(Rules for the Digital Challenge are listed below)
Rules of the TOPCC Photo Group Club’s Print Contest
Revised March 2009
1. Digital - Entries must be taken with a digital camera and must be entered as prints. (NOTE: Effective August 31, 2009 - Prints must be received on time at the entry table by 6:00pm or they won't be displayed and entered in the Print Contest.)
2. Members Only - Only paid club members of the TOPCC Photo Group may enter the Print Contest.
3. Color - Pictures may be in color or black and white.
4. Categories & Levels - There are two separate categories in the Print Contest, Assigned Topic and Open. Within each category there are two levels, a First Level and an Advanced Level. The First Level is for members who have not won two ribbons in a prior contest (excluding the old Entry Level category). The Advanced Level is for members who have won two ribbons, or for photographers who know from their experience and skill level that they should be in the Advanced Level. Therefore, a member is either in the First Level for both categories (Assigned and Open), or in the Advanced Level for both categories. The structure of the levels and categories is as follows:
a. First Level (for members who have not won 2 ribbons)
i. Assigned Topic Category
ii. Open Category
b. Advanced Level (for members who have won 2 ribbons)
i. Assigned Topic Category
ii. Open Category
5. Assigned Topic Category -
a.
Topic - The subject or theme for the Assigned Topic category is announced at the club meeting two months before the Print Contest. See the Photo Group web site for the next assigned topic:
www.topcc.org/photo.
b. Editing - Pictures in the Assigned Topic category may have a limited amount of digital editing. For example, pictures may be corrected for color (Black & White is acceptable), contrast, white balance, saturation, etc. In addition, minor corrections may be done such as removing distracting objects (i.e., a pole behind someone’s head), but no additions (i.e., a new sky or a different person added) or composites from multiple images. Digital Art images should be entered in the Open category.
c. Date of Picture - Photos in the Assigned Topic category must be taken between the last and the current contest. For the two Assigned Topic levels, please don't use a picture from your archives. The purpose of the contests is to learn about the subject and how to take a picture of the assigned subject.
6. Open Category –
a. Topic - There is no assigned topic in the Open category.
b. Editing - Pictures in the Open category may have an unlimited amount of editing or digital manipulation.
c. Date of Picture - The picture may be from your archive and is not limited as to when it was taken.
7. Number of Entries - There is a maximum of 4 entries per member, per contest. There is a maximum of two entries per member in the Assigned Topic category and two entries in the Open category. You must enter the same level, either First or Advanced, in both categories, Assigned or Open.
8. Size of Entries - The print entries submitted for both categories may be any size up to a maximum outside dimension of 16" x 20". A mat is optional. You can mount your photo in a mat if you prefer, but the outside of the mat cannot be larger than a maximum of 16"x 20". There are no hard frames allowed such as wood, metal, etc., and pictures may not be mounted behind glass.
9. Identification - On all pictures, the name of the Level & Category (either First Assigned, First Open, Advanced Assigned, or Advanced Open), the full name of the photographer and title of the picture must be written on the back of the entry. For example, Advanced Open_Bob Smith_Lillies of the Field.jpg
10. Descriptive Titles - You may add a description or a title to the front of the picture, but your Level/Category and name must only go on the back along with the title of the picture.
11. Judging of the prints will be conducted by a professional photographer. A first place, second place and third place ribbon will be awarded in each category and each level, i.e., First Assigned, First Open, Advanced Assigned, or Advanced Open. The judge will also critique the pictures that were submitted digitally to explain what makes that picture special and to make suggestions on how each picture might be improved.
12.
Critiquing - If you wish to have your picture critiqued by a
professional photographer, please email a digital file of your picture in JPG format, to
PhotoEntries@topcc.org by 6:00 pm
two days before the club meeting. Late pictures will not be critiqued. Having your picture critiqued is optional and is not required as part of entering the Print Contest. Members are encouraged to participate in the anonymous critique process as it is one of the fastest ways to improve as a photographer.
Resize - Emailed files must be resized to a maximum of 1024 pixels wide and 768 pixels tall (
neither dimension may exceed those measurements). See the article entitled,
Resizing Your Images for Contests on our website in the articles section:
www.topcc.org/photo
Rename - Before emailing your digital pictures, you must rename the digital picture file with the correct entry level & category listed first (see below), then your Full Name and finally the Title of the image in the file name. For example: First Assigned_David Smith_Sultry Sunset.jpg. Do NOT use ALL CAPS but DO use spaces and underscores for legibility & read-ability. The correct entry level and category names for each level for renaming the digital files are as follows:
(First Level):
i. First Assigned
ii. First Open
(Advanced Level):
iii. Advanced Assigned
iv. Advanced Open
13. Eligibility - Any entries not following these official Print Contest rules will be disqualified and ineligible to win any prizes for that evening’s Print Contest. The decision of the Print Contest Coordinator and the elected leadership of the Photo Group will be final re: application of the Print Contest rules.
Print Contest Procedures. There will be two tables set up, one for the Assigned Topic entries and one for the Open category entries, where members should enter their pictures at the beginning of the night (please arrive before 6:00pm to enter). Be sure to write on the back of each picture your Level & Category (either First Assigned, First Open, Advanced Assigned, or Advanced Open), your Full Name and the Picture Title. The results of the judging are announced at the end of the meeting. Winning pictures in each category and level will receive either a First, Second or Third place ribbon and will be displayed on the club web site and in our Digital Newsletter (space permitting).