Reflections on Judging a Camera Club Competition

Last night I had the pleasure of judging at a local camera club, and I came away with several reflections I’d like to share.

First, the club itself deserves real credit. It is friendly, welcoming, and clearly growing in membership. There is a wide range of ages and photographic interests represented, and it stands out as one of the most welcoming clubs I’ve judged at. It appears well organised, and the competition entries showed a broad spectrum of experience and ability. But drawing from my experiences over the last year of so …

The Confidence Question

One story I hear again and again when visiting clubs is that competitions tend to be dominated by a small core of regular winners. Those with less confidence often hesitate to enter at all.

Confidence is a real issue. Competitions can, unintentionally, become divisive. They can create a perceived hierarchy — a sense that some members are “better” than others. This can become self-fulfilling: the confident members grow stronger and more assured, while the less confident gradually withdraw.

That is not healthy for any creative community.

The Double-Edged Nature of Competition

I have genuinely enjoyed judging competitions over the last year or so. In fact, it has improved my own photography. Being required to articulate what makes a strong image forces clarity of thought. And when I cannot define precisely why an image works, I’ve learned to relax into that mystery rather than cling rigidly to rules.

Competitions are, in many ways, a double-edged sword.

On the positive side:

• They encourage participation.
• They stimulate engagement with club activities.
• Judging can promote technical learning and progress.

But we must also be aware that the very mechanisms that make competitions effective can, if unchecked, become corrosive.

When Photography Becomes a Sport

In some instances, club photography begins to resemble a sport. League tables, points systems, and rankings can feel uncomfortable. Elevating particular individuals to near-celebrity status may satisfy some egos, but it risks distorting the purpose of the club.

Judging outcomes are inevitably limited. They are shaped by:

• The subjective views of the judge.
• A relatively narrow set of criteria designed to ensure fairness.

Ironically, those criteria can sometimes reduce photography to a prescriptive formula — encouraging rule-following over artistic exploration.

That said, I do not wish to be overly negative. For many members, the competitive element is exciting, stimulating, and rewarding. It adds energy and focus.

But we must remain mindful of those who feel excluded by it.

Risk-Takers and Rule-Followers

Over the years, I have seen many innovative and creative photographers willing to experiment and take risks. They produce unusual, sometimes challenging work. If that work is dismissed because of technical “imperfections,” those individuals may feel discouraged.

This creates two broad tendencies:

• Those who conform to established rules and feel rewarded.
• Those who experiment and feel undervalued.

Of course, this is a generalisation. Reality is more nuanced. But the risk is real enough that we should be alert to it.

Returning to Founding Values

Camera clubs and photographic societies would benefit from revisiting their founding values.

If a club genuinely aims to be open and to encourage photographic progress — not just personal achievement, but the development of photography itself — then it must embrace a wide range of approaches, styles, and philosophies.

Photography has transformed radically since its inception, particularly in recent years with digital techniques and artificial intelligence. We cannot afford to judge as though we are still in the Victorian era.

Creating Space for Creative Flourishing

The priority, as I see it, is to create an environment in which creative people can flourish — and be rewarded for taking risks and breaking the mould.

Photography should not stand still as an art form. Nor should our personal practice become stagnant. We want to feel the breeze of constant freshness moving through our work — an ongoing excitement about how photography can evolve and be deployed in new ways.

A Thoughtful Way Forward

In conclusion, camera clubs might consider:

• Revisiting and updating their core values.
• Reflecting carefully on how competitions are structured.
• Designing categories and themes that are open enough to encourage surprise and originality.
• Ensuring participation is as wide and inclusive as possible.

Competitions can remain an important and vibrant part of club life — but only if they serve creativity rather than constrain it.

If we get that balance right, camera clubs will not only nurture skilled photographers — they will nurture brave ones.