Print Tips
Following are some helpful Q&A's.
Q: "Why must prints be submitted mounted?"
A: Submitting work mounted on some kind of backing (an over-mat
is not required) contributes greatly to ease of handling, actually
helps protect your print from damage through creasing / bending,
and allows easy displaying in our print viewing box.
Q: "I have a difficult time choosing titles
for my prints. What should I do?"
A: Every image has a default title built in. It is what it is.
Simply state the obvious. When you look at your print, what do
you see? Call it that. Although titles very rarely have any impact
on judging (they shouldn't), they are necessary in that they make
all the paperwork associated with running monthly and annual print
competitions easy to deal with.
Q: "I have prints that have only won Honorable
Mention in monthly competition. Is there any point in submitting
them into the Print of the Year competition?
A: YES!! This past season Print of the Year in two categories
were Honorable Mention winners in regular monthly competition.
Q: "Is it necessary to compete in all categories?"
A: No. Simply participate in those categories that interest you
most, or you find to be the easiest to prepare entries for. You
can stick with particular categories if you wish to work toward
their "High Point Total" award at the conclusion of
the competition season.
Q: "I'm not sure which of my images a judge
might like. I have a hard time
deciding which prints will do well in competition."
A: There are a great many opinions on what kind of work has an
"edge" with the judges. It's difficult to predict how
well an image will do because it depends greatly upon what else
has been submitted. To ensure that your entry has the best shot
at a good score, make sure it has been crafted with the highest
degree of quality you, or your print service is capable of delivering.
Avoid using a mat that diverts attention away from your image.
Q: "Don't long-time members have an advantage
in competition? They already
know what particular judges like."
A: They might THINK they know what they like. It's human nature
to try to submit images that you think a judge might favor over
others. If a judge is known to travel all over a particular part
of the globe, some folks feel there's an advantage in submitting
work depicting areas where the judge has done a fair amount of
his own photography. There isn't. The best policy is to submit
work that pleases YOU most. Whether it flies high and receives
an award, or simply draws a bit of constructive criticism, the
image had merit…. or you wouldn't have selected it as an
entry.
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