Impact: This 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
Lighting: The use and control of light is central to photography and critical to Judges.Regardless of whether the light applied to an image is man made or natural, Judges will look for the effective use of it in order to enhance an image and the purpose of the image.
Story Telling: This refers to the image's ability to communicate to the viewer and evoke imagination
Subject Matter: This should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.
Technical Quality: Judges consider the quality of the image/print itself as presented for viewing.
Technique: This 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.
Creativity: Judges look for the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker to convey an idea, message or purpose.
Composition: This is central to the design of an image and should bring all 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.
Interest: This 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 centres of interest, and occasionally there will be no specific point of interest as the entire scene collectively serves as the focus of interest.
Use of colours: Judges look at the effective use of colours and tones in an image. An image in which the tones work together, effectively supporting the image, can enhance harmony. By contrast a lack of harmony can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.
Style: Judges look for a specific style ie your specific style. This can be defined in a number of ways. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognisable 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.
Presentation: Judges will look for a finished look. Borders are not allowed in the IOM Competition, but when submitting for a Print competition/panel, the mats and borders used, either physical or digital, should support and enchance both the submission and individual images.
