Naperville Photographer | International Print Competition Results

As a member of the PPA (Professional Photographers of America), I have the privilege of being among the best photographers in the country.  And every year, they host the IPC – International Print Competition.  For my world of portraits, it really is the superbowl of print competitions.  The competition level is insane, and the judging is super critical.  Images are judges on the 12 elements below as the “gold standard” to define a merit image.  Receiving a “merit” is the goal.  You can submit four images, and the goal is to always get four merits.

1.) Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. There can be impact in any of these twelve elements.

2.) Technical excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Retouching, manipulation, sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color are some items that speak to the qualities of the physical print.

3.) Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought.

4.) Style is defined in a number of ways as it applies to a creative image. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject. It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds.

5.) Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.

6.) Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used, either physical or digital, should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.

7.) Color Balance supplies harmony to an image. An image in which the tones work together, effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.

8.) Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest.

9.) Lighting —the use and control of light—refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.

10.) Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.

11.) Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, capture, presentation media, and more are part of the technique applied to an image.

12.) Story Telling refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image.

Now, if a print receives over an 85, it is rejudged for Loan.  Loan images are the best of the best and chosen to go out on display and be published.  Last year, my fighter image went Loan.  Here’s my images for this year.

This first one is titled, Patiently Poised.  It is the only image I specifically created for competition and just happens to also be my daughter.  If you come to the studio, you will see an earlier version of the image hanging as one of our Masterpiece paintings.  It scored a merit.

 

This next one is titled Pointe of Oddity and was done when I was doing some professional pictures of this dancer.  I thought it would be fun to do something bizarre. It also scored a merit.

 

This next one, titled, Taking Flight, originally merited but was challenged out of a merit. Boo!

 

But my last one, titled, Alone in the Lead, was my top scoring merit with 93 and also went Loan.  I took this one for a senior athlete this year and am so happy with how it has done in competition.

 

Earlier this year, I had entered it in the international competition for National Association of Professional Child Photographers, and it was honored as the winner for Best Senior image!