Competition Rules
The following are the Rules For Competition.
ALL rules set forth here took effect on January 1, 2010
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RULES FOR COMPETITIONS
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:
DIGITAL IMAGE: An image submitted on a CD or via email 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 digital image.
NOTE: Digital images must be submitted one week prior to the date of the contest if submitted on disk. Digital images may be submitted via email and must be received on or before the Friday before the date of the contest by emailing them to: bpscontest@comcast.net
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.
DIGITAL IMAGE OF THE YEAR: In all contests, except Assigned Subject contests, all placing entries for the competition are re-judged.
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 SPECIFIC CONTESTS
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 if submitted on disk. Digital images may be submitted via email and must be received on or before the Friday before the date of the contest by emailing them to: bpscontest@comcast.net
FILE NAMING OF DIGITAL ENTRIES
For the first digital entry submitted by Frank Lorah entitled The Catch in Pictorial, the file would be named:
BPS-LORAF-A1-THE_CATCH.JPG
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
JPG file format is to be used.
MAXIMUM SIZE of 1024 dpi (w) x 768 dpi (h) only will be accepted
Use _ between words in image title (i.e. The_Catch)
PICTORIAL: This group includes any image.
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 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 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 if submitted on disk. Digital images may be submitted via email and must be received on or before the Friday before the date of the contest by emailing them to: bpscontest@comcast.net
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.
SPECIAL DIGITAL IMAGE CONTESTS
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
The Subject for a photo essay is decided on by the member. Club members wishing to enter the contest are requested to submit their entries no later than 7:00 PM on the contest date. 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 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. 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. Digital images are submitted on a CD. Scores are adjusted for incomplete entries. A title sheet should accompany the entries.