Wow what an Honor!

I'm so excited that I have been asked to judge at a PPA event this year. Since earning the degree of Master Photographer (along with the 4 other degrees I earned) I have been wanting to become a Judge. I have sat in on countless hours (i added it up and it has to be over 300 hours of Print Judging) of Print Critique Judging both at the Regional Level and National Levels.

I don't recall how many prints I have had judged and awarded print merits and ribbons, trophies etc. But I am pretty sure I know what an award winning image looks like. There are 12 things to look for including, Impact, composition, color harmony, etc... etc.. etc..

My husband has told me for years that I would make an excellent judge, but if you know me, you know that I am my own worst critic. One year for example last year was entering prints into competition and I had 3 I felt pretty good about and I needed a fourth. My husband suggested an image that I created for a Senior boy from Rider. I told him I loved the print and so did the client, but that I was emotionally attached to it and that is a bad sign, it means that you are looking at it with eyes that arnt critical enough. You must be objective and remove all emotion from it and judge it on its own merit. So I looked at it with a Judges eye. Did it have the 12 elements of a merit print? I went one by one, Impact, Color Harmony, composition, lighting quality, etc... Yes It did, but I still felt it was not real strong. It was a very simple clean lines and straightforward print. But my husband reminded me. "IT TOLD A STORY.' and the story was clear. I gave it the title "Giving God the Glory" .

I was so surprised when it won best portrait of a Man for the state of Texas, and Best Overall Portrait by a Master!
I want to give others that thrill that their work has been scrutinized by several judges eyes and has passed the test of these professionals. I am going to attend Judging School in Florida later this year and hope to become a juror for both regional and national Photographic Print competitions.

Thanks to Mr. Kinchlow , who decided that I have what it takes to Judge my peers and to bestow such an honor on me.