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  Ann Marie Crosmun September 22, 2011 at 11:45am

  If I recognize a judge, I will introduce myself, then, very briefly, I will point out my latest work, explain why it is my favorite & how I did it. If the judge asks any questions, I will respond quickly and in a polite manner-paying attention to the judge, as well as any customers in the booth. I do make sure that if there are any customers present, I speak loudly enough so that they can hear my explanations as well--you never know who will be engaged enough to ask a question.........
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  Katherine Graham Sarlson September 9, 2011 at 9:16am

  I appreciate it when I can actually see a judge enter my booth.  At several shows they simply don't appear.  That being said, I also appreciate judges who stop, take a minute, and actually look at what I do, rather than perform a brief panoramic scan of my booth.  I try to introduce myself and explain my art.  Because I am a silk painter, the various techniques that I use are not always readily apparent and an explanation (albeit brief) has proved to be very helpful. 

   
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  Ron Sloan September 7, 2011 at 9:21pm

  By the way, the panoramic photo was one of the first that sold during the fair.
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  Ron Sloan September 7, 2011 at 9:20pm

  Thank you all! I appreciate all the great input. The Judge I had at my last fair questioned one of my photos (panoramic shot) as to whether it was shot with a panoramic camera, or stitched together. It was stitched. I think he would have preferred the former,but it is what it is.

  My work is pretty straight forward landscapes,not much photoshopping,so they either appeal to the Judges or they don't. I guess the bottom line is that I sold a lot and had a lot of awesome comments from customers :)
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  Donna Sauers September 7, 2011 at 8:10pm

  Mary, thanks for your insight, and as an artist I always appreciate when a judge at least stops to introduce themselves and talks to me.  There are shows that I do that the judge stands back at least 5 ft from my booth and then puts his little green dot on my board and I think... yes... I am another jeweler but can you at least come close to my work?!  Sometimes there are nuances to a persons work and the process that a judge may not know unless they engage the artist.  I appreciate that you take the time to talk to us!
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  Larry Berman September 7, 2011 at 4:10pm

  Mary's answer is good as she is giving you an actual juror's prospective.
  
  I would have said unusual subject matter done very well and marketed toward the higher end buyer. I have always had different work but have marketed to the masses, which is why I never win awards. Except for a show I did this year where we had to submit a piece for jurying. Then my marketing didn't influence the jurors.
  
  Larry Berman
  http://BermanGraphics.com
  412-401-8100
  
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  Geoff Coe September 7, 2011 at 4:02pm

  Great insights here, especially Mary's comment on the work "damaged in transit."  It's almost impossible to avoid small nicks on an image, here or there...and I'll often offer a customer a discount on such work.  But I avoid hanging it until the jurors have completed their work. 
  I'm always amused by judges that attempt to remain incognito.  I like it when they introduce themselves.  But if they don't and I crack their disguise, I'll briefly introduce myself, make a one sentence statement--the best statement is one that proactively  provides an insight into my work or approach--and then step back. 

   

  I really appreciate it when jurors take a few moments to ask questions.  But I've never been successful at figuring out, based on the questions asked, if I'm going to win an award or not. 
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  Mary Strope September 7, 2011 at 1:17pm

  As a professional juror,i have to say the judging criteria depends on the show.  Some shows want one winner in each media category.  Others want best of show, honorable mentions etc. Some use criteria like originality, design, marketability.  Here is what i look for:  a body of work that is created with the utmost care.   Use of new media.  A new twist using an old medium. Fresh updated designs, colors.  Fresh ideas.  Not the same old thing i've seen for years.  The work is uniformly excellent, no expiraments gone bad sitting on their shelves.  No work that was damaged in transit on the shelves.  It sends a negative message to the audience.  I have made exceptions on damaged work if a big storm blew in during the show.  I love to engage the artist, if they are in the booth.  I always introduce myself as a judge and ask the artist to talk with me about their work.  I love that part!  If the artist isn't in their booth, or they are with customers, i review the work and move on.   Then i go back and look at my top picks again, if time permits.
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  Ron Sloan September 7, 2011 at 11:33am

  Alison....I did notice another photog that had primarily Black and White did win an award. You may be on to something :)
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  Alison Thomas September 7, 2011 at 11:19am

  As soon as you get the answer, let us all know.  Seriously, every judge is different and some (not all) of the award winners work I have looked at I really question what they were thinking.  Personal observation is that the majority of them in photography like big, black and white, and don't like canvas.