CLUB COMPETITION RULES 2008

Introduction

Club competitions are held on the first Wednesday of each month from March to November. Top Shot is held on the first Wednesday of December.

The Program and In Focus provide the competition subject and its definition. Any image may be entered for "Open" competitions but entries for set subject competitions must have a clear and unambiguous connection to the subject and may be disqualified if not compliant.

See 'Other Competitions' for additional internal and external competitions and 'Definitions' for applicable definitions.

Entries

Each member may submit a maximum of 6 entries in one competition with up to 2 entries per chapter. An image or substantially the same image must not be entered in a monthly competition more than twice regardless of chapter. If an image receives a Merit or Special Merit it is NOT eligible for further monthly competitions but may be entered in the annual Top shot in December. Images that do not receive an award in a monthly competition may still be entered in the Top shot competition.

Photography older than 3 years is ineligible for club competitions unless substantially altered digitally or in the darkroom. If you have any difficulty complying with this rule or there are extenuating circumstances see the Competition Director. At Northside Creative Photography we are interested in what you are creating now, not what you have done in the past. If you like to exhibit a collection of your older work, this can be done on non-competition nights.

Competition Chapters

1. Mini Prints:

• Prints must not exceed 13cm on the smallest side; there is no minimum size;
• Prints may be any shape e.g. rectangular, square, panoramic;
• Prints must be a single image and;
• For the mount the maximum size is 516cm².

Both commercial and home prints are permitted with colour balance and exposure the only alterations permitted. The Mini prints chapter is viewed as an avenue for the beginner photographer to gain experience in and feedback through competition.

2. Colour Prints: There are no size limits (maximum or minimum) for the print or mount. Any number of images on the same mount is acceptable. Freestyle prints are also acceptable.

3. Monochrome Prints: See the FIAP definition.

4. Projected Images or Electronic Digital Images (EDI):

• Images must be provided in JPEG format;
• The image maximum horizontal dimension is 1024 pixels and the maximum vertical dimension is 768 pixels;
• Images should use the sRGB colour space (preferred) or no colour space;
• The file size must not exceed 1MB and;
• The file name should be the same as the title on the entry form.

Entries should preferably be emailed to the nominated email address at least 24 hours before the competition start. Entries on CD will also be accepted on the meeting night. See the Digital Competition instructions which describe how to prepare an image for entry.

Mounting of Prints

Framed prints are not permitted. All prints must be mounted on a matt-board or cardboard. Window mounts (cut with a matt cutter) are a very good way to present your prints. Coloured mounts may be used, but off white, black or grey mounts tend to be more attractive. A matt cutter can be loaned from the club.

Your name and print title must appear clearly on the back of your print. The title must be identical to that on your entry form. Exhibition of the title and your name on the front is permitted but most members prefer to present their images “anonymously”.

Computer manipulated images

Computer manipulated images are permitted in all categories except for mini prints as long as they comply with the appropriate rules for each chapter and are based on your own original photographic image.

Rules of Entry

In the interests of speeding up the process of recording and displaying prints and EDI the following applies:

1. All prints must be mounted prior to arrival at the meeting.
2. The REVERSE side of prints must record the author’s name and print title.
3. Each entry must be recorded on a completed COMPETITION ENTRY FORM, which must be placed on the recording desk.
4. Entries will not be accepted after 7.45pm.

Point Score

The following points are awarded and recorded by the Records Officer.

Annual Awards are made based on the cumulative results throughout the year. Half yearly awards may also be made at the discretion of the committee.

Top Shot

This competition is held in the first meeting in December (the last meeting of the year). Only entries in monthly competitions throughout the current year (but not necessarily receiving awards) will be eligible. Awards will be made for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each chapter. Additional certificates may be issued on a discretionary basis.

Miscellaneous

When an image earns a Merit or a Special Merit the author will be asked to identify him/herself. The author’s name and title of that image should be announced loud and clear…..Be proud of your achievements!!!!

Each month the winning photographs are published on the club’s website. Award winners are encouraged to upload an electronic copy of their entry to the Photo Gallery as soon as possible after the competition. The image size should be 400 pixels on the longest side and approximately 50KB in size. Full instructions may be found on the club’s website. Assistance in scanning photographs is available for members not having access to scanning facilities.

Last updated: 24/4/08.