Rating System
Judging
Club members improve their photography by entering their pictures in judging sessions. The judges give an award to the image, comments on the good elements of the picture and point out areas that could be improved. For example, the background may be cluttered and distract from the subject of the photograph.
You are also exposed to the work of other members - this often gives ideas for subjects to photograph, and techniques to try out.
Ratings are used so that your photographs can be judged according to your experience level. It would be de-motivating for novices if their pictures were judged using the same standards that are applied to experienced members. Instead novices are judged using a limited set of criteria, which are expanded as their competence grows.
The ratings are 1 Star to 5 Star, and 5 Star Honours. The criteria for advancement from one rating to the next are included at the end of this page.
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Submitting a Panel for a Star Grading
Any new member who has belonged to another camera club affiliated to PSSA or has done a fair amount of photography is free to submit a panel of 12 slides for the committee to view. The photographer will then be graded accordingly e.g. Two Star with 4 gold awards. Slides used in the panel cannot be used for advancement judging, but can be used for set subject at the monthly meetings. The panel and credits will also not be counted in the Photographer of the Year points. Only new images presented at meetings will count towards this award.
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1 Star
- The subject of the picture must be properly focused, and correctly exposed. That is exposure must be neither too light (over-exposed) or too dark (under-exposed). Modern cameras with automatic features make it easier to meet these criteria.
- A subject that is lit from the front will appear "flat", whereas one lit from the side will reveal more of the contours and textures of the subject. This is also taken into account in the 1 Star criteria.
2 Star
- In addition to focus and exposure, the photograph must be well composed.
- Composition deals with how the various parts of the picture are arranged in the frame. Examples of things to watch out for are:
- A tree growing out of the top of a person's head!
- Distracting backgrounds!
- Portraiture of people with limbs amputated by the frame at awkward points, generally near joints!
3 Star
- In addition to the 1 and 2 Star criteria, the picture must have impact. When you see it you must say "wow!" Pictures with impact are memorable.
- From 3 Star onwards, photographs are entered into various categories (e.g. wildlife and portraiture). Members are encouraged to take pictures in all categories to increase their proficiency.
- Members are also encouraged to enter photographic salons thereby gaining even more experience.
4 Star
- In 4 Star, photographs are judged at a National Salon level.
- Salons are National and International photographic competitions. At salons your photographs will be judged by a broader range of judges than you would be exposed to at club level.
- At this level your photographs should covey a message. they should show what you were thinking or feeling when you took the picture.
- It is very stimulating to attend salon exhibitions ( even if you don't enter), because you can see the best pictures being photographed nationally and internationally.
5 Star
- In 5 Star, photographs are judged at an International Salon standard.
5 Star Honours
- Congratulations! This is the highest rating in the club. If you reach this level you will, no doubt, be an expert photographer.
- To stimulate your photography further, the PSSA offers competitions such as the Impala Trophy, so please visit their website, a link to which can be found in the "Photographic Links" menu of this website.
