Image Evaluation

This course introduces the student to various aspects of image evaluation.

Session 1

  • Introduction to definitions and competition types
  • Introduction to art elements
  • Introduction to design principles
  • Introduction to composition

Session 2

  • Introduction to bias (both judges and photographers)
  • Discussion on image mounting
  • Discussion on homework

Level 1

This course covers the concepts of basic evaluation, judging and giving feedback.

Session 1

  • Surviving public speaking
  • Judging  styles (discussion on club vs national / international competitions)
  • Scoring systems

Session 2

  • Exploration of art elements (a more in-depth study than previous)
  • Exploration of design principles (a more in-depth study than previous)
  • Exploration of art concepts (a more in-depth study than previous)
  • Exploration of composition (a more in-depth study than previous)

Session 3

  • How to critique
  • Giving feedback (several different methods)
  • Practical session

Level 2

This course continues from level 1 further refining image evaluation skills and introducing legal, ethical and technical aspects of photography.

Session 1

  • Difficulties with definitions
  • What judges look for a summary of Image evaluation

Session 2

  • Discussion on copyright
  • Discussion on ethics
  • Discussion on photography terms, eg bit, jpg, tiff etc and their uses

Session 3

  • Discussion on depth of field
  • Discussion of focus and how to achieve a sharp image
  • Judging digital Images
  • Judging printed images

Level 3

Level 3 introduces the student to the differences between photographic genres and how to judge them.

Session 1

  • Judging photojournalism
  • Judging street photography
  • Judging Documentary Images
  • Judging sports photography

Session 2

  • Judging landscape images
  • Judging seascape photography
  • Judging underwater photography
  • Judging aerial photography

Session 3

  • Judging still life photography
  • Judging food photography
  • Judging astro photography & night photography
  • Judging macro and close-up photography

Level 4

Level 4 continues from Level 3 into the study of the differences in various genres within photography.

  • Session 1
  • Judging abstract images
  • Judging monochrome images
  • Judging creative images
  • Image compositing and how to judge it.

Session 2

  • Judging wildlife & nature
  • Judging pet photography
  • Judging Portrait images
  • Judging wedding / group photography

Session 3

  • Judging a series/photo essay
  • Judging audio visuals
  • Judging a photobook
  • Judging architectural images

Level 5

Level 5 immerses the student into a deeper understanding of art aesthetics and the role that bias plays in image judging.

Session 1

  • Personal bias and its effects on judging
  • Understanding of art elements (in-depth study)

Session 2

  • Understanding of the design principles (in-depth study)
  • Understanding of design concepts & Gestalt theory (in-depth study)

Session 3

  • Art movements and photographic trends - up to 1850
  • Art movements and photographic trends - 1850 to current
  • Aesthetics in philosophy and its application to judging
  • Discussion on the great painters

Level 6

Level 6 continues the in-depth study of art aesthetics and colour theory, finishing with the development of the presentation skills of the student. 

Session 1

  • Introduction to colour theory
  • Colour psychology
  • Colour physiology

Session 2

  • Colour models
  • Colour harmony
  • Colour context
  • Colour management

Session 3

  • Basic teaching theory
  • Presentation skills