The competition category defines what is to be the main or predominating part of the picture, while observing the basic principles of good photography (impact, interest, composition and graphic quality). All images must be original and may not incorporate photographic elements produced by anyone else. Due to the meeting venue, nudity is not allowed in any category.
There are four categories: Assigned, General, Nature and Creative. Awards will be based upon the scores, with a percentage of the entries awarded ribbons for First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention in each of the four categories. Each individual may enter a total of four (4) images as long as at least one is in the Assigned category. If you choose not to submit an image in the Assigned category, you may submit a maximum of 3 images in General, Nature and Creative. A maximum of two images may be in the Assigned category, the remaining images can be entered in any of the other categories. One of your entries is eligible for a critique by the club members at the awards/show meeting. You may designate this one image with a ‘C’ at the end of the selected image title when you submit your images. *see Naming and Format section below.
Assigned (A)
Images must reasonably depict the topic which has been assigned. Any manipulation of the image is acceptable. A maximum of two images may be submitted in this category. If no image is submitted in this category, only three images may be decided between in the remaining categories.
General (G)
Any subject matter is acceptable. Any manipulation of the image is acceptable.
Nature (N)
Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict observations from all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archeology, in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and to certify as to its honest presentation.
The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality, while maintaining high technical quality.
Human elements shall not be present, except where those human elements enhance the nature story (such as burrowing owls on man-made wooden stands or birds on wood/wire fences).
The presence of scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals is permissible.
No techniques that add to, relocate, replace or remove pictorial elements, except cropping are permitted (i.e. no cloning).
Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or pictorial content are permitted, including HDR, focus stacking and dodging /burning are permitted.
The removal or manipulation of colors contained within the original image to enable the production of monochrome images is permitted.
Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots and digital noise are allowed.
All adjustments must appear natural.
Photographs of artificially produced hybrid plants or animals, cultivated plants, domestic or feral animals, mounted specimens or obviously set arrangements are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.
Infrared images are not allowed.
CREATIVE (C)
The definition of Creative is “Altered Reality”. The image must obviously display a change in natural color, form, shape or any combination of these three. Creative images are often montages (a blending or composite of multiple images. HDR (High Dynamic Range) images and monochrome images, without further changes, are not considered ‘altered reality’. All images must be original and may not incorporate elements produced by anyone else. Original images must be altered by the maker; artwork or computer graphics generated by the maker may be incorporated if the original photographic content predominates. Images may not be constructed entirely within a computer. It is necessary that the image’s core content be identifiable. Any subject matter, except nudity, is acceptable as long as Altered Reality guidelines are followed.
PREPARING AND SUBMITTING DIGITAL IMAGES
Each individual may enter a total of 4 images as long as at least one is in the Assigned category. If you choose not to submit an image in the Assigned category, you may only submit a maximum of 3 images total. A maximum of two images may be in the Assigned category, the remaining images can be entered in any of the other categories. One of your entries is eligible for a critique by club members at the show/award meeting. You must designate this image as described below.
Images should be sent as attachments, not imbedded in the email (Mac users take note, and send as attachments).
SUBMITTED IMAGES MAY NOT INCLUDE THE MAKERS NAME, IMAGE NAME OR ANY OTHER WATERMARK TEXT. IMAGES CONTAINING THIS KIND OF INFORMATION WILL BE DISQUALIFIED (Except required information for Print Competition on the back of the Prints - See Print Competition information).
NAMING FORMAT
All files must be in JPEG format. It is suggested that the images have a title other than the image number from the camera.
SUBMITTING IMAGES
Images should be uploaded to this web site and added to the appropriate Competition and Category
DEADLINE: Digital images must be submitted no later than 14 days before competition. This is necessary to prepare and provide the images for the judges and presentation.
PREPARING THE IMAGES
To maximize the quality of your displayed image, your images should be prepared with either 1920 pixels for the horizontal or 1080 pixels for the vertical, but neither limit should be exceeded. Images can be displayed with different pixel ranges, but the projector then makes adjustments to the images which may not be optimal. Images must be saved in JPEG format, with maximal image quality recommended 10-12 to optimize quality.