Photography News issue 26

Photography News Issue 26 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 creative photographer and national judge Kathryn J Scorah Kathryn J Scorah MPAGB FBPE

Kathryn Scorah Seeking out fresh, new

approaches to photography that are about as far away from the bandwagon as you can get is Kathryn’s bag. The feeling of an image is what’s important to this renowned photographer and that’s exactly how she approaches judging. Years in photography Seriously, about 18 years Home club Inn Focus Group, a tiny club. There's nice guys and me – and I absolutely love it Favourite camera Currently own a Canon EOS 7D but I’m not really ‘into’ kit Favourite lens Sigma 10-20mm without a doubt Favourite photo accessories Large portable reflector Favourite photographic subject or technique People pictures and wide-angle portraiture Awards Got to go back to 2010 for the last time I picked up any distinctions. These were a Masters from the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (MPAGB) and a Fellowship of the British Photographic Exhibition circuit (FBPE) Medals Numerous national and international. One that stands out is the Smethwick International where in 2010 I picked up three awards including two medals out of my entry of four projected digital images There are many excellent images being produced. Some, however, fall a long way short of those at the top

Words by Kathryn J Scorah

I’ve judged relatively few times at club level, I prefer to do inter- club, federation and salon judging. I really enjoy salons where I get to see a wide variety of work. I gained a lot of experience at my previous club, Wigan 10, where we appraised each other’s work. Sitting in the same room as the hugely successful founder members and commenting on their pictures wasn’t for the faint hearted but it was extremely rewarding and has stood me in good stead for assessing others’ work. I also run a private critique group where members are encouraged to comment honestly and constructively on each other’s images. We include relative newcomers through to very experienced exhibitors, it works well and we have all learnt a great deal from the process – and it’s fun! The teacher in me made me want to become a judge, I love helping other people. No matter what standard you are we all miss things in our own pictures. To see people I’ve helped with constructive criticism win awards in national competitions gives me a real buzz. Sometimes I think there are too many competitions. People are tempted to put in whatever they have laying about on their hard drives just to have an entry. That’s not to say that there aren’t some fine photographers out there. Just that on the face of it, the standard can be diluted by ordinary work. At the top end of amateur photography, without doubt, there are many excellent images being produced. Some, however, fall a long way short of those at the top. I think is due to people not competing outside their own club. They have no idea of the current standard. Even at the top there are poorly manipulated images that gain awards for reasons best known to the judge. Sometimes I think if a picture conforms to a formula then some judges mark it up irrespective of quality or originality. The temptation to dismiss someone’s work should always be overcome. Judges have a huge responsibility not to put someone off. At the end of the day a good picture should speak for itself. For

the others I have to find some way of encouraging the author. Only once have I had to question the validity of putting an image in front of a judge. Hopefully I was as diplomatic as I could have been. I hate offending anyone. I truly believe in treating people with the utmost respect. Iwouldn’t necessarilymarkdown an image because a technique was employed. Rather, a technique’s poor execution or its global application over the image is something that would not go down well. I have a few phrases of encouragement I’d hope say what I meanwithout offending. I always try to find some thing to say that echoes what I would have done either at the taking stage or in post-processing. That way the author hopefully will have learnt something for next time. Pictures without feeling or mood are the biggest downfalls in club photography. Landscapes taken on a sunny day, for example, are typical of those that turnup at club level. I’m looking for something that moves me on an emotional level. A picture has to speak to me. Also I’m looking for the mark of the photographer.

If I think it’s a picture that could have been taken by anyone standing there regardless of skill I would be inclined to less enthusiastic about it. There’s an old joke about there being only one happy person in the room at the end of a competition; the judge. You may or may not agree with a particular judge’s remarks or scores, but if you have learnt something then the judgehasproved to be worth his or her salt. There are poor judges at every level. A judge who exercises personal preference or prejudice towards a genre of photography or subject matter does no favours to the general perception of photographic judging. My criteria for judging is ‘does the picture speak to me?’ After that I judge on quality. Quality of the projected image or print, light, exposure, focusing,

and manipulation (if any). And composition. Is it easy to read? Is the composition balanced? Does the viewpoint and what is included or excluded show me what drew the photographer to take the picture? Mymotto formypicture is: ‘Apicture isn’t finished until everything that could be taken away is taken away.’ Simplicity is the key. Yet the picture must have a narrative that is easily understood by the viewer. It may be different for each person, but certainly there needs to be some element of storytelling. My advice? Get out and see as many successful photographs as you can. Not to copy but to be inspired. Use them as a springboard for your own ideas. And have fun!

bit.ly/kathrynscorahphotography

What do you think?

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.

Image Kathryn is renowned for her creative images and has many awards with them.