Critiques

The Camera Club of Laguna Woods Village will conduct five (5) Critiques this year and a Year-End Competition.

Images are evaluated by a professional photographer on composition, subject, and photographic merits.

Club critiques are open to all Laguna Woods Residents, and guests, however only Camera Club members may submit images. Join the Camera Club

Critiques are held via ZOOM, links are provided on this page and via the weekly email newsletter. Join the Non-member Mailing List.

The January and July 2026 Critiques will be hybrid Live & Zoom events.

2026 Scored Digital Critiques Schedule

• Mon. January 26: “Pets” (NON Scored) – COMPLETED

  Fifteen members participated on Zoom, 21 persons attended the live event at Clubhouse 5, Room 1
  January 26: “Pets” (NON Scored) critique page link

  Clubhouse 5, Room #1 and online via ZOOM

  Eligible subjects include household animals such as dogs, cat, fish, and birds kept as pets. They may include other animals such as reptiles found in pet stores.

  Enjoy great photography and expert commentary in the first live Critique since Covid. This return to viewing photography in person is open to ALL residents and their guests – refreshments will be served. Judge Larry Vogel is a professional photographer, expert in many genres and techniques, including Artificial Intelligence (AI). He will comment on member images in five categories – Altered Reality, Monochrome, Open Color, Smart Phones, and Special Subject “Pets”. Learn about the Camera Club, and how to improve your own photography.

• Mon. March 23: “Environmental Portraits” – NEXT
  Join the Critique via Zoom Link 6PM MON 03/23
  Environmental portrait photography tells a person’s story via their connection to a certain place, and often conveys the photographers point of view of their subject, or a particular message the photographer wants the view to perceive. Environmental portrait photos can be obtained by doing either a candid or a staged photoshoot. Portraits of this type often generate an emotion in the viewer, give insight into who these people are, what they do, and illuminate the subject’s character and their personality.
• Mon. May 25: “Blue”
  The color blue is often associated with tranquillity, peace, and serenity. In photography, blue tones can be used to create a sense of calm and relaxation, making it perfect for seascapes, vast skies or any scene that conveys a tranquil ambiance. Blue does not need to be the dominant color of the image, but must impact the finished photograph, either aesthetically or symbolically, or both.
• Mon. July 27: “Architecture”
  Live at Clubhouse 3 (PAC), Room #3 & on ZOOM
  Architectural photography is the art and practice of capturing buildings and structures, focusing on their design, form and function using specialized techniques like perspective control to present them accurately or artistically, balancing precise documentation with the aesthetic appeal for purposes ranging from marketing to fine art. It involves capturing exteriors, interiors, and structures, using natural and artificial light, and mastering composition to convey the essence of the built environment./span>
• Sat. August 15 – Annual Print Critique – Non-Scored
  Submission deadline: Tuesday August 11th
  Print Competition webpage
• Mon. September 28: “Night Photography”
  Night photography in all its varieties: landscape, astrophotography, urban, dioramas and light painting outdoors will be accepted as long as they maintain the essence of night photography. Star trails may be submitted (image stacking).
• Tues. December 14 – Year-End Awards Dinner
  Submission deadline: November 10th digital & print images
  Note:

Submission Rules

Please follow these NEW rules carefully. Send your submissions to the email address in the Rules PDF.

2026 Critique Submission Rules – V2 UPDATED (PDF Jan. 11, 2026)

Submit images no later than 5:00 PM the Tuesday before the event.

Judges & Scoring

Scored Critiques are evaluated by one Judge, who provides comments and gives a score for each image. The Judge presents these results “live” (Zoom) at the Critique meeting while the images are displayed by category, with titles, but no photographer names.

The Judges are recognized professional photographers, and are not members of the Club.

Our scoring system is based on points:

• 9 = Excellent
• 8 and 8.5 = Good
• 7 and 7.5 = Average
• 6 and 6.5 = Below Average

All scored photographs are exhibited on the Club web site by category, title, and photographer’s name. Scores are posted, and a YouTube link provided for the Critique recording.

The scoring system:

• Provides immediate evalution and recognition
• Helps participants determine their best images for entry in the Year-End Competiton

Contact the Critiques Committee: critiques@cameraclublwv.org

Other Events

Other Club events for submitting photographs are the Year-End Competition, Annual Print Competition, and Annual Slide / Video Competition.

For details, go to the Events Page.

Top-of-page

2025 Scored Digital Critiques Schedule

• January 27: “Reflections”
• Sat. February 22: “Pets” Non-Scored
• March 24: “Minimalism”
• May 26: “Silhouettes”
• July 28: “Street Photography”
• September 29: “Macro”

2025 Other Competitions and Events:

• August 2 – Annual Print Critique (non-scored)
• December 9: Year-End Awards

Completed 2024 Critiques

• January 24: Curves
• March 25: Yellow
• May 27: Flora
• July 22: Portraits
• September 23: Atmospheric
• October 23: Composites

2024 Other Competitions and Events:

• August 2 – Annual Print Critique (non-scored)
• 2024 Year-End Awards

Completed 2023 Critiques

• January 23: Night
• March 27: Macro
• May 22: Minimalism
• July 24: Water
• September 25: Candid
• October 23: Transportation

2023 Other Competitions and Events:

• August 2 – Annual Print Critique (non-scored)
• 2023 Year-End Awards

 

Top-of-page

If you need any assistance, please email cameraclub@cameraclublwv.org