The Importance Of A Good Judge...

Jonny D

The highlight of my bonsai year is fast becoming Harrogate Autumn Flower show where I show some of my trees (luckily enough Harrogate is where I am from, the show is currently taking place and one of show trees is in my album but has been restructured slightly and tidied and the other was shown in a clump maple post that i posted a couple of weeks ago).

The bonsai show has become the biggest ameteur show in europe with 400+ trees entered into several different catagories (this isn't to say that they are all good, they are not, whereas at somthing like the Gingko awards in Belgium you are garunteed that every tree on show will be exceptional (are you showing there this year walter?)) and is organised by my friend and bonsai teacher, who has won chelsea gold several times.

However this year I feel that it has been slightly marred (ruined is perhaps to strong) by the judge (who shall remain nameless). Many odd decisions have been made with very poor trees winning first and seconds, and the best in show couldn't be further off the mark IMHO (any bonsai person i have spoken to at the show has agreed that the judging has been extremley poor).

When I arrived yesterday this poor judging did slightly annoy and dis-hearten me, the judge in question had been selected as they were thought to have experience and be able to do a good bonsai, but this just goes to show that you can do bonsai along time and still be a poor judge of a good bonsai. Judging is also a priveliged position not a right when you gain experience and it appeared as though little thought had taken place on selection of winners and loosers. (I am aware that many of you may feel that bonsai is not a coimpetition and i agree but it is nice to recieve an award for your hard work)

My main concern with this is that this sort of judging holds back the development of bonsai as a whole as it discourages people with genuine talent, a passion for bonsai and novices to the art. Judging of this sort also wrongly influences the general public who see the show as part of the flower show, and do not understand that poor judging has occurred and percieve the poor trees to be very good.

I am not meaning to be overly critical of the judge or anyones tree but i feel that this thing should be discussed so that it does not happen in future. I am back at the show tommorrow to collect my trees and help pack up and i will take some digi pictures of the trees to convey the poor judging that has taken place and to show some of the good trees that have recieved no recognistion

Cheers Jonny.

P.S. Can anyone tell me how to reduce the file size of the pictures that i take as i've just got a new PC and have no idea how to.

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Jonny D

Walter, no need to answer the question I asked you I've just seen your other post.

Cheers Jonny.

K.A. Rutledge

Jonny,

In order to reduce the file size of images on your computer you need an image editing program: Macromedia Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, etc... There are some inexpensive, even free programs out there, but basically you get what you pay for. Optimizing entails exporting as a .jpg for photos and .gif for vector art.

As to the judging situation you describe, like others, I'll wait to see your descriptive images before having much of an opinion, but largely this is what you get when there is no cohesive organization with trained and certified judges.

Opponents of organizational judge programs will argue that it promotes nothing more than "party line" criteria. However, look at the alternative - worthless chaos. When there is a basis for judging criteria, there is always room for accommodation. When there is no basis for judging criteria, the judging usually is meaningless for all involved.

Kind regards,
Andy Rutledge
www.bonsai365.com/
zone 8, Texas

Jonny D

Andy, thanks for the info on reducing the file size. I'll get the photos sorted so you can all see why i'm so concerned at what has happened at the show this year.

Jonny.

DavidN

I'm really looking forward to seeing these photos. Also please include what you thought were the better trees.

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Bonsai Northwest Inc, Melbourne, Australia

Bonsai Flora Nursery in Yarraville, Melbourne