February 2022 Open Category

1. Before uploading a file, save your file using your first last names-image title as the filename, for example Filename: Joe Smith-Bending Willows.
2. When uploading your file, where it asks for the title and PollUnit has used your filename, remove your name and paste your name in the photographer field.
3. You can upload 2 photos here or 1 photo here and 1 photo in the Theme category.
4. When scoring, view these on a big screen - desktop monitor or cast to a TV monitor. Smart phones will not give a realistic view of image quality.
5. Consider each image on its own merits not against one another.
6. When evaluating photos, please consider the following criteria: Impact, Creativity, Style, Composition, Center of interest, Lighting, Subject matter, Color balance, Technical excellence, Technique, Storytelling, and Emotion.
7. When assigning points for most photos to a maximum of 15 points, use the following guidelines when scoring:

• Technical - up to 5 points
• Composition - up to 5 points
• Impact/Consistency with theme - up to 5 points

Caveat: For certain photos that are reality-based, such as journalistic photos taken in real-time, please consider giving more weight to "Impact/Consistency with Theme" and less weight to composition and technical as these photos often have composition and editing challenges (e.g. can't remove distractions, no control over lighting, etc)