Tag Archives: qualified

Having received another national award this month, I thought it would be of interest to write about what this actually means, and to highlight the achievement that this symbolises.

As a member of The Guild Of Photographers, we are encouraged to submit an image into the monthly national competitions. Images submitted to these competitions are then judged by a panel. Scoring via a panel makes it more difficult to achieve any award, as you have to satisfy a group of judges, rather than just one individual, that your image is of a high enough standard.

Many images of a ‘competant’ standard do not achieve an award, known as a ‘Bar’. A Commended shot is basically a ‘solid’ image to be satisfied with. Obtaining a ‘Bar’ of any description is a difficult task as you have to satisfy the Panel your image is beyond the ‘norm’.

Here is how the scoring works:

Platinum Bar – World Class (yet to be awarded)
Gold Bar – Truely Exceptional (very rare)
Silver Bar – Very High Standard (very difficult to achieve)
Bronze Bar – High Standard (above the norm)
Commended – Good Professional Standard (a competant image)
Unclassified – Images that are not of national competition standards