I was so thrilled to be asked to be a judge for the latest round of awards at This Is Reportage Family. It's such an honour to be selected as a judge with four others from around the world to help choose the winners of this round. I've now finished going through almost 5000 images and the standard is sky high! I can't wait to see who the final winners are!
You may know I won a couple of awards myself in the last round so I know how special it feels to be awarded in this genre. Family documentary isn't easy, there's a talent to creating art out of everyday family life so these awards are very special in recognising that fact.
One of my awarded images went on to be featured on Bored Panda and Vanity Fair so it can also lead to some great press and more recognition.
It's great to get more judging experience under my belt, having previously been on a panel for the Click Pro Photographers' Daily Of The Week contest. It's fun yet difficult and quite different to choosing images to publish in This Detailed Life magazine, I find I look for different things depending on what I'm selecting for.
It's also helpful experience for when I'm mentoring and teaching other photographers as one of the most helpful things I find is a portfolio review, so judging and curating experience helps when evaluating the work of others individually too.
I also feel a lot more responsibility when choosing images for awards, it's not just to fit a page aesthetic, an article or a theme but has to have that special something as well as showing the general talent and technical knowhow of the creator to deserve a place in that world class award category. They'll be announced very soon so keep an eye out on This is Reportage: Family website!