Buckingham Camera Club
2012 competition rules and guidance
2012 Competition Rules and guidance
These notes are available as a pdf document here
1. The competition is an internal club competition and is open to all paid up members.
2. All photographs entered must be taken by the entrant but may be home or trade processed. Recent work is encouraged. Entrants must hold the copyright of the image, eg: TV programme images or pictures taken from books or websites are not acceptable.
3. There are five trophies to be won: Two Open sections - PDI and prints, colour or monochrome*, Two Assignment sections – PDI and prints, colour or monochrome*, the Photographer of the Year (POTY) = highest combined marks in these four sections. [PDI = Projected Images—from digital files]
4. Each member can submit up to four prints or four PDI in eight numbered competitions to be held in February, March, April, May, June, September, October and November of each year.
5. Each competition will have an assignment and an open category. The assignments are listed in the programme.
6. No
photograph may be submitted for more than one assignment or more than
one similar club competition. The eight numbered competitions are
SIMILAR.
The pictures used in these competitions may also be
used in
· Versatility
Challenge (August)
· Instant
battles
· The
Colab Trophy for best use of colour (print) see 19(b)
· The
Black and White Trophy panel of four mono* prints in November see 19
(a)
7(a). Colour slides are no longer eligible for competition.
7(b). Digital Images for Projection (PDI) must be 1400x1050 pixels, all layers merged, with a sRGB colour space and the file must be saved as a jpeg file with a jpg file extension and submitted on CD-R or memory stick or emailed to webmaster@buckinghamcameraclub.co.uk The file-naming convention is ‘TITLE by Author.jpg’.**
8(a). Colour and monochrome* prints shall be of a minimum size of 6” x 4” (Bonusprints) and must be mounted. They should also be properly identified. Maximum preferred size is 20” x 16” (50 x 40cm) including the mount. Joiners, multiple prints, digital output and photocopies are acceptable.
8(b). Only prints that have 50x40cm mounts will be retained in the image bank for submission to external competitions.**
8(c). Each picture must be given a title by the photographer. On each competition evening the titles shall be announced.
10. Where the member entrant submits two pictures in one category, both marks will score. If he/she enters Assignment and Open, all four pictures will score.
11(a). The closing time for entry to the prints competition is 7.55pm on the competition evening. Members unable to attend should contact the competition secretary in advance who will arrange to submit the entry for them.
11(b).The closing date for
entry to the Projected Digital Images competition is the Wednesday
before the competition evening. Work should be submitted as 1400x1050
pixel images on a memory stick or CD-R or emailed to the
webmaster@buckinghamcameraclub.co.uk
12. The competition is, wherever
possible, judged by a visiting judge from the CACC list and not by a
club member. Where, in emergency, a club member DOES preside, he/she is
debarred from entering that round of the competition.
13. Marks are awarded out of twenty.
15. The marks awarded in each round are totalled at the end of the year and the member with the highest marks in each class will be awarded the appropriate club trophy.
16. The Photographer of the Year will be the member who scores the highest marks overall. He/she will not necessarily have marks in every section.
17. The purpose of having competitions at all is to enable members to submit their work to a competent judge and receive constructive criticism. The trophies are awarded as a bonus and to add a little excitement to the proceedings. Many members gain enjoyment from a competition entry even if they feel they do not have a chance of winning.
18(a). The President’s Cup is awarded to the most improved or highest scoring competitor who has not qualified for any other cup.
18(b). The Beginners’ Trophy is awarded to the highest scoring beginner who registers as such with the competition secretary at the beginning of the year. It can be entered only once.
19(a). The Monochrome* Trophy competition will be held on one date only - in November. Subject is open - a panel of four prints. (Prints can be re-used. See rule 6) Current year’s work only. The panel shall be 4 prints (Min 6”x4”) mounted on a single board that will fit inside the maximum capacity of the club’s print display easel: 24” x 24” (60 x 60 cm)**
19(b) The Colab Trophy is awarded for the print showing best use of colour. An entry is up to three colour prints, which can be re-used) Current year’s work only.**
22. The John Harding Audio Visual Trophy is won by the entrant with the best images/sound sequence and is digitally projected.
23. Versatility Challenge takes place in August. Members submit five PDI on five different subjects, which are announced only two weeks before. A year’s free membership goes to the winner who will select the subjects and judge in the following year.
24. An instant battle may be held during the year. The Cock-up Trophy is awarded to the winning team.
* The club now accepts the FIAP(2003), PAGB(2004) and CACC(2004) definition of monochrome:
A black and white work
going 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 (monochrome) category. On the
other hand a black and white work modified by a partial toning or by the
addition of one colour becomes a colour work (polychrome) to stand in
the colour category.
** It is assumed that as you have entered the competition you will not
object to your images being displayed on the club’s website and/or be
selected for external competitions . Should this not be so, please
inform the webmaster and the external competitions secretaries.
BCC 291111
Appendix A: PDI
(projected digital image) guidance.
The Digitally Projected Image (PI) category is still new to the Buckingham Camera Club. For the first time in 2007, it was possible to enter this competition with 35mm slides and/or digitally-projected images. From 2009 onwards: digital ONLY.
The total number of images is the same: two in the open and two in the assignment all of which are digital files.
The rules for digital files are still in flux as the photographic community grapples with the new technology. Buckingham Camera Club has decided on the following system which is used by several other organisations and the discipline learned here will help the photographer entrant in dealing with other outlets for digitally projected work.
First, the size of the image must be no greater than 1400 pixels horizontally (h) x 1050 pixels vertically (v). If the natural dimensions of your images are less than this, please surround them with a pure black background to prevent distortion of your image during projection.
(Digital projection is landscape shape only-vertical/portrait images are projected at just 1050v)
Second - the Canvas Size must be 1400h x 1 050v and any layers must be merged.
Third - the file name must be in the format: TITLE by An Other... that is to say, the title of the image must be in capital letters, followed by a space, followed by the word 'by' followed by a space, followed by the name of the photographer in Upper and Lower case.
Fourthly, the file must be saved as a jpeg.
The image(s) may be submitted on a CD-R or on a memory stick. (Each should be marked with the photographer's name)
WE INSIST that no other folders, files, or information be on the submitted disk or stick. There will, of course, be two folders: Open and Assignment for those entering both competitions.
A sample disk has been prepared containing images sized and named to be acceptable and those unsure of the system are welcome to borrow and examine this disk.
If you are still unsure of how to do the work entailed, please submit your entry to Tony Chivers the week before the closing date and he will size and name your work for you-and then explain how it is done to help you become independent in the future.
PhotoShop method:
With the file open and live in the workspace, from the Image menu, choose Image Size, tick the Constrain Proportions and Resample Image boxes.
In the Pixel Dimensions area select pixels in the units boxes. Enter the width as 1400-the height will adjust automatically
Check the height, if the height is now MORE than 1050, then you need to enter 1050 in the height this will reduce the width to less than 1400, click OK
Adding a background: If the image is less than 1400 x 1050 then it will be judged with a black background covering the remaining space. To fill in the background, proceed as follows:
Set the background colour to black, from the image menu, choose Canvas Size. Make sure the units are set to Pixels. Type in 1400 for the width and 1050 for the height. Click OK. The image canvas is now enlarged to show the picture and the spare margins around the outside filled with black.
To save the image as a jpeg file, from the File menu, choose Save As. Select the folder you want to save to type in the image title IN CAPITAL LETTERS [space] by [space] Your Name In Upper And Lower Case. In the format field set jpeg. Click the save button. In the jpeg options box, set compression to 10 or 11.
Make sure the Format Options is set to Baseline (Standard). Click OK.
Then write our images to CD (or memory stick) in the usual way.
PaintShopPro method:
With the file open and live in the workspace, from the Image menu, choose Image Resize (Shift-S).
Tick the Lock Aspect Ratio and Resample Using BiCubicboxes
In the Pixel Dimensions area enter the width as 1400. The height will adjust automatically.
Check the height-if the height is now MORE than 1050, then you need to enter 1050 in the height. This will reduce the width to less than 1400 - and click OK
Adding a background: If the image is less than 1400 x 1050 then it will be judged with a black background covering the remaining space. To fill in the background, proceed as follows:
From the image menu, choose Canvas Size. Make sure the units are set to Pixels. Type in 1400 for the width and 1050 for the height. Set the background colour to black and click the central box if you want the image to be set in the centre of the canvas. Click OK. The image canvas is now enlarged to show the picture and the spare margins around the outside filled with black.
To save the image as a jpeg file, from the File menu, choose Save As. Select the folder you want to save to type in the image title IN CAPITAL LETTERS [space] by [space] Your Name In Upper And Lower Case.
In the format field set jpeg. In the jpeg options box, set compression to 10 or less. Make sure the Format Options is set to Standard. Click OK.
Then write your images to CD (or memory stick) in the usual way.
Appendix B: Requirements for images selected for external competitions
The Buckingham Camera Club is a member of the CACC and
the PAGB. The competitions that we run in the club are administered by
our own rules BUT some of the best images may be retained by the
external competitions secretary for use by the club in competitions
organised by the Associations and Federations listed here. Each has its
own rules and we have seen fit to publish the important ones here as
additional guidance for those who allow their images to be used in this
way. If our images conform to ALL the rules and guides then we shall
not be embarrassed by entering external competitions with work that does
not fit the regulations
REQUIREMENTS FOR CACC COMPETITIONS & EXHIBITIONS
General
These general requirements apply to all competitions and exhibitions ('events') organized by the Association (CACC), except where they may be supplemented or modified by the requirements of an individual event.
CACC Committee can make changes or decisions at their discretion for the effective running of events, and normally delegates this to an individual event organizer. CACC may make free use of any image submitted to events e.g., for publicity or catalogues, while respecting and citing the copyright of the author.
CACC events are open to all Clubs in CACC, and to the members within those clubs. Members may only enter CACC events via one Club in any season (September- August).
To participate, Clubs must submit an entry form (or electronic equivalent) by the date advised in the calling notice for each event. Clubs must then comply with the specific requirements of the event and the administrative arrangements set out by the organizer of the event.
CACC will take all care in the handling of media (print, slide, digital), but cannot accept responsibility for loss, theft or damage.
All images must:
Be less than 2 years old at the start of the event season (1st September).
Be the member's own work, complying with the copyright note below.
Not have been used in the same event in a previous season. NOT be shown in two or more different media print, digital image on the same day, where CACC holds multiple media events together.
Copyright
In accordance with the established copyright regulations, images entered at events must be free of all rights of ownership, artistic or otherwise, which others may hold. By participating, authors of images indemnify' CACC against all and any action which may be taken against them by owners of copyrights. CACC will accept no responsibility in the case of dispute or litigation.
CACC reserves the right to report evidence of plagiarism or breach of copyright to the Photographic Alliance, where action may be taken to bar individual authors and, if necessary, to report onwards to other national and international photographic organizations.
Media - Prints must:
Be on a mount of sufficient thickness that the print will stand when supported on its lower edge.
Be labelled on the back with the Title, Author, and Club, and optionally on the front with the Title.
Not be larger than 40x50cm overall including the mount.
Not have any Velcro on the mount, or be mounted in such a way that other prints may be damaged when stacked.
Be delivered to the organizer/event in robust packaging e.g., a Nomad case.
Media - Digital must:
Media formats for digital are 1400xl050 pixels
Media - Audio-Visual must:
Be an executable computer program file, prepared in consultation with and acceptable to the CACC organizer of the AV event.
Note: Slide/tape sequences are no longer feasible in CACC events.
Besides the general copyright requirements, it is accepted that certain types of sequence e.g., documentaries, can include stock images where these are necessary to tell the story. It is the responsibility of the author either to use copyright-free images or to obtain the necessary permissions.
The author is also responsible either for using only copyright-free sound recordings, or for holding the necessary performance license.
The CACC organizer may require authors to confirm the copyright and performing license status of entries.
The Rules of the RPS International AV Festival may be consulted, as further background information, at
http://ian- bateman. mysite. wanadoo-members. co. uk/rps/frameset- rules.htm
Subject - Nature:
If cited for a specific event, a Nature image means any creature or plant living in the wild and photographed in its natural habitat.