Dronfield Camera Club

Competition Subject Criteria

The following gives the competition titles and general information regarding the club’s internal competitions for 2012.

 General Rules:

 All elements of all images submitted must be the original work of the photographer.

All prints should have a maximum MOUNT size no greater than 20ins x 16ins OR 40cms by 50cms

The mount can, of course, be smaller if desired.  If you are likely to enter the print in external competitions, the metric version is advised.  The print can be of any size within the mount. You may enter up to 2 colour prints and 2 monochrome (see below for definition of monochrome) in all print competitions except “Print Of The Year”, where you are limited to 2 prints in total.  For Print Of The Year, titles are required.

Digital Projected Images should be in jpeg format with a maximum width of 1400 pixels and a maximum height of 1050 pixels.  It is recommended that you do not submit a smaller image as this will project at a lesser size than others and thus possibly put you at a disadvantage.  A suggestion (not obligatory) is that you make a blank canvas of the above dimensions, fill this with black, and place your image within or on this, particularly images that are in portrait format.  While it is not obligatory for club competitions, this is a requirement for many external competitions such as NEMPF so it is a useful habit to get into.  If you need advice how to do this, ask! Please title projected images as per following format:  Joe Bloggs 1, Joe Bloggs 2, etc. for normal monthly competitions.  Your entries must be given to Tony Godwin NO LATER than 12:00 noon on the Sunday before the competition.

For the Projected Image Of The Year competition, “proper” titles are required.

There is an entry fee of 50p per image which must be paid on the night.  If unable to attend, you should make arrangements for another member to pay on your behalf please.

Competitions:

 

 

FEBRUARY

 
    9th    “Open”

Prints.   Any subject is acceptable, the image may be “photoshopped” or otherwise manipulated (but see General Rule 1 above).

 
     
 

MARCH

 
15th  "Images of People”

Projected.    A person or people must be the main subject,           therefore a small figure in a landscape would not fit the title, nor would (for example) a photo of statues. Otherwise most treatments would be acceptable

 
     
  APRIL  
  12th    “Water”

Prints.    Any subject showing or depicting the competition title.  It can be an outdoor, natural subject or set up indoors but water must be the predominant feature (i.e. not, for example, a lake which only takes up a small proportion of the overall image as this would better fit the Earthscape competition).

 
     
  MAY  
10th “Open”

Projected.    This is for the AGW award and both images count for scoring for the trophy. However, only your highest scoring entry will be counted for the Photographer Of The Year competition. Definition as per Open print. 

 
     
  JUNE  
14th  “Triptych”

Prints.    A triptych is one picture (print) in 3 parts, all of which are enclosed in a single mount.  The three parts may be from a single picture split in three sections, for three related pictures that are designed to be shown together, or three seemingly unrelated pictures that have been put together at the decision of the artist (in this case, bear in mind other club members may or may not appreciate your artistic decision and mark you up or down accordingly!)  Each triptych together should make up one print in one mount.  If you are not clear on this, ask!!

 
     
  JULY  
12th    "Still Life"

Projected.    A still life is a photograph featuring an arrangement of inanimate, everyday objects, whether natural objects (flowers, food, wine, etc.) or manufactured items (books, bottles, crockery, etc).

 
     
  SEPTEMBER  
 13th 

“Earthscape”

Prints.      This can be a landscape, seascape or urban landscape. 

People may be included but should not be the main focus of   attention and should only be a minor part of the overall image.

 

 
     
  OCTOBER  

11th

“Images of Spring”  

Projected.   Images relating to the season of spring.  The image subject matter can be of anything that demonstrates the subject but should clearly show that it has been taken at this time of year.

 

 
     
  OCTOBER  
25th

“Print and Projected Image of the Year”.  External judge.

 
 

Please note that you are allowed only 2 prints and 2 projected   images.     Any subject is acceptable.   

 
     
  NOVEMBER  
8th    
“Natural History”

Prints.  see below for the accepted definition. 

 

 
     
  DECEMBER  
13th    
“Shoot  Red”

Projected. The title says it all but the colour red must clearly be a      predominant feature of the composition.

 

The following guidelines are taken from those issued by NEMPF and have been adopted by Dronfield Camera Club. 

If you are not sure if your image meets these guidelines (or any of the above), please ask the Internal Competition Secretaries for their advice.

 Definition of Black and White Photography (monochrome)

 A black and white work showing various shades from the very dark (black) to the very clear (white) is a monochrome work with various intermediate shades of grey.

 A black and white work toned entirely in one single colour will remain a monochrome work able to stand in the black and white category

 On the other hand a black and white work modified by a partial toning or by the addition of one colour in one part of the image becomes a colour work (polychrome) to stand in the colour category.

 Definition of Natural History

 Natural History depicts living, untamed animals and uncultivated plants in a natural habitat, geology and the wide diversity of natural phenomena, from insects to icebergs.

Photographs of animals which are domesticated, caged or under form of restraint, as well as photographs of cultivated plants are unacceptable.

 Minimal evidence of humans is acceptable for nature subjects, such as barn owls or storks adapting to an environment modified by humans or natural forces.

The original image must have been taken by the photographer, whatever photographic medium is used.

 For the Natural History competition, any manipulation or modification to the original image is limited to normal RAW or jpeg processing (exposure, contrast, saturation, levels, curves etc) and minor retouching of blemishes and must not alter the content of the original scene.  Again, if not sure, ask the Internal Competition Secretaries.

 However, manipulation and modification is allowed if a natural history subject is entered in a different competition (i.e. an Open competition).

 After satisfying the above requirements, every effort should be made to use the highest level of artistic skill in all nature photographs.

 It is to be hoped that the above will assist all members (but particularly newer ones).  Competitions are the life-blood of the club and everyone is encouraged to enter.  There are many “senior” members (in experience and not necessarily age!) who are always delighted to pass on their expertise, so please don’t hesitate to ask at any time for advice.

 Good Luck! John Newman

November 2011

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