I had the privilege of judging over 87 images at the Professional Photographers of San Diego, a process that was both exhilarating and intimidating.  There were so many wonderful images (and the people were super fun)!     Providing constructive critique while issuing a score in the matter of minutes is definitely harder than it looks!  

Judging requires a careful analysis of the 12 Elements of a Meriting Image as outlined by the Professional Photographers of America.   While some of the elements are clearly subjective, others are not (as much).  Whether you are competing at a local level, or hoping to compete amongst those photographers at the state level or higher, being familiar with, and applying these elements will put you a step ahead.    Who wants to leave image scoring to chance?  

There were a few images in the print competition I would have scored higher had they had the presentation been applied.    No worries…since we all have to learn.   So, in the interest of education, I put a little video together that I hope will shed some light on how to create a mat presentation for your print competition images.    

The important thing is to showcase your image in a complementary style. Choose colors that are cohesive with your image and the story telling.    When in doubt, choose a black background color.   I favor selecting the darkest color in my image and work from there.    When I fill in the background color in Photoshop, I can always readjust as needed.    Hey, it’s a digital image, so nothing is destructive!   

Key line strokes are, well, just that:   A thin (no more than 3 pixel) line that surrounds your image. Again, choosing a complimentary mid-tone color is generally a safe bet.   You want to choose a color that compliments your image, and doesn’t draw the viewers eye away.   

Creating a double mat is just pure fun. Definitely not a must, but an enjoyable thing to create.   If you want to learn more about how to create a double mat, there a million tutorials out there.   But here is my own little process. 

Enjoy and create!