Christina Martin, Cr.Photog., CPP Julie Kim, CPP MDPPA Co-Print Chairmen

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2 Christina Martin, Cr.Photog., CPP Julie Kim, CPP MDPPA Co-Print Chairmen

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4 Class Agenda Why Print Competition? 3 Levels of Print Competition MDPPA Degrees How Images are Judged What Makes a Merit Image File Preparation and Submission Print Competition Rules Updates/Clarifications Monitor Calibration Helpful Hints Student Image Critiques

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6 Why Print Competition? Challenge yourself Learn how to improve upon your photographic skills Earn recognition and admiration from your peers Improve your business Be motivated and inspired to grow Earn degrees (locally and nationally) Peer mentorship Attend multiple print competitions (quarterly/annual) Ask for a critique for feedback First step in the print competition journey

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8 Levels of PPA Competition 1 - MDPPA (Maryland Professional Photographers Association) Local/state judging; enter digital images into the Quarterly Digital Image Competition (3 times per year) If an image does not merit, there is an automatic critique Take notes of what the judges say, not just your images but everyone s images Make changes and enter the image again Once it merits quarterly; enter it into the Annual Print Competition

9 Levels of PPA Competition 2 - SEPPA (South Eastern Professional Photographers of America) District judging Can order recorded critiques of your images Anything that merits here automatically will merit at national only if the image is entered as is within the same year 3 - PPA (Professional Photographers of America) National/international Can order recorded critiques on your images Earn a Master of Photography and/or Master Artist degree

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11 MDPPA Degrees Associate Fellow of Photography (A.F.Ph.) Black ribbon with gold medallion 25 merits - all service merits Fellow of Photography (F.Ph.) Gold ribbon with gold medallion 25 merits - 15 must be print merits, 10 merits can be service or print Combined Degree (A.F.Ph., F.Ph.) Black & gold ribbon with gold medallion Consists of all of the above +25 Gold Bars After the attainment of any of the above degrees a 25+ Gold Bar will be awarded for each additional 25 merits that an individual earns. Gold Bars are earned for any combination of service and print merits.

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13 Image Judging Process Panel of 3-5 highly experienced photographers with tested judging experience individually score the image Every image is judged based on its own merits Average of jurors scores becomes panel s score Juror may challenge panel score as too low or high During challenge, each juror speaks, either for or against image. Re-vote takes place after challenger s final remarks. Different jurors may re-challenge until panel is satisfied.

14 Digital/Print Image Scoring An 80 or above gives you a merit, but what do the scores mean? SCORING Exceptional Superior Excellent Deserving of a Merit Above Average Average 69-0 Below Exhibition Standards

15 The Majority Challenge This automatic challenge takes place when the minority of the panel merits or prevents an image from meriting The judges will discuss and rescore the image If this happens a second time, then the score stands This eliminates the need for the previously used ins/outs procedure where images scoring a 78 or 79 are brought back at the end of the category for a second look

16 Lessons Learned from Judging Class Jurors must score an image within 20 seconds (goal) Jurors DO NOT subtract points from 100 to arrive at their score Based on experience, juror places image in a category; then selects a numeric score within category Best panels have a mixture of photographers: Some resonate with feelings that the image captures Others emphasize technical excellence Best images offer excellence in both arenas

17 How Images are Judged For additional information, watch PPA s video Photographic Competition: How Images Are Judged

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19 12 Elements of a Merit Print 1. Impact 2. Creativity 3. Style 4. Composition 5. Print Presentation 6. Center of Interest 7. Lighting 8. Subject Matter 9. Color Balance 10. Technical excellence 11. Technique 12. Story Telling

20 12 Elements of a Merit Print For an in-depth discussion on the 12 elements: The Twelve Elements of a Merit Image: Part 1 The Twelve Elements of a Merit Image: Part 2 The Twelve Elements of a Merit Image: Part 3

21 Take-Aways Perhaps 12 elements can be summarized: Impact Lighting and composition Emotion and storytelling How well an image works is subjective, but experienced photographers will often agree on merit-worthy images. Not every image that follows the rules is a merit image.

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23 File Preparation and Submission Instructions can be found here: 2019 MDPPA Annual Print Competition - Enter Your Images We use to process our entry registration and scoring Entry fees must paid by the deadline NOTE: You are responsible for knowing how much you owe (the pink box has directions)

24 MDPPA Submission Details DIGITAL IMAGES or PRINTS for ANNUAL Both!!! ELIGIBILITY member in good standing; dues paid 30 days prior to competition; non-members may enter for score only (no awards, merits, etc) DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES Thursday, 1/17 11:00 pm (early); Thursday, 1/24 11:00 pm (late) ENTRY FEES, NUMBER OF ENTRIES ALLOWED Case fee (4 images in Open Category + 1 MD image and/or 4 images in Artist category); $95 (early), $125 (late), $125 (nonmembers)

25 MDPPA Submission Details Print Competition Categories/Sub Categories Photographic Open - Category (Case = 4 images + 1 MD) Artist Category (Case = 4 images) Album/book Commercial Illustrative Portraits Wedding/Events Maryland (Annual only) Artist

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27 MDPPA Print Rules Updates The MDPPA Maryland Loan Collection now includes both the MDPPA Maryland Loan Collection and the MDPPA Court of Honor (This represents the top 20% of all meriting images at the MDPPA Annual Print Competition)

28 MDPPA Print Rules Reminders Commercial - The intent of this category is to sell a product or service. Commercial entries can include architectural, real estate, and product photography. People and animals are allowed as long as they are not the main subject of the image. Tear sheets are not required but are encouraged because it helps the judges understand the commercial use of the entry. Tear sheet must be uploaded as a separate file with the entered image. Artist - Entries in this category will be judged for digital, artistic and technical proficiency. Entries can be created using digital or traditional art (such as painting and airbrush) or a combination of both. Entries may be reproduced from existing photographs, portraits, graphics or any other artwork so long as the entrant is prepared to provide appropriate written documentation indicating permission for usage. All processing, manipulation, artwork or rendering must be done by the entrant. Printing may be done under their direct supervision. Guide images are necessary and must be presented on the same mat as the finished image with the guide images to the right or below the main image.

29 MDPPA Print Rules Reminders No images created during any instructional environment or as part of a class assignment are allowed in competition unless you are the instructor. No more than one entry of the same subject in the same competition is allowed Images may not be duplicates of previously merited images (score of 80 or above). Images that are substantially similar to previously awarded images are NOT permitted, singularly or as a part of a collection even if from a different original negative, transparency or digital file. The images submitted for competition must be new creative works made by the entrant.

30 PPA Print Rules Updates Same subject PPA now allows makers to enter the same subject in a single competition. The images must be significantly different from each other PPA has a new category Creative Open Your image and the finished work must be merit worthy Elements used in the finished work must be displayed on the presentation mat as you would for an entry in the artist category You can learn more about PPA s changes in this video: /

31 PPA District and IPC Judging District Judging June 2-7, 2019 Registration opens - April 5, 2019 Early deadline May 5, 2019 Late deadline May 22, 2019 IPC Judging August 18 23, 2019 Registration opens June 14, 2019 Early deadline July 18, 2019 Late deadline August 1, 2019

32 PPA District and IPC Judging Planned Judging Schedule for both Districts and IPC Day 1 and 2 Portrait and Wedding Categories Day 3 and 4 Illustrative Category Day 5 and 6 Artist Category Each panel of 18 judges will judge for 3 days Specialized judges for each category Notifications on your entries Sent only by (no text) My Images tab in your PPA account on the PPA website

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34 Monitor Calibration: Equipment Monitors Options PPA uses NEC 30 MDPPA uses BenQ SW Series 27 Calibration devices/software Options PPA uses Spectraview (NEC) calibration software MDPPA uses Spyder5 Pro

35 Monitor Calibration: Best Practices for Print Competition Reset monitor settings Warm up monitor for 30 minutes Dark room with ambient light, and no direct light on the monitor Frequency MDPPA uses PPA calibration standards

36 PPA Calibration Standards

37 Calibration Demonstration In class demonstration of calibrating an MDPPA monitor For additional information, PPA s video Photographic Competition: How Images Are Judged includes calibration information:

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39 Helpful Hints Use short titles 3-5 words, easy to pronounce, no abbreviations Unique titles help tell the image s story Physical printed images will be viewed under bright lights (set at ISO 100, second). Instruct your lab to print them for competition Be sure to finish the sides of your physical prints

40 Helpful Hints Ensure that nothing in the background sticks out of the subject s head plus remove any distractions

41 Helpful Hints When hands are shown, turn them to see the side of the hand Use proper posing - don t cutoff body parts at a joint If a body part can bend, then bend it

42 Helpful Hints Avoid cropping at a joint!

43 Helpful Hints Images should be presented on a mat (can be solid color, textured, black or white) Use a stroke around the image to separate it from the background, 3-4 pixels for a light background, 6-8 pixels for a dark background

44 Helpful Hints When photographing a profile, make sure it is a true profile When photographing a 2/3 view, make sure the nose does not extend past the far cheek and that you can see a little skin on the outside of the far eye

45 Helpful Hints Look for triangles and groups of three

46 Helpful Hints Horizons should be high or low, not in the middle

47 Helpful Hints Place subject on the third

48 Helpful Hints Show connection, relationship between multiple subjects

49 Helpful Hints Look for natural framing

50 Helpful Hints Look for leading lines

51 Helpful Hints Look for complimentary colors

52 Helpful Hints Make sure that there are details in very bright or very dark areas of the image Use proper lighting, off camera lighting, dramatic lighting

53 Blocked Up Shadows What does that mean? How to check for blocked up shadows in an image using Photoshop

54 Preparing an Image for Presentation To create an action for the digital presentation mat view this PPA video:

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56 Contact Christina Martin Julie Kim