The submission deadline is SATURDAY 12:00 am (FRIDAY Midnight) prior to the monthly Monday meeting.

Late submission will disqualify the image(s) or print(s), but they may be entered the following month as long as they meet the listed qualifications.

Images may be entered in one of four categories in the montly intra-club competition:

• Traditional
• Enhanced
• Special Topic
• Challenge Topic

Detailed instructions for re-sizing image with Photoshop are available for download.
[Click here to download].

However, in simplest terms, your image once re-sized should fit in a box no wider than 1400 pixels and no higher than 1050 pixels. Therefore, if you have a portrait-oriented image like the one shown here, it will be less than 1400 wide and be limited by the height at 1050 pixels.

JPEG file size should not exceed 1 MB (megabyte).  Note: Images may be any size, but may not project correctly if you do not follow these guidelines. Digital images may be digitally matted or framed, but this then becomes a part of the image to be judged and should be considered in the overall size of the image.

Digital

Digital represents a large portion of the monthly competition.  Special note for digital images: Adding a digital border, mat, or frame to improve its presentation does not change the classification of the the image in any way and is permitted in all (Traditional, Enhanced, Special Topic, and Challenge Topic) categories.

Slides & Prints

Slides & prints must be converted to digital to enter.

In order to identify your entry the following naming convention is generated by the online Image Competition Submittal Form.

Note: When using the online form to enter your images into competition it is not necessary to name your file as described below. The online form will automatically rename your image after upload. Just name your file with only the title of your image.

1. Judging will be done by a three-judge panel. (Note: Exceptions may apply when a guest with professional qualifications agrees to judge the competition alone. It will be the responsibility of the President to make this determination.)
2. Judge selection is the responsibility of the President.
3. Qualified professionals outside the club may fill one, two, or three of these positions.
4. Guest or club member speakers are given the option to participate or decline in the judging process.
5. Guest or club member speakers are given the option to participate or decline in the critiquing process.
6. The President may ask only one judge to critique all the images, or alternate judges for each image.
7. Guest or club member speakers are given the option to participate or decline in the critiquing process.
8. The President may ask only one judge to critique all the images, or alternate judges for each image or limit the critiquing of an image to any one judge that wishes to comment on a given image. The President should announce the process prior to each competition.

Although judging is subjective, judges are asked to put their personal biases aside and score each photograph on its own merit. Although the audience and/or participants may disagree, all judging will be final.

Major considerations for evaluation of an image are:

A 9 point scale with a total 27 points will be the standard. In the event that only two judges are available, their scores will be averaged and added to retain the 27 point total. In the event that a third judge must decline to vote on a image, the average rule applies. (Note: Members of the judging panel my not judge their own image, their spouses image, or any other image they have prior knowledge about.) In the event that only one judge is available, a 9 point system will be used.

All images that tie for Best of Show must be re-judged to break the tie. If there are two images in a category, the second place image will receive an award of merit. If there are more than two images, all subsequent second place images will receive an award of merit. No further award of merits will be given in that category. If there is no tie for Best of Show, then the second place image will be given the award of merit. If two or more images tie for award of merit, then all will be given an award of merit.

Best of Show (1st Place) will be awarded to one image in each category/level combination.  Award of Merit (2nd Place) will be given to all second place winners.  In case of a tie for first place, the Award of Merit goes to the tie-breaker loser.

Best of Show winning images from the previous month will be featured on the main page of the website and in the next newsletter.  All Best of Show and Award of Merit images will also be added to the online club gallery.  All images will be shown with photographer name, award category and month/date of award.

Members may only enter images which were entered into competition in the same calendar year.

As usual, Best of Show and Award of Merit will be determined for each of the nine categories. Additionally, an Overall Best of Show for Intermediate and an Overall Best of Show for Advanced images will be selected from the Category Best of Show winners.

Entries must be in the same category and level they were originally entered.

Beginners may enter up to three images, Intermediate and Advanced four images, subject to the limitations stated in Rules for Entering Competition.