Photography News issue 18

Opinion

BEFORE THE JUDGE HuwAlban Each issue, a respected judge or exhibition selector shares their thoughts and experiences. This month, HuwAlban tells us how he took matters into his own hands

MEET THE JUDGE HuwAlban: Huw qualified as a judge in 2013, having become disenchanted with the judges plying their views at his local club. He decided it made sense to ‘get out there and do it better yourself’ rather than grumble about it. Home club: Warminster Camera Club in Wiltshire Favourite camera: Canon EOS 5D Favourite photographers: The two that have influenced me the most, Steve Gosling and David Tarn Favourite subjects: Reaction is important to me, whatever the subject. As long as I react to the subject I will try to create an image that encapsulates that reaction. Awardswon: None. I had a go at an RPS but after attending an assessment day where almost everyone who showed work got slated, I figured what was the point? I prefer my images and my camera club lectures to stand for themselves.

Words by Huw Alban

actually ignored in the real world. I still have, and still constantly refer to, the notes that I made on the seminar day. They have very much become the bible from which I work when constructing the commentary for the club competitions that I assess. My approach to a competition night is firstly to remind the audience that what they are about to hear is simply my opinion. As an opinion it isn’t wrong, and it isn’t necessarily right either, it is just an opinion. It is an opinion shaped by my own artistic experience and knowledge, and my own photographic approach. Currently, I always ask for the images up front in order to have some preparation time. I use that time carefully to ensure that each and every opinion expressed is backed up with a ‘why’ statement. I firmly believe that a competition night should be as much of a learning experience as any other club night, and unless the audience understands why the opinion has been expressed (whether they agree with it or not), nothing will be gained. I include this fact in my opening statement: that I always hope that everyone will grasp the rationale behind my commentary and go home having learned something that they will add into their ownmethod or approach. Prior to delivering the commentary, I review it multiple times to ensure that there are no gaps, that all criticism is constructive, and that I am completely comfortable and confident with the winners. I still choose to have typed notes in my hand on the evening, not that I really need to refer to them; by now the commentary has been run through so many times that I could do it almost with my eyes closed. But I find that it is a great memory jogger, and a great way for me to be able to check that I’ve said everything and, most importantly, that all my reasoning has been mentioned. On multiple occasions, I’ve been asked whether club members can actually take these typed notes home with them. This implies to me that there must be some value in what I’m saying, for clubs to want to hold on to them.

When I first joined a camera club, in 2005 in Northamptonshire, it was one that did not hold competitions. It was a conscious choice by the club, as they felt that competitions were too pressured and would put off newer, shyer members from getting involved. At the time I was happy with this approach, and it wasn’t until 2010 when my family moved to Dorset that I got my first taste of camera club competitions… and oh boy was I in for a shock! I should make the point that at the time I was quite confident in my own ability. I’d had work appear in magazines and books, had entered and gained recognition in some of the more well- known photographic magazine competitions, and even had work in an art gallery, but all of that did not prepare me for the wide range of opinions and ability of the people who were going to comment on my pictures. My tipping point came in the only club evening that I have ever walked out of, and I mean properly stood up and just left the room in disgust. I can’t even remember who was judging that evening, but one of my images was amongst the first in the digital section. It was an image that had come seventh in one of the larger photographic magazine competitions (round one of APOY 2009) and that I’d also sold on numerous occasions as a framed print through the art gallery. It was a successful image.

The opening statement from the judge, however, was (and you’ll need to imagine a broad West Country accent): “I don’t likes blurry water.” After which the judge in question went on to comment that his wife felt that this was the winner but he disagreed, and if the author was in the audience could he see them in the break in order to get a copy of the file, so he could print it for his wife to frame. I’d entered three images that evening, all containing an element of blurry water. The evening went downhill from there, and not only for me but for every member of the club, until I just couldn’t listen any longer. So I left. At home that evening Mary-Louise, my wife, endured the full effect of my competition frustrations. I was fuming. But she patiently listened and when I had got it all off my chest suggested that I take up a long-standing offer from the then Warminster Camera Club chairperson to attend the next Western Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF) judging seminar. Her rationale was that if I felt the standard of judging was really that bad, why didn’t I get out there and do something about it? The seminar was excellent and a real eye‑opener. In fact, it was Ken Holland (Issue 14) who mentored the group that I was in on the day. Having listened to the advice and guidelines that were shared during that day it really was (and to some extent still is) quite shocking how much is

Myapproach to a competition night is firstly to remind the audience that what they are about to hear is simplymy opinion

π To find out more, go to www.huwalban.com.

Have you seen a judge at work who you’d like to see profiled in Photography News ? Or perhaps you’ve been judged and don’t like what you heard? If so, write to opinion@photography-news.co.uk with the judge’s name and, if possible, their details. What do you think?

LEFT Huw Alban’s “successful image”.

Photography News | Issue 18