Why Take This Course?

This course is not just for photographers looking to get involved in judging, but also for any photographer that wants to improve their photography.

  • Learn how to look at photographs, including your own, with a judges eye.

  • Gain a better understanding of what makes a good photograph in a variety of genres.

  • If you are interested in starting down the pathway of becoming a CAPA Certified Judge, this course is your first step.

Becoming a CAPA Judge

The process to become a CAPA Certified Judge is a multi-stage process.  

  • Step 1 is to complete the 'Introduction to Judging Course', an asynchronous course that you complete on your own time.


  • Step 2 is to complete the 'Judging Practice Workshop', which is a synchronous online course that is completed using Zoom.  


  • Step 3 is to join the 'Judge Certification Program'.  This is for CAPA members who wish to continue their training to become a CAPA Certified Judge.  During this phase of training, participants are referred to as CAPA Apprentice (CA) Judges, and their name appears on the National Judges List.

Pricing Options

CAPA Members save $65 off the Intro to Judging Course ($120) and $30 off the Judging Practice Workshop ($50) for a total savings of $95.

CAPA Member Pricing - $120.00

CAPA Members must use the member discount code available on the CAPA website when registering. Clicking on the button below to access the code.

CAPA Member Discount Code

Course curriculum

    1. WATCH Module 1-0: Introduction (0:10:05)

      FREE PREVIEW

    1. WATCH Module 2-0: Introduction (0:01:15) & DOWNLOAD Module Resources

    2. WATCH Module 2-1: Philosophy on Judging (0:04:52)

    3. READ Module 2-2: CAPA Judging Standards Policy (0:03:00 + Reading Assignment)

    4. WATCH Module 2-3: Ethics: Nature / Wildlife & Exploitation of People (0:04:49)

    5. READ Module 2-4: AI Generated Images in CAPA Competitions (0:08:00 + Reading Assignment)

    6. COMPLETE Module 2-5: CAPA Judging Methodology Quiz (0:05:00)

    1. WATCH Module 3-0: Introduction (0:01:39)

    2. WATCH Module 3-1: Overview (0:11:34)

    3. WATCH Module 3-2a: Technical Considerations Part 1 (0:09:43)

    4. WATCH Module 3-2b: Technical Considerations Part 2 (0:10:08)

    5. WATCH Module 3-3a: Composition Part 1 (0:09:43)

    6. WATCH Module 3-3b: Composition Part 2 (0:07:19)

    7. WATCH Module 3-3c: Composition Part 3 (0:08:11)

    8. WATCH Module 3-4: Post Processing (0:10:56)

    9. WATCH Module 3-5: Creating a Strong Emotional Connection (0:15:02)

    1. WATCH Module 4-0: Introduction (0:02:27)

    2. WATCH Module 4-1: Characteristics of a Great Judge (0:09:31)

    3. WATCH Module 4-2: CAPA Judging Style (0:06:33)

    4. COMPLETE Module 4-3: Characteristics of a Great Judge Quiz (0:03:00)

    1. WATCH Module 5-0: Introduction (0:01:41)

    2. READ Module 5-1: Judging Criteria Overview (0:12:00)

    3. READ Module 5-2: Image Evaluation: Creative Intent (0:08:00)

    4. READ Module 5-3: Image Evaluation: Organization (0:08:00)

    5. READ Module 5-4: Image Evaluation: Technical Quality (0:06:00)

    6. READ Module 5-5: Point Scoring Methods (0:09:00)

    7. WATCH Module 5-6: Structure and Flow of Feedback (0:12:21)

    8. READ Module 5-7: Phrases to Encourage and Phrases to Avoid (0:12:00 plus Exercises)

    9. WATCH Module 5-8: Photographic Vocabulary and Useful Terms (0:05:24)

    10. COMPLETE Module 5-9: CAPA Judging Process Quiz (0:09:00)

    1. WATCH Module 6-0: Introduction (0:01:23)

    2. WATCH Module 6-1: General Guidelines (0:09:30)

    3. READ Module 6-2: CAPA Competition Process, Policy and Procedures (0:05:00 + Reading Assignment)

    4. READ Module 6-3: CAPA Competition Rules & Judging Criteria (0:09:00 + Reading Assignment)

    5. WATCH Module 6-4: Adapting to Different Rules & Judging Criteria (0:08:34)

    6. READ Module 6-5: Online Judging (0:08:00 + Reading Assignment)

    7. READ Module 6-6: In-Person Judging (0:06:00)

    8. READ Module 6-7: Judging Live via Video Conferencing (0:06:00)

    9. COMPLETE Module 6-8: General Guidelines Quiz (0:07:00)

About this course

  • $185.00
  • 26 reading lessons - including 18 quizzes (4 hours); Reading Assignments & Exercises (1.5 - 2 hours)
  • 16 video lessons (3 hours)
  • Total Course Length 8.5 to 9 hours

Chief Instructor

Bill Hall - ACAPA

CAPA Canada Director of Judging

Bill got his first camera when he was thirteen. Within three years, he was shooting both 35mm and medium format film. Bill enjoyed doing his own processing & printing in his colour darkroom. He started working with digital files in 1996 and bought his first digital camera shortly after. Bill has diversified photographic interests. For several years, Bill and his wife, Deb, operated a part-time business focusing on portrait and wedding photography. In recent years, his interest has shifted to travel photography for its variety of styles and genres. Bill loves sharing his travel adventures through photography. Bill and Deb have hosted photo tours to Scotland and the Yukon, as well as co-hosting several day trips with Photo Tour Trekkers out of London, Ontario. In the 1980’s, Bill became interested in producing audio-visual sequences and began with two medium-format film projectors and audio cassettes. He has been producing digital shows since 2004. Bill’s award-winning shows cover a variety of subjects including travelogues, special events, documentary, and projects done just for fun. Bill spent several years developing and teaching technical training courses in the aviation industry and transferred this experience to his photography by offering workshops and seminars on various photographic subjects. Bill has been active in CAPA as a District Representative and sitting on multiple committees. He earned an Associateship (ACAPA) Honour in 2015 for his work with camera clubs and helping novice photographers learn the art and craft of photography. For over 20 years, Bill has judged prints, projected images, and audio-visual shows from the local to international level. He became a CAPA certified judge in 2011 and has been a Judging Course instructor since 2017. Bill is a member of multiple camera clubs in Southwestern Ontario and three Audio Visual groups based out of the United Kingdom.

Supporting Instructors

Manfred Mueller - ACAPA

CAPA Judge

Manfred is an award-winning, Ottawa based photographer and print maker. Serious photography has been part of his life since he was in his teens. After high school, he studied mechanical engineering and after graduating, Manfred worked as a Professional Engineer throughout his career. He has studied photography at both Algonquin College and the School of the Photographic Arts – Ottawa (SPAO). In 2024, he earned a college diploma in Photograph Arts and Production from SPAO. Manfred has attended workshops and master classes in Ottawa, Guatemala and India. Manfred is an avid travel photographer and has been to over different 60 countries. Closer to home, he does still life photography. His work has been shown at a number of Ottawa area galleries, including the Ottawa Art Gallery as well as at the Contact Photobook Fair in Toronto. He was a member of Ottawa’s RA Photo Club (RAPC), where he has attained the rank of “Master Photographer”. He was named “Photographer of the Year” at the RAPC in 2023. Manfred has held several executive positions at the RAPC, including Club Chair, Education Chair and Competitions Coordinator. He is a member of the Canadian Association for Photographic Arts (CAPA). He is a CAPA Certified Judge and has judged at the local, national and international levels. In 2024 he was named as an Associate Fellow (ACAPA), for a high standard of both photographic achievement and photographic service to CAPA. He is a member of CAPA’s Education Committee, Judge Training Committee and the AI Committee and had developed educational material for the organization. His work has appeared in Canadian Geographic Travel Magazine, the Ottawa Business Journal, Canadian Camera Magazine and PhotoED Magazine. His work has been used as part of the set in a Kanata Theatre stage production. His works are held in private and corporate collections across North America.

Jean-Marc Legentil

CAPA Judge

Jean-Marc Legentil is a seasoned professional, educator and passionate photographer based in Montréal. With more than four decades of experience in adult education and training, Jean-Marc has led workshops and given presentations for executive and manager audiences, specializing in continuous improvement, process management and innovation at institutions such as HEC Montréal. He is also the author of several books on continuous improvement and organizational excellence. Parallel to his professional work, Jean-Marc has cultivated a long-standing photographic practice. His interest lies in documentary-style photography: capturing people, places and the stories that connect communities. In 2025, two of his images were awarded sponsorship by the Canada Council for the Arts to illustrate the contribution of Collège Gérald-Godin — a recognition of how his visual voice can contribute to civic and educational narratives. In addition to his photographic and educational experience, Jean-Marc has served as a judge in photography exhibitions and competitions, bringing his critical eye and mentoring mindset to support emerging visual artists. His non-profit involvement further reflects his commitment to community: he has served on the board of directors of a theatre organization for teenagers and improv, and has been actively engaged with Moisson Montréal, one of Canada’s largest food banks — where he was honoured as Exceptional Ambassador in 2021. Combining his professional, educational and creative threads, Jean-Marc brings to CAPA a unique blend of visual literacy, adult-learning facilitation and community-oriented practice.

Joy Ruffeski

CAPA Judge

Joy Ruffeski has been playing around with photography since she was in her early teens and received a Voigtlander camera for her birthday. She prefers to be outdoors as anything in nature is her happy place. She explores all genres of photography but using creative in-camera techniques to capture the mood and essence of a subject is her passion.  Joy pursued a career in education with an emphasis on leadership as well as curriculum and staff development. Being a life-long learner, her various degrees, including her doctorate, allowed her to work with and train educators in many areas including discovery and experiential learning, gifted programs, special education, computers, and adult education. She has written curriculum for school districts and several universities. She finished her career as Campus College Chair in Education, organizing the Curriculum and Leadership programs and received the university’s award for Teaching Excellence.  She is now retired and serves as Executive Director of an NGO which provides scholarships so needy but intelligent students in rural Kenya and Tanzania can attend secondary school. For the society, she developed a 4-year understanding-based English program for the Tanzanian students. Joy personally trained teachers in its implementation, thus improving the success rate of school completion and entrance for students into university. As a CAPA Certified Judge Joy displays her passion for helping others improve the quality and impact of their images. She firmly believes that, as a judge, evaluation must be done in a manner that helps an individual improve her/his skills through the use of positive and constructive comments.