PLEASE NOTE: Rules may change from time to time due to many circumstances. Therefore, it is well advised for any new members to consult with the contest chairperson before submitting entries for the first time. However, existing rules give new members an excellent indoctrination in what to expect and change will not be wide deviations from the following procedures.

REVISED – JANUARY 2007

DEFINITIONS:

SLIDE: standard film submitted in a 2? x 2? glass, plastic or cardboard mount

______________________________________________

TITLE HERE

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X MEMBER?S NAME
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LABELING- All slides and prints must be titled. Slides must be labeled with the title, maker?s name and division on the front of the slide as hand viewed. In addition, a prominent mark or spot [X] must be placed at the lower left corner of the slide as hand viewed. Prints must bear the same information as above, however, the information is to be included on a label attached to the back of the print in the upper left corner. Labels for this arrangement for marking a slide is shown above.


DIGITAL IMAGE: An image submitted on a CD with an image size of 1024 (w) x 768 (h). There should be separate folders on the CD for Pictorial, Nature and Assigned Subject entries.

Words may not be added to a slide or digital image.

NOTE: Digital images must be submitted one week prior to the date of the contest.

BLACK & WHITE PRINTS: There is one class of black & white print. Prints may be any size up to 176 square inches, usually 11? x 16?. They may be uniformly toned or dyed. Prints must be mounted on a 16? x 20? board of any harmonizing color. Prints must be the work of the entrant with the exception of mounting. Words may not be added to a black & white print. Print must have a label with the title, maker?s name and division (black & white), which label shall be attached to the back of the print in the upper left corner.

COLOR PRINTS: there is one class of color print. Prints may be any size up to 176 square inches, usually 11? x 16?. Prints do not have to be made by the entrant although the entrant must have exposed the original slide, negative or digital image. Prints may be of any process with the exception of hand coloring over black & white. Prints must be mounted on a 16? x 20? board of any harmonizing color. Words may not be added to a color print. Print must have a label with the title, maker?s name and division (color), which label shall be attached to the back of the print in the upper left corner.

JUDGING

Three judges vote scores for each contest entry, awarding from 1 to 9 points. The three scores are added. The five highest scoring entries are awarded places ranging from first to third plus first and second honorable mention in order of decreasing scores. Ties will be resolved by a re-vote.

In the case of a two way tie, judges will enter 9 for the entry they think best and a l for the other entry.

In the case of a tie of three or more entries, judges will enter 9 for the entry they think best, 6 for the second best, a 1 for each of the remaining entries. The entry getting the high score is the winner , the next lower score is the first runner-up, and so on.

If a two-way or three-way tie results in this re-vote, a second re-vote is taken for the entries involved using the same procedure. If a three-way tie still exists after the first re-vote, the judges shall hold a brief discussion on the entries involved in an attempt to reach a consensus and then re-vote.

All judging is conducted by a panel of three judges selected by the chairperson of the contest. Each judge assigns a number 1 to 9, inclusive (9 is highest), to each image. The judges are normally qualified members who do not have entries in the contest being judged. However, qualified non-members may be used for special occasions such as year end contests.

In Assigned Subject contests, the 1 and 9 judging will be preceded by a judging of appropriateness to the subject: A 1 to be assigned by each judge feeling that the entry is not the appropriate subject, and a 3 to be assigned by each judge feeling the entry is appropriate to the subject.

A minimum of 7 points is needed to qualify.

In all contests, placing points will be awarded as follows:

1st Place 5 points
2nd Place 4 points
3rd Place 3 points
Honorable Mentions 2 each 2 points
Non-placing Entries 1 point


SUBJECT MATTER RESTRICTIONS:

Nudes in good taste may be entered. The appropriate chairperson will make this determination.

AWARDS

HIGH SCORE: In all contests, the competition year runs from January through December. During the year, placing points are totaled. At the end of the year the top five point earners in each contest receive awards. In all contests a medal is awarded for first, second, third and a ribbon for two Honorable Mentions.

PRINT/SLIDE/DIGITAL IMAGE OF THE YEAR: In all contests, except Assigned Subject contests, all placing entries for the competition are re-judged.

The top five black & white and the top five color prints are selected for print of the year honors.

The top five slides are selected for slide of the year honors.

The top five digital images are selected for digital image of the year honors.

In all contests a ribbon is awarded for First, Second, Third and two Honorable Mentions.

RULES FOR MONTHLY SLIDE CONTEST

CLASSES: There is one class in the monthly slide contest.

DIVISIONS: There are two divisions in the contest. The distinction is a very important one.

Divisions:

PICTORIAL: This group includes any picture not within the scope of a nature image. A close up study of nature or scenic in which the "hand of man" is not present are considered nature images, and are not eligible for entry in the pictorial group.

The NATURE PHOTOGRAPHIC DIVISION: Nature images must conform to PSA?s definition of a nature image (except for zoo or game farm animals as described below) Eligible subjects include trees, wild flowers, weeds, grasses, fungi, ferns, mosses, animals or birds (except domesticated), reptiles, insects, fossils, weather, land/seascapes (without boats or other human evidence), geological formations, etc. Banding is acceptable on birds. Ineligible subjects include domestic animals (dogs, cows, etc.), scenics which show human artifacts (fences, buildings, telephone wires, etc.) and mounted specimens.

Where wildlife is depicted, the PSA standard shall be modified to allow photographs of zoo or game farm animals, restricted as follows: wildlife is defined as one or more organisms living free and unrestricted in a natural or adopted habitat.

Because the intent of a Nature image is to accurately depict a real subject, the degree of digital or darkroom manipulation should be minimal.

The Photographic Society of America Natural Division Rules are presented as Exhibit A of theSe Rules for Competition.

MAXIMUM RATE OF ENTRY: Two pictorial and/or two nature slides per month.

ENTRY DEADLINE: Slides must be entered by 7:00 P.M. on the date of the contest.

RE-ENTRY OF SLIDES: Slides which have not placed in the top five in a previous monthly slide contest may be re-entered at any time. Slides, which have placed in the top five in a monthly Slide contest, may not be re-entered in any future slide contest. Such slides may be entered in Assigned Subject contests.

CUSTODY OF SLIDES: All non-placing entries may be picked up following the contest. Placing slides will remain on display at the club until the next slide contest, at which time they, too, may be picked up. Entrants are urged to keep their monthly placing slides available for entry into the slide of the year contest when they are requested each January.

RULES FOR MONTHLY DIGITAL IMAGE CONTEST

There is only one class in the monthly digital image contest.

There are two divisions in the contest. The distinction is a very important one.

Digital images shall be submitted on a CD with an image size of no more than 1024 (w) x 768 (h). There should be separate folders on the CD for Pictorial, Nature and Assigned Subject entries.

Words may not be added to a slide or digital image.

NOTE: Digital images must be submitted ONE WEEK PRIOR to the date of the contest.

For the first digital entry submitted by Frank Lorah entitled The Catch in Pictorial, the file would be named:

Explanation:
BPS-LORAF-A1-THE_CATCH.JPG
A B C DE F

A - MUST BE BPS ON ALL ENTRIES

B - 1ST FOUR LETTERS OF LAST NAME (LORA)

C - FIRST LETTER OF FIRST NAME (F)

D - A = PICTORIAL
B = NATURE
C = ASSIGNED SUBJECT

E - 1= FIRST IMAGE IN CATEGORY
2= SECOND IMAGE IN CATEGORY

F - IMAGE TITLE (MAX. 36 CHARACTERS)

Must use the – NOT _ in between each part of file name

Can be JPG, TIFF, BMP, any file format that you used previously

MAXIMUM SIZE OF 1024 dpi (w) x 768 dpi (h) WILL BE ACCEPTED

Use _ between words in image title (i.e. The_Catch)

PICTORIAL: This group includes any picture not within the scope of a nature image. A close up study of nature or scenic in which the "hand of man" is not present are considered nature images, and are not eligible for entry in the pictorial group.

The NATURE PHOTOGRAPHIC DIVISION: Nature images must conform to PSA?s definition of a nature image (except for zoo or game farm animals as described below) Eligible subjects include trees, wild flowers, weeds, grasses, fungi, ferns, mosses, animals or birds (except domesticated), reptiles, insects, fossils, weather, land/seascapes (without boats or other human evidence), geological formations, etc. Banding is acceptable on birds. Ineligible subjects include domestic animals (dogs, cows, etc.), scenics which show human artifacts (fences, buildings, telephone wires, etc.) and mounted specimens.

Where wildlife is depicted, the PSA standard shall be modified to allow photographs of zoo or game farm animals, restricted as follows: wildlife is defined as one or more organisms living free and unrestricted in a natural or adopted habitat.

Because the intent of a Nature image is to accurately depict a real subject, the degree of digital or darkroom manipulation should be minimal.

The Photographic Society of America Natural Division Rules are presented as Exhibit A of theSe Rules for Competition.

MAXIMUM RATE OF ENTRY: Two pictorial and/or two nature digital images per month.

RE-ENTRY OF DIGITAL IMAGES: Digital Images which have not placed in the top five in a previous monthly digital image contest may be re-entered at any time. Digital Images, which have placed in the top five in a monthly digital image contest, may not be re-entered in any future digital image contest. Such digital images may be entered in Assigned Subject contests.

CUSTODY OF IMAGES Placing digital images may be displayed on the Club?s web site. Entrants are urged to keep their monthly placing digital images available for entry into the digital image of the year contest when they are requested each January.




MONTHLY ASSIGNED SUBJECT;

MONTHLY ASSIGNED SUBJECT SLIDE CONTEST

CLASSES: There is one class in the monthly assigned subject slide contest.

MAXIMUM RATE OF ENTRY: Two slides per month.

SPECIFICATIONS: Words may not be added to an assigned subject slide.

ENTRY DEADLINE: Slides must be entered by 7:00 P.M. on the date of the contest.

RE-ENTRY OF SLIDES: Slides which have not placed in the top five in a previous monthly Assigned Subject contest may be re-entered at any time, providing it applies to the subject. Slides, which have placed in the top five in a monthly Assigned Subject contest, may not be re-entered in any future Assigned Subject slide contest. They may, however, be entered in the regular Slide contest.

CUSTODY OF SLIDES: All nonplacing entries may be picked up following the contest. Placing slides will remain on display at the club until the next Assigned Subject slide contest at which time they, too, may be picked up.




MONTHLY ASSIGNED SUBJECT DIGITAL IMAGE CONTEST

CLASSES: There is one class in the monthly assigned subject digital image contest.

MAXIMUM RATE OF ENTRY: Two digital images per month.

Digital images shall be submitted on a CD with an image size of no more than 1024 (w) x 768 (h) and shall follow the file naming rules set forth under Monthly Digital Image Contest.

NOTE: Digital images must be submitted ONE WEEK PRIOR to the date of the contest.

SPECIFICATIONS: Words may not be added to an assigned subject digital image

RE-ENTRY OF DIGITAL IMAGES: Digital Images which have not placed in the top five in a previous monthly Assigned Subject contest may be re-entered at any time, providing it applies to the subject. Digital Images, which have placed in the top five in a monthly Assigned Subject contest, may not be re-entered in any future Assigned Subject digital image contest. They may, however, be entered in the regular digital image contest.

CUSTODY OF DIGITAL IMAGES:
Placing digital images may be displayed on the Club?s web site

MONTHLY ASSIGNED SUBJECT PRINT CONTEST

CLASSES: There is one class of Assigned Subject prints.

MAXIMUM RATE OF ENTRY: Two prints per month.

ENTRY DEADLINE: Prints must be entered by 7:00 P.M. on the date of the contest.

SPECIFICATIONS: Prints may be black & white, uniformly toned or dyed or color prints. Words may not be added to an assigned subject print.

RE-ENTRY OF PRINTS: Prints, which have not placed in the top five in an Assigned Subject contest, may be re-entered at any time. Prints that have placed in the top five in a monthly Assigned Subject contest may not be re-entered, even in a different subject. Such prints may, however, be entered in a regular Print contest.

CUSTODY OF PRINTS: All non-placing prints may be picked up following the contest. All placing prints will be on display at the club until the next Assigned Subject Print contest.

PRINT CONTEST:

BLACK & WHITE PRINT CONTEST

CLASSES: There is one class of Black & White prints.

MAXIMUM RATE OF ENTRY: Two prints per month.

ENTRY DEADLINE: Prints must be entered by 7:00 P.M. on the date of the contest.

SPECIFICATIONS: Words may not be added to a black and white print

RE-ENTRY OF PRINTS: Prints which have not placed in the top five in a Black & White Print contest may be re-entered in any subsequent monthly contest. Prints which have placed in the top five in a Black & White Print contest may not be re-entered. However, it may be eligible for Assigned Subject prints.

CUSTODY OF PRINTS: All non-placing prints may be picked up following the contest. All placing prints will be on display at the club until the next Black & White Print contest at which time they too, may be picked up.


COLOR PRINT CONTEST

CLASSES: There is one class of color prints.

MAXIMUM RATE OF ENTRY: Two prints per month.

ENTRY DEADLINE: Prints must be entered by 7:00 P.M. on the date of the contest.

SPECIFICATIONS: Words may not be added to a color print

RE-ENTRY OF PRINTS: Prints that have not placed in the top five in a contest may be re-entered in any subsequent monthly contest. Prints that have placed in the top five in a color print contest may not be re-entered. However, it may be eligible for Assigned Subject prints.

CUSTODY OF PRINTS: All non-placing prints may be picked up following the contest. All placing prints will be on display at the club until the next Color Print contest at which time they, too, may be picked up.

During the year a number of Special Contests are held at the Berks Camera Club. You must be a member to enter the contests. The Special Contest Chairperson will determine which of the contests described below will occur during a year and they are announced well in advance. Entries should be submitted One week prior to the contest date. Judging for these contests is by the members attending the meeting on the contest night. Judging is based on overall impact or interest, composition, and technical aspects using the 1-9 scoring system. Members with an entry in the contest are not eligible to vote.


PHOTO ESSAY

Subjects for a photo essay are placed in individual sealed envelopes. Club members wishing to enter the contest draw an envelope and submit an entry depicting the subject they selected in the drawing. An envelope may be drawn at anytime prior to the contest but, entries must be submitted one week prior to the contest date. Slides are submitted in your own carousel tray (80 capacity) A cassette tape with background music may be included. Digital entries are submitted on a CD. Background music may be included. The photo essay may not exceed ten (10) minutes in length.


MEMBER?S CHOICE

The Special Contest committee selects four categories. You pick one of your best slides or digital images in each category and submit them for the contest. Digital images are submitted on a CD. The available categories include: Portrait, Nature, Table Top, Sports, Abstract, Scenic or Landscape, or Photojournalism.


PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT

Twenty subjects are assigned to be photographed. Slides are submitted in your own carousel tray (80 capacity). Digital Images are submitted on a CD. Scores are adjusted for incomplete entries.


THE ALPHABET SOUP CONTEST

The photographer must represent each letter of the alphabet with a photo. Slides are submitted in your own carousel slide tray (80 capacity). Digital images are submitted on a CD. Scores are adjusted for incomplete entries. A title sheet should accompany the entries.