So let’s review. I submitted six photos and one latch hooked rug to the Big E this year. Three of the photos (and the latch hooked rug) were accepted, three photos were not.
Yesterday, I received my results on all my entries.
As I’ve said before, the Big E uses a Danish system of judging and scoring – you earn points on various technical and aesthetic goals, and if you reach a certain threshold, you receive a ribbon.
Here’s the standards for the photos –
| Ribbon | Adult Average Score |
| Blue – Excellent | 8.99 – 10 |
| Red – Very Good | 8.63 – 8.89 |
| White – Good | 8.38 – 8.62 |
| Not Accepted for Display | Below 8.37 |
So if my total overall score for a photo averaged 8.36 or worse, the photo was not shown.
So let’s review. Here’s my infrared action photo, Neck and Neck and Neck.
Title: Neck and Neck and Neck
Technical: 7.5
Composition & Design: 7.5
Impact: 7.5
Family Oriented/Theme: 10
Total Average Score: 8.130
Ribbon: Not Accepted
Judge’s Comments: Nice capture of the action, however there are some technical issues. The horses do not seem to be in focus. The image should be cropped from the left so that the horses are not centered (should always have room to travel into the image).
Okay. Will need to work on this one some more.
How about that bird on a pole, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
Title: Can You Hear Me NOW?!?!?
Technical: 4
Composition & Design: 6.5
Impact: 7
Family Oriented/Theme: 10
Total Average Score: 6.880
Ribbon: Not Accepted
Judge’s Comments: More color saturation than needed, but an interesting composition.
Ouch. A 4 in technical?
The third photo that missed the cut was the Petzval Dandelion.
Title: Petzval Dandelion
Technical: 5.5
Composition & Design: 3.5
Impact: 5.5
Family Oriented/Theme: 10
Total Average Score: 6.130
Ribbon: Not Accepted
Judge’s Comments: Dandy shot! When they go to seed they have so much complexity getting even closer and sharper increases interest.
Composition and design earned a 3.5?? Mental note. Work harder on conveying the Petzval concept.
Okay. Those three got bounced. Let’s see how the judges felt about the other three images.
I received a third place silk for Arrival in Sherbrooke.
Title: Arrival in Sherbrooke
Technical: 7
Composition & Design: 8.5
Impact: 8.5
Family Oriented/Theme: 10
Total Average Score: 8.500
Ribbon: White
Judge’s Comments: This is a great image – great composition and the colors bring great impact as does the line of the train. This would be improved by removing the artifact/noise especially in the sky either with software or decreasing the ISO. Great image – well done!
Okay. I’ll take that.
My second infrared photo (and the only one of the two that made the cut) was Carissima in Infrared.
Title: Carissima in Infrared
Technical: 8.5
Composition & Design: 8
Impact: 8
Family Oriented/Theme: 10
Total Average Score: 8.630
Ribbon: Red
Judge’s Comments: Statue is not sharp. I would have cropped much closer to make subject the dominant feature in the image.
Um … I’ll take the second place ribbon, thank you … but you know I’m going to try to put together an infrared superstar shot. And maybe shoot it with a Petzval lens. You know I will.
But as for the one blue ribbon entry, Soaring on a Manhattan Morning …
Title: Soaring on a Manhattan Morning
Technical: 9.5
Composition & Design: 9.5
Impact: 9.5
Family Oriented/Theme: 10
Total Average Score: 9.630
Ribbon: Blue
Judge’s Comments: You don’t “take” an image…you “make” an image! Your patience and control here are evident! Well timed and positioned setting sun, great catch on the bird, and excellent composition, color and presentation make this a very special image!
There we go. That’s the kind of feedback that makes me happy.
Oh, and I received a handwritten evaluation on my first-place ribbon-winning bicolor sunflower latched hook rug. And let’s see what the judges have to say about it.
Wow. Seriously, wow. This judge gushed over my rug like it brought the entire New England Center room together.
So that’s where I stand in Competition Season 2025. Not my strongest results, only ribboned three photos and they were all in Springfield.
But now it’s time to build for 2026.
And you know I’ve got those comments from the Big E on my bulletin board wall.
You simply KNOW it.
Chuck The Writer 
Impressive write-up, suitable for framing.
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I’d critique the judges’ critiques but no one cares what I think so …
‘Soaring’ has no flaws at all.
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