Competition
Rules
Competition Rules
(Revised
on August 30, 2010)
Print a PDF version here
I.
CLASSES
Masters
Class – Those who have, in previous years of club competition, established
photographic skills in a specific category superior to Class A workers, or, met
the requirements of II below.
Class
A – Those who have, in previous years of club competition, established
photographic skills in a specific category superior to Class B workers, or, met
the requirements of II below.
Class
B – All others.
The
Competition Chairperson may, with the approval of the Executive Board, combine
classes if in their judgment there are not enough members in a class. If a
category does not have all 3 classes, the competition chairperson may request
approval from the Executive Board to create a new class when the number of
members justifies the expansion.
II.
ELIGIBILITY AND CLASS ASSIGNMENT
A.
Only those members whose dues are paid for the year may compete. Payment must be
received by the Treasurer no later than one week prior to the competition entry
date.
B.
New or returning members will be assigned to Class B unless they have previously
competed in a higher class at this or another club , or request to be in a
higher class in which case they must, prior to the first entered competition,
submit a sampling of images for the desired category for evaluation. The
Competition Chairperson may select a committee in the category, which will
determine in which class the member should enter.
C.
No change in class may be made during the competition year.
D.
Once having competed in Masters or Class A, a member may not compete in a lower
class in that specific category even if the member has not entered a competition
for a period of time. If a class is eliminated, the member retains that
designation in the event it is ever re-instated.
E.
The Competition Chairperson will review the standing of the competitors at the
end of the competition year and move the first place winner to the next level.
F.
The Competition Chairperson and/or his/her designees may review any other member
and determine whether or not that member is moved up to the next class.
III.
ENTRY CATEGORIES
A.
Black & White Prints – Black & White prints may be either
monochromatic or have one additional color. The color may be an overall tint
(such as sepia) or locally applied (a yellow sun). If
the print contains more than one color or more than one color is added (such as
in hand coloring) then the print must be entered as a color print. Prints may be
made by any means including conventional paper and chemicals, Polaroid's,
inkjet, laser or dye sublimation printers, etc., however, they must have
originated in a light sensitive medium(see IV below).
B.
Color Prints – Prints which contain multiple colors, including mono-chrome
with more than one added color. Prints may be made by any means including
conventional paper and chemicals, Polaroid's, inkjet, laser or dye sublimation
printers, etc., however, they must have originated in a light sensitive medium
(see IV below).
C.
Digital Projected Images- This category replaces the Slides category.
Images
may be either monochrome or color. The images will be projected using a digital
projector and, therefore, entries must be formatted and sized appropriately. See
separate rules on format, size and naming convention located elsewhere on the
website.
Frequently
Asked Questions:
Q.
I am adding a blue sky with different shades of the same color blue to my black
and white image. Is this permissible?
A.
No, only a single shade of one color is allowed in a B & W image
Q.
Duotone, which uses one color is acceptable. How about SplitToning which uses
two colors?
A.
Yes, as long as the colors are an overall tint and not tied into specific
subjects.
Q.
Can I combine sepia to one part of the image, duotone to another a leave the
rest of the image in black and white?
A.
No, only one color is allowed.
IV.
ORIGINAL
All
work submitted must be the maker’s original photography. Copies of other
printed media (clip art etc) or the use of existing digital images created by
another are NOT permitted. This
includes images downloaded, photographed or scanned from the internet or other
public forums. All work must originally have been created PHOTOGRAPHICALLY by
the maker. That is, the original image must have been captured by any means such
as a conventional film camera, pinhole camera, digital camera, etc., as long as
the medium is sensitive to light.
The
original image may be manipulated in any way, such as hand copying, spot toning
(retouching) burning, dodging, bleaching, distorting, air brushing, painting,
etc., either by hand, mechanically or in a computer.
The
original image may be combined with others TAKEN by the maker by sandwiching,
montaging, pasting, etc., either mechanically or in a computer, provided the
enhancement is done SOLELY by the maker and every element added to the
photograph was created by the member. However, the maker may be ADVISED by
another as to how to make the enhancement only until his/her
skills
are proficient enough to work on his own. The
use of an outside printing lab is allowed (Costco etc.) as long as the outside
lab does not change or enhance the maker's original submitted image.
As
an organization of amateur photographers, it is our intention to assist,
strengthen and refine the techniques employed in seeing, capturing and
presenting our images. We, in the body of these rules, repeatedly mention that
the images presented for competition are the creation and generation by the
individual.
Frequently
Asked Questions:
Q.
Can I have someone other than myself do the "photoshop" work without
my assistance, guidance or input?
A.
No, club members are strongly encouraged to do all of their own work. to be
truly work that they can honestly call their own. However, they can be ADVISED
as to how to do the work, but must do the work themselves.
Q.
Can I use images created by others in any way as part of my image?
A.
No
Q.
Must all parts of the image be created by me?
A.
Yes
Q.
Can another person or lab manipulate my image in Photoshop or a Photoshop
type program even at my direction?
A.
No
Q.
Can another person guide me through or tell me how to manipulate an image in
Photoshop or a Photoshop type program as long as I do the actual "hands
on" work?
A.
Yes
Q.
Can I have an outside lab print my images?
A.
Yes
Q.
I upload my photos for printing and they have a photo enhancement service. Can I
use that enhancement service?
A.
No
Q.
My friend is an expert in Photoshop. Can I upload my image to her to crop,
enhance and do other adjustments that she sees fit to make my image more
presentable?
A.
No, unless you work together with her advising you and you do the actual
"hands on" work.
Q.
Can I take a photo or scan a comic strip character from the newspaper or use a
downloaded image that I have not created and use either in my image?
A.
No
V.
APPROPRIATE SUBJECT MATTER FOR ENTRIES
Photo
images that could be considered lewd, insensitive, inappropriate or offensive
are NOT permitted in club competitions. If
the competition chairman or his delegates feel that any image is of questionable
subject matter and violates the above criteria, they may be disallowed at any
club competition.
VI.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR ENTRIES.
A.
All entries must be registered on the Web by using our web-based competition
entry form.
1.
All electronic entry rules must be followed. The major rules are highlighted
below.
2.
Deadline for submission is 8:00 pm the Sunday preceding the first competition
date of each competition month.
3.
Projected images must be uploaded employing all digital formatting requirements.
4.
When entering prints, both black & white and color, the prints must be
submitted by hand carrying them to the competition. The label data (title) must
also be entered into the competition entry form accessible on the web.
5.
Entry data and submission of digital images which fail to meet the deadline time
will not be accepted.
B.
Prints
1.
All prints must be mounted on sturdy material capable of standing unaided in a
print display box.
2.
Prints may be horizontal or vertical. The print must be a minimum of 5x7 to a
maximum of 16x20. The mount may be any size as long as it fits in the club’s
display box, but not more than 16x20 inches.
3.
Prints must be two-dimensional unframed, with nothing laid over the printed
surface. No prints are to be mounted on wood or in any manner which might damage
other prints (above or below) when placed in a stack.
This
particularly applies to glue, tape or metal clips. Prints so mounted will be
rejected at the sole discretion of the Competition representative.
4.
The name placed on the print must match the name entered on the Web-based entry.
An additional name can be added if desired.
C.
Projected Images
1.
Images must be formatted as .JPG.
2.
Images must be sized to less than or equal to 750 pixels along the maximum
dimension so as not exceed projector and software maximum resolution.
3.
File size of images must not exceed 750KB since they are uploaded to the website
using standard web software that typically limits file size.
4.
Names should not exceed 36 characters including spaces, and all special
characters should be avoided.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Q.
I want to bring my membership check the night of the competition.
Can I do that?
A.
No, we need time to log in your membership data before the competition registry
date.
A.
Prints
1.
If your print is lacking an HCC Label, the maker must draw on the back of each
mounted print, a sizable and clearly visible arrow, pointing to the top of the
print.
2.
A club competition sticker (HCC Label) or facsimile, with the following required
information: Title, Photographer’s name, Competition Date, Class, Make-up if
applicable), must be affixed near the upper right-hand corner on the back of the
mount.
B.
Projected Images
1.
No special markings are required. All file size and naming conventions must be
followed as previously mentioned in these rules and detailed on the website.
C.
No signatures or watermarks should be visible on any print or projected image.
VIII.
MONTHLY COMPETITIONS
A.
A club year will consist of nine monthly competitions, September through
May
unless modified by recommendation of the
competition chairman and approved by the board.
B.
All print entries, which have been registered as required in section V above,
must be received no later than 15 minutes prior to the announced start of the
meeting on competition night to be eligible for judging. Late entries shall be
accepted at the discretion of the Competition Chairperson. Photographs
which have not been registered as required in section V will not be accepted for
competition that night.
C.
Each paid up member may submit three entries per month with a maximum of 2
entries in any one category. Should a member submit only one entry in a category
such single entry shall constitute a full entry.
The
other(s) may not be "made-up" later.
D.
Members who miss one or more monthly competitions, or join later in the club
year, may make-up only one missed entry for each of the missed months.
Only
one make-up entry in each category may be submitted in any month.
Make-ups
are limited to a total of three per category for the club year. Make-ups must be
clearly marked on the print with an "MU" plus the month being made up.
These markings should agree with the electronic (web based) entry form
information.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q.
If I enter any image(s) in any categories during a monthly competition,
can I enter a make-up in another month for the category that I did not enter in?
A. No, if you enter any images
in any monthly competition, you are not entitled to any make-ups for that
month.
Q. Can I enter make up images
in any category even though I didn't compete in that category that month?
A. No, not if you have entered any
other categories for that month.
E.
If a member has a situation that is considered extreme or unusual in nature,
which has caused them to miss at least 4 competitions in any club year, they may
petition the Board for more than 3 make-ups. (Note: This provision will
generally only be granted in cases of severe hardship).
F.
Scoring for all images at a competition will range from 6 to 9.
G.
Ribbons will be awarded for each entry that received a score of 8 or 9. Only
“B” workers will receive ribbons. A– and - Masters will have to sign up to
receive them. “B” workers may elect not to receive ribbons if they so
desire.
H.
An entry which receives a score of 7 or less may be re-entered in subsequent
competitions. Modifications or rework on an entry is permissible.
I.
Any entry which receives a score or 8 or 9 in a monthly competition may not
be
re-entered in the same or later years, in any other category, regardless of
variations or changes
made.
J.
No print or digital image previously entered in another club’s competition may
be entered here unless it received a score less than 8.
K.
Members need not be present to have their work judged.
L.
Non-compliance with any entry rule will result in rejection or disqualification
of the entry. The Competition Chairperson or his designee will be the sole judge
of acceptability on competition nights.
M.
Annual Awards
1.
The member’s highest score from each monthly competition will be totaled to
arrive at a cumulative score for each category.
2.
First, second and third place awards will be presented at the annual awards
meeting. No award will be made if a member receives a cumulative score of less
than 64 points.
3.
There will be no award for any category in which there were not three members
competing in at least four monthly competitions.
4.
A separate award will be made for the highest total year-end score in a category
regardless of class, by counting every score (both monthly entries).
5.
In the event of a tie, duplicate awards will be made.
6.
The Executive Board may present a "Most Improved" award to a worker in
class B. This award will be based on a comparison of scores for the first four
months with the scores from the last five months.
N.
PRINT & PROJECTED IMAGE OF THE YEAR
1.
Black & White print, Color print and Projected Image of the year
competitions are held at a specially planned meeting at the end of the year.
2.
A member may submit up to four entries per category.
3.
Each entry must have been submitted during one of the year’s nine monthly
competitions.
4.
The Joseph Giambalvo Memorial Cup for the Image of the Year will be awarded to
the winner among all of the categories (best in show).
5.
A single person can not be awarded more than one award per category (ie; a
single individual can not receive both a 1st place
and 2nd or 3rd
place award for any category).
O.
DISPUTES
1.
If a member believes anyone’s projected image or print has been submitted in
contravention to any competition rule, they should mention it to the Competition
Chairperson after the competition. This may result in cancellation of the score
with no make-up allowed.
2.
The Executive Board will decide any disputes concerning the interpretation or
execution of these rules.
IX. CONTACT WITH THE JUDGE
It
is the responsibility of our judges to ONLY score and comment on the images
within our competitions. It is not
the judge's job to review or comment on a member's portfolio. Therefore, we ask
that you DO NOT present the judge with any images for his comments before,
during or after the competition.