Image Competitions are great opportunities for a photographer to learn and continue to develop their skills as an artist. In this class, we will review the 12 elements of a merit image standard and how these elements are part of the image evaluation process for many competitions. These 12 elements include: Impact, Technical Excellence, Creativity, Style, Composition, Presentation, Color Balance, Center of Interest, Lighting, Subject Matter, Technique and Story Telling. Each of these elements will be discussed in detail (with examples), helping each attendee understand the intricacies that judges consider when evaluating images.Attendees are also invited to bring their own images to be discussed during the class.