Introduction
The Club runs regular internal competitions throughout the year. There are two types of competition; print and digital projected images (DPI). Competitions are run with an open theme, but some will also have a subject specific category that you can enter if you wish.
Some points to note about competitions:
Competitions are only open to members of the Club (not visitors or prospective members).
Images must be submitted to the Competition Secretary not later than the specified last entry date. Latest dates for submission are given on the Club website and in the Members Handbook. The Competition Coordinator has the right to refuse late entries.
You may enter a maximum of one image in each category (colour, mono and theme, if applicable) for each competition evening, with each category being judged separately. The same image may not be entered as a print and as a DPI.
The same image may not be entered for any other internal competition, i.e images may only be used once. Images will be deemed as a duplicate if it is so similar to a previously submitted image that it is virtually indistinguishable from the original. If in doubt, the Competition Coordinator will advise.
Entry to competitions is conditional on granting the Club permission to use the image for Club promotion, external competitions (with consultation) and marketing purposes.
- Titles of images entered into competitions must not exceed 35 characters. Spaces in a title are counted as a character.
All entries must be entirely the work of the entering member. All components of images must meet this requirement and cannot be obtained from someone else’s work. Images with material elements generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not permitted for any Club competition. An example is the use of “Generative Fill” (as in the latest Photoshop), instead of cloning or “Content-Aware Fill”. “Generative Fill” includes elements sampled from databases of other peoples’ work and is therefore forbidden. Cloning and “Content-Aware Fill” sample from the photographer’s own work, so they are permitted unless stated otherwise.
Please note – AI in photography is rapidly developing, this rule reflects current PAGB thinking and may be subject to future amendment.
Print Competitions
All prints must be mounted. The maximum mount size is 50 x 40 cm. This typically fits a print that is 40 x 30 cm. Prints must be labelled on the reverse, at the top right hand side of the mount, to include the title and author and running order number issued to you after closing date of the competition.
Prints must not be framed.
DPIs of print images must also be submitted by the competition deadline via PhotoEntry. Following the same sizing requirements as stated in the DPI competitions
Prints must be at the Hall prior to 18:45 on the evening they are to be judged. Arrival after this time will lead to the print not being accepted for entry. Prints can be handed in to the Competition Secretary at the preceding Club meeting if necessary.
DPI Competitions
DPIs must be in .JPEG format.
They must be submitted, via PhotoEntry, in the sRGB colour space. This is the default used by most cameras.
Image sizing- images must be no more than 1600 pixels wide and no more than 1200 pixels tall. Images submitted in portrait format must be no more than 1200 pixels tall. The maximum file size for PhotoEntry is 9MB.
Monochrome Definition – Definition as stated in MCPF Guidelines
A black and white image fitting from the very dark grey (black) to the very clear grey (white) is a monochrome work with the various shades of grey. A black and white work toned entirely in a single colour will remain a monochrome work able to stand in the black and white category. A black and white image modified by a partial toning or by the addition of one colour becomes a colour work (polychrome).
Composite Images
Composite images are allowed to be used in our competition provided that all components used in producing the image are the work of the Author. When used to enter club competitions, an image previously used in club competitions can be re-used but should no longer be the main focal point of the image as in the composite shown against the original below. In the example the original image has now become the background, and the main feature of the image are the people. A true composite is not just adding, for instance, a single or few birds. It is significantly changing the original image to make a new image.
Triptych and Panel Competitions
Images used in triptych and panel competitions must be images that have not been previously used in any other club competition and may not be used again in subsequent competitions. Normal club rules apply. These entries will go forward to take part in the Photograph of the Year Competition.
Photographer and Photograph of the Year Competition
This is an annual competition, usually held in December each year. For the Photograph of the Year (POTY), eligible images are those that have placed first, second or third in other competitions throughout the year. This is awarded for both Print and DPI, and then one image is chosen by the Judge as the overall winner.
The prints or DPIs eligible for POTY must not have been adjusted in any way in order for it to enter the POTY. Eligible prints must be available at the Hall on the night of the POTY.
The Photographer of the Year is awarded based on the ranking points achieved throughout the year. All images entered into competitions score points for the photographer- with more points being scored for those images that place commended, highly commended, third, second and first.
Image Placing | Points Scored |
Entered | 5 |
Commended | 6 |
Highly Commended | 7 |
Third | 8 |
Second | 9 |
First | 10 |
New Member Competition
This is held annually, usually in the Autumn. Eligible members are those who have been attending the Club for less than two years, and have not been placed (first, second or third) in any Club competition previously. Entry is via the submission of one DPI (colour or mono).
Plagiarism in Photography
We do not allow plagiarism in our club. An explanation is given below.
You take a photograph of Jane Doe holding a picture she has produced. That is clearly not plagiarism. You are not trying to deceive someone into believing the picture that is being held is your work. If you then produce a photograph of Jane Doe holding a picture of her work and there is no claim of authorship of Jane Doe’s picture implied in your photograph. Take this picture, crop it and produce a faithful copy of Jane Doe’s picture and put it in competition entitled “Jane Doe’s Masterpiece you have made a record of Jane Doe’s work and have titled it accurately to reflect that it is someone else’s work. That is not plagiarism either. Now take that same zoomed in picture of Jane Doe’s image, Change it slightly by adding a find edges filter, change the colour and tone a bit and give it a name of your choice. Jane Doe is going to be very angry with you because whether you realised it or not, you have plagiarised her work. The original idea and execution were Jane Doe’s and you have just taken her picture and changed it a bit without permission and output it as your own. This is Plagiarsm.
Guidelines for Judges
Judges will be asked to give their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice, plus their recommendations for “Highly Commended” (HC) and “Commended” (C) images. Judges will not be asked to score individual images.
Our Club members have a range of photographic capabilities and experience. Our objective is to motivate them and help them improve, but not give overly generous appraisals of below par images. We ask judges to:
Be constructive, to help our members improve.
Provide guidance on improving the technical aspects of our images both in the taking and post processing, together with guidance on image composition.
External Competitions
Occasionally, the Club will participate in external competition-like events, such as the Battles with other local Clubs eg: The Best of 4 and the Cedars Challenge and any others that we are invited to, or choose as a club to participate in. These are often handled via PhotoEntry, but will have their own separately issued rules and guidance.