2006 State Fair Exhibits FAQ

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Prepared by Mitchell Hoyer
4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator

Each year brings a new set of questions from 4-H members, families, and extension staff. Here are some questions from previous years we thought would also be useful for 4-H members, families, and exhibit judges. If you have an exhibit question, contact your local extension office or send your questions to me at mhoyer@iastate.edu.

Photography

Q. Can you please clarify what is meant by “current work” in the State Fair 4-H Photography classes?

A. This statement in the special photography rules is intended to apply to classes 851A and 851B – the two “photo exhibit” classes in photography. The intent is that a photograph represent current work, and is consistent with our state fair general rule #8 which says (in part) "The exhibit is to be an outgrowth of work done to accomplish a goal(s) determined by the member or group during the current 4-H year." That wording has been in place for many years (since at least 1971). There is no problem from a practical standpoint with counties using a "fair to fair" definition of current work. That will be our working guideline for state fair as well.

The statement was added to the photography class to reinforce the intent of general rule #8. Keep in mind also the sequence that should happen: Member sets goals, member determines activities to work toward goals, member determines exhibits that will either help reach goals or that demonstrate what was learned as he/she worked toward goals.

If a member sets new goals and begins work on new techniques or methods very shortly after his/her county fair (but prior to Sept 1), certainly we can say it is a new year. It is a bit of a stretch to use a photo taken the summer prior to setting current year project goals or prior to the previous county fair and then say it is an outgrowth of the current year's work. If we are at state fair 2006 and see a photo which is dated June, July or August 2005 it will not raise eyebrows. A photo with a date of April or May 2005 will be suspicious. If the photo exhibit is a series, the majority of the photos in the series should represent current work. This will not be an issue for most exhibitors.

Q. In photography class 851A (Mounted photograph or series), the photo is required to be at least 5 x 7 inches. If the photo is matted, how much of the photo must be visible?

A. At least 5 x 7 inches of the photo must be visible through the matte opening. The size of the photo refers to the viewable area of the photo to be evaluated. 4-H members who wish to exhibit smaller photos may do so in exhibit class 851B. Photos in class 851B also do not have to be mounted or matted. They may be mounted if the member wishes, but the 851B class offers a lower cost exhibition opportunity for 4-H'ers.

Q. A 4-H member took some photos he wants to bring to the county fair. He is planning to have them enlarged. The photos have a date/time stamp on them. Is it OK to have the date/time on the photo for exhibition in photography classes?

A. If the member plans to exhibit the photo, he should crop the image so the date/time stamp is removed or matt the photo to cover the stamp. The member wants the viewer's attention to be directed to the photo, not a set of bright orange numbers in the corner. Leaving the stamp on the photo is a distraction and takes away from the overall presentation of the exhibit. If the member is going to enlarge the photos, he should be able to crop the date/time out of the final viewable image.

Q. A 4-H member used the computer to enhance photographs that she did not take, but pictures that family members have taken. Can this be exhibited in photography since she did not take the pictures?

A. If the 4-H member did not take the photos, we first rule out entries in class 851A or 851B. These two classes are appropriate only if the member took the photos, either with a conventional (film) camera, or with a digital camera. From there, we consider the goals of the member - project and exhibit. If the goal is to create an altered photo or demonstrate a photographic technique (photo enhancement would fit), then class 851C - Contemporary/Creative Photography or 851D - Photography Idea could be appropriate. Read carefully the description for 851C. An exhibit in this class would use photography or photo manipulation techniques and tools to create an image markedly different from the original.

The question did not state how extensively the member altered or enhanced the photos. If they enhanced the photos to lighten, darken, remove red eye, add a tree to the background, etc., class 851D is probably a better choice - depending on the goals. The member will need to very clearly state they did not take the photos, clearly identify the source of photos (include permission to use if needed), and give a complete description of the enhancement process. To make a stronger exhibit, they should discuss the process, techniques, etc. and use the photos as examples. (before and after, series of steps, etc.)

Q. I have a question regarding Special Rules for Photography Classes at the Iowa State Fair. I have a 4-H'er who has a digital photo which she has altered to be antique brown. This would not be black and white, but would it be color? (Special Rule #1). Can she exhibit the photo and if so, in what class?

A. This photo could easily be exhibited in class 851D - Photography Idea. Part of the class description says Photos or educational displays in this class may make use of creative camera techniques, darkroom techniques, mounting and exhibit techniques......" She took a digital photo, left the basic image alone, and then altered it to make it into the antique brown color shades. This fits in the 851D class. I'd suggest she not enter it in 851C "Contemporary/Creative Photography" since that current class description talks about altering the photo so the original image is not recognizable. In this case, that's not what she did.

Q. Are photographs that are enlarged and printed on a copier acceptable for exhibition? Wondering if the interpretation of "commercial reprint" is open to printing shops that use color copiers to enlarge and reprint pictures .

A. Yes and Yes. The member will use Question #7 on the Photography Exhibit Label to tell who enlarged the print. Whether the enlargement and/or reprint was done by a family friend or any commercial business, if done by other than the 4-H member, it needs to be described here. The member should further describe his/her choices of where to enlarge, process, colors, reprints, what was learned, what they would do different, etc. etc. in Questions #10 - #13. Deciding where to have enlargements made and evaluating quality of different processors is part of the learning process for a 4-H member.

Q. How do youth that use digital cameras and print their own pictures tell about their techniques for photography exhibits?

A. The photo exhibit label form was revised in 2002 so members may better describe their digital photographic techniques and processes. Members using digital cameras to take photos and then print their own photos using home computers and printers need to give special attention to Questions #1, #6, and #8. They will use the "Digital Camera" section of Question #1 to tell about their digital camera. If they print their own photos, they will answer "Yes" to Q. #6. To Q. #8, they will answer "Yes" to "Computer generated photo from digital camera" and then fill in the information about type of printer, resolution, and type of paper used. They'll want to describe in more detail the process used, any retouching or enhancements done, etc. in Questions # 10 - #13.

Q. If a 4-H member enters a photograph as part of a series, can they make a duplicate print of it and also enter is separately as an individual photograph in another class?

A. Yes, they could use the same photo for both. In one case the photo needs to stand alone. In the other, even though the overall quality of the photo is important, it's evaluated as part of a group, and needs to help tell a story, etc. The whole series needs to tell a story, demonstrate a relationship, whatever. There would be some differences in the evaluation of a series compared with evaluation of a single photo.

My daughter did something similar once. What I recall is she selected one of a series for an individual photo, and the judge told her he wished she would have selected one of the other photos in the series for an individual photo because he felt a different one was a stronger single photo. Part of the learning!

Q. I took a photo of two dogs and plan to exhibit the photo at my county fair. As I evaluated the photo, I liked the pose of one of the dogs. I think I could crop the photo to make an interesting image of the one dog. Can I exhibit both photos (two dogs and one dog) at the fair, even if both photos came from the same original image?

A. Yes. Evaluating your photographs and then making decisions about the final image to print is part of the learning in the photography project area. You should be prepared to discuss the photo choices, cropping process, and reasons for selecting which of your photos to exhibit. It appears your original intent was to photograph the two dogs. What was it about the photo that caught your eye and made you want to isolate the one dog? It's reasonable to expect that a judge may ask you which of the two photos you prefer, or which photo you feel is the best, and why.

Q. A 4-H member took a photo of her sister in a track meet. Another contestant is behind the sister in the photo. Does she need permission from the second girl to exhibit the photo at the fair?

A. No. The high school tract meet was a very public event. Track meets are routinely covered by newspapers and other media, and participants have no expectation of privacy during their participation in such events. The photograph is of two participants in a track meet. It does not present the participants in any false light, is not of an embarrassing nature or offensive, and is not being used for publicity or other commercial gain. The photograph itself does not reveal personal information about the subjects. For a 4-H photo exhibition, the member (in this question) does not need a photo release to exhibit the photo.

If the 4-H member who took the photo wants to use the photo for other purposes, or perhaps even sell the photo, then permission will likely be needed from the subjects of the photo. This is not because of a privacy issue, but a right of publicity issue. If you use a photo of me for commercial gain, even one taken in a public place, I may have some rights to also benefit from that gain. I may also have some rights to prevent use(s) of my image.

Q. We have a young 4-H'er who bought a camera kit and assembled it. The camera actually works. The member is trying to determine what class to exhibit this in. His goal was to assemble the camera, learn about camera parts, and take pictures. We're also concerned about the camera being made from a kit. What should he do?

A. This is a great exhibit for exhibit class 851D, “Photography Idea”. His goals of learning about cameras by assembling one fits well with this class, and his goals and exhibit are clearly an outgrowth of his work and interest in the 4-H Photography project area. It's very appropriate to use a camera assembled from a kit to learn about and work toward his goals, especially given the age and experience (10 years old) of this member.

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Graphics used by permission of Iowa State Fair