not be the guest speaker and judging at invitations if clubs throughout the country had not heard of me. Prints are my main interest, I do not do any PDI presentations and I am fortunate enough to have recently been appointed a Fotospeed Photographer, so I have tremendous access to all the fabulous photographic papers on the market. Then, when I do a print presentation, I can explain why I chose one paper type over another for a particular picture. So in terms of judging, I definitely prefer to score the prints rather than the PDIs, and it is a real pleasure to see other people’s work first-hand. I do believe that those who judge at an international level should have a proven track record, and it is fantastic when an image literally makes your jaw drop. When judging the mono prints at Tallaght recently, I must have hit the five button for four or five images in a row; all very different and all very good in their own individual way. I enjoyed that, because you really can have spells where you feel you are hitting the three button constantly and then suddenly an image hits you in the face. There is no doubt that the increasing popularity of national and international exhibitions over the last several years has seen an increase in the standard required to gain an acceptance, never mind an award. A judge never sees the author’s name until they have selected an image for an award and I must admit, I love to see an award-winning print being turned over to reveal the name of a relatively unknown photographer,

RossMcKelvey He’s a photographer first and foremost, and through his genuine passion for, and interest in, exhibition photography he has progressed onto the judging stage where he now sits for both national and international exhibitions.

Years in photography Ten years in competitive photography Home club

Founder of Catchlight Camera Club, Belfast in 2012. Served as chairman in first two years. Favourite camera Canon EOS 5D Mark III Favourite lens 70-200mm f/2.8L IS – it’s never off my camera! Favourite photo accessories Wireless flash triggers Favourite photographers Yousuf Karsh, Gregory Heisler and Guy Bourdin, amongst many Favourite subject or technique I am primarily a people photographer and I tend to adopt the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ approach; either a beautiful or striking female subject, or a male subject with character. Awards I have more than 120 medals and countless awards such as ribbons and certificates of commendation, but the highlights have been receiving a Gold Medal in Edinburgh in its 150th Celebration Exhibition; and gold medals in all the recognised top exhibitions such as Smethwick, Southampton, Scottish Salon, Trierenberg and the Al-Thani.

I do like to see a clatter of the best images score in the 13-15 range, rather than just a handful

or someone new to the game. You just know you have made their day. If I was giving advice to anyone starting out in exhibition photography, I would definitely encourage them to stick to what they enjoy and what they are good at, rather than following a trend. Personally I choose not to get involved in the debate about composite images, a good judge should judge the image in front of him and not waste a single nanosecond trying to figure out whether such and such has been ‘put in’. My pet hate is for someone

to say, ‘but is that not a composite?’ Now I just yawn and say, ‘and your point is…?’ Of course, there are the obvious and surreal digital composite images, and more and more often, these creative images are being pushed into a separate category. Whether that is a good thing or not is a moot point, but from a judging perspective, I just judge the picture in front of me, and have learnt to appreciate all genres of photography, particularly those outside my own comfort zone.

rossmckelvey.co.uk

What do you think?

Image Red Shawl took first place in the Colour Prints category at the NIPA Interclub competition in 2015.

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.