SCACC End of Year Awards Event

Making Images That Matter: What Judges Respond to—and Why Viewers Remember

What elevates a photograph from competent to compelling? While judging often involves scores and categories, strong images consistently share deeper qualities that resonate with both judges and viewers alike. Vogel’s presentation explores the creative and technical elements that give photographs impact—intention, composition, light, emotional clarity, and visual flow—and how thoughtful choices can transform an average image into an outstanding one. By understanding how images are read and responded to by judges and viewers, photographers can make more deliberate decisions and create work that stands out in competition and endures beyond it.