Curves
Dwight Corrin
Best of Show
1st Place - Open Mono
2012
Wichita Area Camera Club
Competition Rules
COMPETITION CATEGORIES
The names and abbreviations for the categories allowed in competition are as follows:
CREATIVE (CRTV)
Creative photography is an opportunity for those who dare to explore the experimental and creative forms of photographic expression. Judges will be looking for creativity, impact, composition, technique or style, and concentration of color and/or form. These photographs may include, but are not limited to, derived images, ultra-high contrast, black light, bas-relief, solarization, posterization, multiple images, trick lenses and filters, digital enhancement, computer manipulation, composite images, and other ways to alter the image to produce a new abstract effect.
NATURE (NTR)
A nature photograph depicts observations from all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology. Nature may include botany, zoology, or geology when depicted in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject and to recognize its honest presentation. Human elements shall not be present unless they enhance the nature story and are unobtrusive. Photographs of mounted specimens, set arrangements, derivations, or any form of photographic manipulation that alters the truth are ineligible, with the exception of detailed micro or macro photographs. Scientific banding is permitted on wild animals. Photos of captive animals are allowed. If the subject is non-captive wildlife, the entrant may indicate this in the title to the image.
OPEN COLOR (OC)
Open color is wide open and all encompassing. It includes scenic views, landscapes, waterscapes, still life, informal or formal portraiture, people, photojournalism, nature, photo-travel, pictorial, macro and micro photography, and may include other subject matters not listed. This may also include images that may not be acceptable in other competition categories. Note: mono photographs are not permitted in this category.
OPEN MONO (MNO)
Mono is also known as monochrome and black & white photography. The resulting image is limited to monochromatic hues or shades of gray, although filters may be applied to give a hue or tint. Different photographic processes and toners may also give a different hue to a black & white photograph; for example, selenium, sepia and split toning (duo-toning). No fraction of the image shall be given a special color treatment.
PEOPLE (PEO)
The photos should be of a person or persons. They may be a staged or posed, be a portrait, a candid shot or an action shot of an individual or group of individuals. The photo may focus primarily on the face or may include part or all of the body.
PHOTOJOURNALISM (PJ)
This topic shall consist of photographs or sequences of photographs which tells a story. Types of images might include spot news, general news, sports, features, and illustration/controlled portrait. Artificially produced situations or photographic manipulations which alter the truth should not be submitted. The story telling value of the photograph shall be weighed more than the pictorial quality. Captions are required and are an integral part of the judging, and they are read aloud before the photograph is shown. A three or four word phrase is NOT a caption. The caption is IN ADDITION TO the image title, and both are required. While other photos are judged on impact, technique and composition, photojournalism is scored on impact, story value of the image, and the caption. A third of the score is based upon impact, a third of the score is based upon the story telling value of the photo, and a third upon the journalistic value of the caption. The caption must clearly explain what the picture shows.
PHOTO TRAVEL (PT)
Travel photos should capture the feeling of time and place, portraying a land, a people, or a culture in its current state. Ultra close-ups which lose their identity, studio type model pictures, or obviously manipulated photographs do not qualify for this category. Photo travel images are not limited to other countries and may include those taken in the United States.
SPORTS (SP)
Sports photos reflect the specialized art of shooting people engaged in sports, games and adventure activities. Judges are looking for a perfectly captured moment. Depth of field is important and images should have a dynamic action feel.
COMPETITION GUIDELINES
Judging Criteria
Except as otherwise noted in the category definitions above, each image shall be judged on three criteria: impact, technique and composition. Each criterion shall be weighted evenly.
Impact - A combination of imagination, subject selection, and subject presentation. This is sometimes called the “wow” factor.
Technique - Focus, depth of field, lighting, color rendition, white balance, exposure, quality of printing and presentation of the print.
Composition - The arrangement of all elements within the image so the subject matter is presented as a harmonious, well-balanced photograph.
Scoring
All images will be scored by 3 judges in a range of 1 to 5 in each criterion listed above. That is to say, from 1 to 5 for impact, 1 to 5 for technique, and 1 to 5 for composition. The total score for each judge will be from 3 to 15, and the total score for an image will be from 9 to 45.
The significance of the score in each criterion is as follows:
1. There are several significant flaws in the criterion. On the other hand, there may be one flaw but it is an extremely serious flaw. It is worse than a 2.
2. The criterion would have been given a 3 if it were not for a significant flaw. It is worse than a 3.
3. In the criterion, there are no significant flaws, but likewise there are no significant strengths. A score of 3 also would be awarded in a criterion that did have a significant strength (which might have earned it a 4) but that strength has been neutralized by a flaw.
4. The criterion is good and solid, better than a 3. The criterion is technically correct and more. It exhibits at least one element towards which photographers who are working at polishing their craft should be striving.
5. A criterion that scores a 5 is an exceptionally strong criterion, true photographic excellence. The criterion need not be perfect, just very, very strong. Such a criterion is technically correct and much, much more. It is better than a 4.
Eligibility to Compete
Only members whose dues are paid for the current year may enter club competition. Competition media includes digital and prints.
General Guidelines are as follows:
1. All entries must be the original work of the entrant.
2. Once an entry has been accepted in any category, it cannot be entered again in any other category during that competition year. The top 3 winning entries in a given category in the year-end competition may never again be entered in any category.
3. Members may re-enter non-accepted entries in the same or any other OPEN category.
4. All print entries must contain the maker's name, image title, and the direction the picture is to be shown. Digital images shall be properly oriented for normal viewing. If the subject is wildlife in the Nature category, the words Non-Captive Wildlife or letters NCW, MAY be added to image title.
Number of Entries
Members may submit up to four (4) entries in each category.
Format & Size
1. Prints are not required to be mounted.
2. Prints may be produced by the entrant or by a commercial laboratory.
3. Mounts or backing may be the same size of the print.
4. Mounts, backing or frames may not exceed the maximum size allowed in each category.
5. Entries may not be framed for year-end judging.
Maximum Sizes for Prints
18 x 24 for large print category 8 ½ x 12 for small print category
Digital Competition Entries
Entries for digital competition must be uploaded to the appropriate competition by the date listed in the Competition Schedule. This schedule should be found in the competition category for the current competition year. The entry details must also be submitted to the entry email account. Detailed instructions for this can be found in the Smug Mug gallery entitled Entering a Digital Competition. The website address for this gallery is as follows:
http://wichitaareacameraclub.smugmug.com/2012-13Competitions/How-Tos/22884683_CkPcQ3
Digital Images
Digital Images must be JPEG and should be use the sRGB color space.
Text on Images
No text shall be shown on the border or frame of any image. Text may be shown on the image if it is an integral part of the image. Titles or captions are generally not considered a part of the image and hence shall not be shown on the image.
Rejection of Entries
The Competition VP has the responsibility to reject any entry which is not submitted in accordance with these rules.
Acceptance and Acceptance Points
1. The judges shall accept from 25% to 33% of the total number of entries in each category judged. The accepted entries from each month are entered in the year end competition.
2. Every entry for competition shall be allowed 1/4 point, whether accepted or not.
3. If there is only 1 entrant in any category for which competition has been scheduled, that entrant will be allowed 1/4 point for each entry not to exceed 1 point per category. That entrant may withdraw the entries, without prejudice, for later competition. If that entrant has entered 4 photos in that category, that entrant may choose to have the photos judged and earn an additional 1 point for the photo accepted.
4. Winners at the year-end competition shall be allowed 5 points for first place, 4 points for second place, 3 points for third place, and 2 points for honorable mention, in each category.
EFFECTIVE DATE
These rules shall become effective on the first day of the month following the month in which they are approved by the membership of the club, or as otherwise provided when approved by the membership.
Approved, Feb 12, 2013
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