What Are the Elements of an Awesome Photo?

As our certification program, WPPI-C, gets into full swing, this guide will help you navigate your submission requirements, and it’s used by our judges as a guideline in determining what makes an image work. These benchmark requirements also outline our annual print competitions (First Half, Second Half and WPPI The Annual’s 16×20 Print, Album and Filmmaking Competition). If you’ve participated in those, then you’re familiar with our judging criteria and considerations, plus our scoring:

100 Exemplary—Best possible use of all skills and creativity: new, fresh and unique
95-99 Superior—Approaching the highest standard in imagination, creativity and technique
90-94 Outstanding—Exhibiting exceptional skills in all areas
85-89 Excellent—Very good use of imagination, skill and technique
80-84 Above Average—Good standard of professional skill, creativity and technique
75-79 Average—Average professional skill and technique
70-74 Below Average—Requires improvement in technique
60-69 Below Professional—Not up to professional standards

Photo © Jason Groupp

PUT TO THE TEST
I submitted the above image from one of my own wedding shoots to some of our WPPI judges for comments and scores. In order for an image submission to pass WPPI-C requirements, submissions would need to score a 75 or above. Let the judging begin.

Bambi Cantrell: “I would score it an 85. It’s quite powerful, and choosing to leave the police officer in the image adds to the story.”

Melissa Ghionis: “I’d give it a 79. The contrast between the couple on the left and the awkwardness of the police officer on the right is a fantastic juxtaposition, but the cropping is a bit tight; it would benefit from having just a bit more breathing space on either side of the frame. Also, the perspective needs to be corrected because the lines are skewed at the top and edges of the frame from using a wide-angle lens.”

Christian Lalonde: “An 83 for a great photojournalistic image. I like the contrast between the main subject and the tension created with the officer. Cropping could be slightly looser, but overall a great image!”

STEPS TO AN AWARD-WINNING ENTRY
Strong Impression/Impact
Does the image have impact and a strong first impression? If the image “slaps” the judges in their faces so much so that they will never forget it, then chances are you have one of the key elements to an accepted photograph.

Lighting
Lighting creates mood, drama, texture, depth, dimension and shape, and helps communicate a desired message to the viewer. Is the brightest light visible on the desired point of interest? Is there evidence of a direction of light and catch lights? Does it flatter the subject? Poor lighting will adversely affect an acceptable image.

Posing/Placements of Elements/Design
You wouldn’t see a Michelangelo painting or sculpture with a subject that is poorly posed. Effective posing is either flattering or it helps communicate the message of the artist to the viewer.

Composition/Cropping/Point of Interest
How you bring the viewer’s attention to the desired area of the image is paramount. Remember, the brightest part of the image should be the artist’s desired point of interest.

Post Production/Detail in Highlights and Shadows/ Color Balance/Retouching
At first glance and a prolonged view, the quality of your entry must be refined. Poor post production is usually the first negative thing judges notice, including lack of detail in highlights and shadows, flat black tones, over sharpening, unreal HDR, poor color and poor skin retouching. “Invisible Photoshop” is usually the best approach. As in, evidence of what you have done in post production is not apparent.

Adapted from wedding photographer and WPPI Print Comp director Jerry Ghionis’ “10 Steps to an Award-Winning Entry.”

More

How Worldwide Competition is Upping the Wedding Photography Game

Valuable Tips and Advice from Prize-Winning Photographers on Entering WPPI’s First Half Competition

How to Win WPPI’s Print Comp