Hi,

we are holding a competition in Coventry & Warwickshire for people with learning disabilities, many will have never taken a photography before. The judges are new to this and have asked me to come up with a simple guide to judging a photograph. Any suggestions?

If you like it say why, and if you don't like it talk about the bit you like.

If it leaves you indifferent tell them what excites you. If it awakens an emotion, be jubilant about it.

Do not try to be technical with line of thirds, perspectives etc. These rules can be very nicely broken.

If it is an absolute horrendous picture, say that the mixture of colours has been immaculately framed!

basically there is no thing like a horrible picture because it depends through which eyes you look at it.

Make sure you all have fun and don't take it serious

Simon's bang on with this.

The technical aspects of a photograph are useful to note, but are secondary in many respects. 

It's like Potter Stewart's definition of porn "I know it when I see it". Several images will jump out at you and the judging panel. Choose those irrespective of whether they adhere to notional standards of what is or is not a good photograph. Failing that, look for the ones that seem to suggest a back-story or that express the life the subject or the photographer leads.

Ultimately, photographic education adds consistency and meaning to the lucky happy snap moments, and because these newcomer photographers will lack some of that consistency and not have their visual language so clearly defined as yet, you may well be looking for potential as much as actual skill.

Plus, there's nothing better that to say to someone they 'have potential...'