Critiques

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

Critiques offer members the ability to have their images assessed by a professional photographer. These Judges provide insights on composition, exposure, lighting, color management, post-processing, and other techniques to improve our photographic skills.

You do NOT have to submit images to sit-in on a Critique. This is a great way to learn, and to prepare for your first entries.

Critiques are currently held via Zoom, except the January Critique which will be both in person at CH 5, and on Zoom. Advance email flyers provide dates, deadlines, submission guidelines, and the specific Zoom link.

The Critique schedule is listed below, with Special Subject definitions. Critiques are also posted on the Club Calendar.

Submission guidelines (PDF), are listed below the schedule. Read these rules carefully, as they change year to year.

Most Recent Critique.

Archived Critiques – prior 2021.

Year End Competition.

2026 Scored Digital Critiques Schedule

  • Mon. January 26: “Pets” (NON Scored) – COMPLETED
    Clubhouse 5, Room #1 and online via ZOOM
    Doors open 6:15 pm for refreshments, Critique starts at 6:30 pmRequest for Gate pass

    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.

    Fifteen members participated on Zoom, 21 persons attended the live event at Clubhouse 5, Room 1.

    Link to event web page soon.

  • Mon. March 23: “Environmental Portraits” – NEXT
    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”
    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.

2025 Scored Digital Critiques Schedule

2025 Other Competitions and Events:

Completed 2024 Critiques

2024 Other Competitions and Events:

Completed 2023 Critiques

2023 Other Competitions and Events:

 

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