ETOBICOKE CAMERA CLUB

RULES OF COMPETITION—2009 – 2010

Click here for pdf version

Note:  Changes from previous Rules are highlighted in grey.

Competition Entry Form (doc)                    Competition Entry Form (pdf)                    Competition Entry Form (rtf)

MISSION AND GOALS

The Etobicoke Camera Club exists for its members to meet together to enjoy a common interest in photography, share ideas, and to improve their photographic and presentation abilities.  ECC supports the promotion of photography in many forms.

ELIGIBILITY

Members who wish to compete in the regular digital/print competitions must pay the annual dues prior to submitting entries. 

GENERAL

Paid-up members can submit digital images in each of our regular competitions on the premise that all images are judged on the merit of the presentation and not by the type of image.  Members can submit three (3) digital images in each competition.  We encourage entries that represent recent work of the maker, i.e., images taken within the last three or four years.

Digital images may be derived from either digital cameras or scanned photographic images and submitted as JPEG images.   Images incorporating digital imaging or electronic enhancements are acceptable (with the exception of the nature category) provided that the image or enhancement is work of the photographer. Images taken from digital libraries are not eligible.  The competing member must expose all photographs. Photographs of another photographer's work are not eligible.

Images or prints that have been entered in previous years’ ECC competitions are not eligible for the current competition season. 

By submitting entries you give the ECC the right to use the image for promotional purposes of the club.

A.   COMPETITION DIVISIONS

ECC has three divisions in which members compete: 

·         Intermediate;

·          Advanced; and

·          Superset. 

The Intermediate Division is intended for beginners to intermediate photographers.  New members who have achieved standing in another camera club will be placed in Advanced or Superset at the discretion of the Evaluation Directors.

The  advancement process from Intermediate to Advanced and from Advanced to Superset Divisions is based on the total aggregate points scored upon completion of the six regular competitions, i.e., the total point scores of all digital entries submitted (prints are excluded).  For example, if 3 images are submitted for each competition and each image scored 20 points, the total aggregate points for the year would be 360 points (3 images x 6 competitions = 18 images x 20 points each).  The top performers in each competition division, i.e., with the highest total aggregate scores in the top 10%, or the 90^th percentile will move to the next division.

The first year will be optional for a member who is eligible to advance, i.e., the member can choose to stay in the division for one year.  If the member in the second consecutive year is eligible to advance, the advancement must occur.

We will continue to award ribbons for each competition based on the highest scoring images within each division, i.e., Gold for top image; Silver for second place and Honourable Mentions (approximately 10% of the entries).   Judges will also select the ‘Gold of Month’ from the three division Gold winners. Although ribbons are awarded, they do not count for points towards advancement into the next division.

B.  REGULAR COMPETITION CATEGORIES

We provide a description of the various competition categories.  Please read descriptions carefully to ensure that your submitted entries will be in category – do not rely on your own interpretation of the topic.  If you are unsure whether an image fits the category, you have the option of submitting it at the Image Critique, or asking one of the Image Evaluation Directors.

A Category Committee will review entries submitted and reserve the right to reject any image considered to be out of category. This decision-making process is intended to remove the need for judges to make decisions regarding suitability, and possible downgrading as a result.

1.       PHOTOGRAPHER’S CHOICE 1 and 2

The subject for these competitions may be of any subject matter that the member chooses to submit. 

3.       NATURE

Nature photography depicts living, untamed animals and uncultivated plants (e.g., trees, plants, and flowers in natural settings {wildflowers, not cultivated ones}, lichen etc.) natural habitat, geology and the wide diversity of natural phenomena, from insects to icebergs in such a fashion that an informed person will be able to identify the subject material and to certify as to its honest presentation. The story telling value of a nature photograph is as important as the pictorial quality. 

Human elements shall not be present, except in certain limited circumstances.  These exceptions include either where a human element enhances the nature story, for example, the presence of scientific bands on wild animals, or where a human element is present when the nature subject is in its natural environment, for example a bird on a wire which is a natural perch for bird, or barn swallows in a nest in a barn as that is their natural habitat, or a pelican on a post as this is a very common resting place for them.  However, any such human element must be minimized – i.e., a very small portion of a wire or the post top for a perched pelican should be the most that is shown.   Birds perched on a bird feeder are not permitted as bird feeders are not considered natural perches.  Such things as telephone lines, roads, walls, obviously cut wood, buildings etc. that are included in a nature photograph will be the cause for disqualification of the photograph.  Humans, however small, should not be shown no matter how beautiful the scene.

Photographs of animals which are domesticated caged or under an obvious form of restraint are ineligible, for example presence of fences or restraining wires, ropes, straps etc.

Photographs of produced hybrid plants or animals, mounted specimens, or set arrangements, are ineligible. The emphasis of a nature slide should be to show a small aspect of nature, i.e., a small section of a pond, close-up of a rock formation or waterfall, ice crystals, cloud formations, etc.  General panoramic landscapes or seascapes are considered scenics and will be disqualified.  

The original image must have been taken by the photographer, whichever photographic medium is used. Any manipulation or modification to the original image is limited to minor retouching of blemishes and must not alter the content of the original scene.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT CREATIVE TECHNIQUES SUCH AS USING A SLOW SHUTTER SPEED FOR FLOWING NATURAL WATER, OR PANNING TO ACCENTUATE AN ANIMAL’S MOVEMENT AS IT IS RUNNING, OR USING A LARGE APPETURE SETTING TO BLUR THE BACKGROUND ARE ACCEPTABLE TECHNQUES IN ECC’S NATURE CATEGORY.  THE JUDGES WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO ACCEPT THESE IMAGES AS NATURE ENTRIES AND NOT TO DOWNGRADE THE SCORE SIMPLY BECAUSE THESE TECHNQUES HAVE BEEN USED.  JUDGES MAY, HOWEVER, DOWNGRADE SUCH AN IMAGE IF THE TECHNIQUE IS NOT SUCCESSFUL.    

4.       PEOPLE

The centre of interest in this category must be one or more persons.  The person(s) may be engaged in an activity or interacting with each other, or may be posed.  The image may be planned, such as for a formal portrait, or it may be a spontaneous or candid portrait.  In people photography, it is usually the expression in faces that holds the attention of the viewer by conveying the emotion of the moment, e.g., joy between mother and child, a child’s pride in a new pet etc.  However, emotion can also be expressed by focusing on a single detail(s) of the person, such as hands folded in prayer, a backlit silhouette, the back of a person engaged in an activity or quietly reflecting etc.   Creative techniques such as a panning technique accentuating a child’s movement as he/she is running is also acceptable as a people image. 

5.       CREATIVE

Creative images, for the purposes of this competition, are images that reflect an “altered reality”.  The image must begin as the maker’s photograph of a real subject, whether captured digitally or scanned from a negative or slide.  However in this competition you are encouraged to exercise your imagination and stray as far from that real subject as you like, using design elements, colour and light in non-traditional ways to produce abstract, impressionistic and experimental effects not achievable by standard photographic means.  You may do this with in-camera techniques and/or also by manipulating your images afterwards using digital post-processing software.  Artwork and computer graphics created by the member can be incorporated as long as the photographic content predominates.  Merely using these techniques is not enough, however; they must used artfully to produce an effective image.  Therefore creative photography has these elements — new composition, altered reality, and emphasized alteration.

Examples of creative techniques include:  panning, zooming, lens distortion, special effects filters, montages, collages, ortons, multiple exposures, posterization, diffraction, “black light”, bas relief and unusual/unrealistic colorization. 

Examples that would not be acceptable in this competition are:  images that are merely black-and-white, infrared, or sepia, or images merely captured from an unusual angle or with a fisheye lens, unless something more has been done to the image to exaggerate the effect or combine it with other effects. 

For this competition image titles will be read aloud as the image is projected for judging, making the title a component of the evaluation process.  You are encouraged to assign image titles that will assist the judges in assessing the subject or purpose of your image, or in an imaginative manner that will contribute to the creativity of the image presentation.

6.       ARCHITECTURE

This category includes buildings, or parts thereof. Architectural structures must be permanent and stationary, such as buildings, bridges, walls etc. Interior structures are also included. Designs in nature as opposed to man-made are not applicable and will be rejected. Items such as furniture, flagpoles, skylines, artefacts, ornaments, ships, statues, fences are ineligible if these provide the dominant subject of the photograph. 

C.    GENERAL INFORMATION ON IMAGE ENTRIES

Please note that only digital entries are allowed, i.e., slides are no longer being accepted.

For entry into a competition, all entries must be received by the image Evaluation Director no later than the Monday evening meeting two weeks before the judging date of each competition as noted in the Program.  Digital entries must be emailed, or provided to the Digital Evaluation Director in disk format, no later than midnight of the Monday evening two weeks prior to judging date.  Any entries submitted after these deadlines will not be included in the competition. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT FAILURE TO INCLUDE THE IDENTIFICATION FOR EACH ENTRY ON THE EMAIL AND ENTRY FORM AS DESCRIBED BELOW WILL RESULT IN YOUR ENTRY BEING ELIMINATED.  IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE IN THE PROPER PROCEDURES, PLEASE DISCUSS WITH THE DIGITAL EVALUATION DIRECTOR OR OTHER MEMBERS.

The electronic copy of the entry form must be completed and submitted at the same time as the images.

A paper copy of the entry form will be returned with the scores and judges’ comments (when provided) for the maker’s records.

As shown in the sample below, the entry form must include the maker's name, division (i.e. Intermediate or Superset), the title of each entry, the sequence of entry (A, B, or C) and an indication of whether the image is slide or digital.   In addition, members of the Intermediate and Advanced divisions have the option of selecting one image upon which they would like to receive judges’ comments, which must be applicable for image A only.  There is a column on the entry form marked ** to indicate the selection for image A. 

Sample Entry Form

NAME:	Sally Brown	DATE:	Sept/09	DIVISION:	INTERMEDIATE**	X
					ADVANCED
CATEGORY:	Photographers’ Choice I				SUPERSET

NOTE:  SHADED AREAS TO BE COMPLETED BY EVALUATION DIRECTORS

	IMAGE TITLE	**	JUDGES’ COMMENTS	SCORE	AWARD
A	On the Bay	X
B	At the lighthouse	N/A
C	Moonlight	N/A

**  Intermediate & Advanced members only are eligible to request judges’ comments on ONE image to be indicated for the ‘A ‘entry only by inserting an ‘x’ in the ** column beside entry A. 

You can download the form and fill it out electronically and e-mail it as an attachment along with you digital images. 

 COMPETITION ENTRY FORM  - ECC Competition Entry Form (pdf) - for printing   ECC Competition Entry Form - Digital (doc) - for electronic submission. 

When filling out this form (Word document) electronically, please remember to use "Save As...  and rename the file to include your name and the competition involved.  PLEASE NOTE:  DO NOT NAME IT “ENTRY FORM” – INSTEAD NAME IT WITH THE MAKER NAME FIRST AND THEN THE COMPETITION, E.G., “SALLY_BROWN_PHOTO CHOICE I”.

For judging, the images will be projected on to a white matte screen and displayed with consistent dark backgrounds.   Images which carry image-maker identification (i.e. Copyright Watermark) will be disqualified.

Image Size – The maximum image size is 1050 pixels along its longest dimension for competition images to match the resolution of the club's new projector.  

File Size – Images must be saved as JPEG.  For optimum quality in JPEG format the recommended compression level to be used is 10 to 12.  

Competition Identification: 

Competition Category:   PC1 = Photographer’s Choice 1 PC2 = Photographer’s Choice 2 ARC = Architecture NAT = Nature CRE = Creative PEO = People

Division:   I = Intermediate A = Advanced S = Superset

 

Image File Name – File name must include first name, last name, sequence of entry (A,B,C), division, competition category and title of image, as shown in the following example:

·          First Name_Last Name_Sequence (A, B, C,)_Division_Competion_Image Title

·         John_Doe_C_I_PC1_Moonlight

Please note:  Do NOT use the number sign (#) anywhere in the file name.

Submitting Entries – Images must be submitted by email attachments and sent to the club’s digital imaging email address:           competitions@etobicokecameraclub.org  

Attach all images to the email address (do not send a separate email for each image) and in the subject field enter the competition name (e.g. Photographers Choice I).  In the body of the email, please state the maker’s name, the skill category (Intermediate, Advanced or Superset) and list the attached images.  On our web site under Digital, there are tutorials on how to resize and crop images.

Below are two example e-mails with image attachments - for submitting images for Photographers Choice 1 from Maggie Sale, in the Superset Division.   Each e-mail system will look a bit different, however the primary elements are the same.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FAILURE TO INCLUDE THE IDENTIFICATION FOR EACH ENTRY ON THE EMAIL AND ENTRY FORM AS DESIGNATED IN THE EXAMPLE BELOW WILL RESULT IN THE ENTRY BEING ELIMINATED.  IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE IN THE PROPER PROCEDURE, PLEASE DISCUSS WITH THE DIGITAL DIRECTOR OR OTHER MEMBER 

Outlook or Windows Mail

 

Gmail

  

Note:  Please remember to also attach or send via another e-mail your entry form. The file name must start with your name and the competition.

Images can be edited, resized, and renamed as per the above directions using several different methods and programs.  The following pdf is just one method and it focuses on using Picasa.   Workflow for using Picasa for Preparing and Submitting Images for ECC Competitions (pdf)  2.3MB 

D.   IMAGE CRITIQUE

“Image Critique” is intended to be educational and is scheduled such that you can submit images for critique prior each of the judged competitions.  The details for the critique are as follows:

• Image subject matter for each critique corresponds to the next club competition, except for the open category.
• 2 images maximum per member.
• Digital images must be submitted one week previous to the critique.  There is no need to identify the images as is required for the regular competitions, but PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE EMAIL MESSAGE INDICATES THAT THESE ARE FOR “IMAGE CRITIQUE” FOR WHICHEVER TOPIC THE CRITIQUE IS ON.
• Submitted images will be shown without identifying the maker, and will be commented on by selected club members. Audience participation will be encouraged.
• Image makers may choose to identify themselves during discussion of their images and may enter into the discussion.

E. JUDGING, RIBBONS AND AWARD POINTS—REGULAR COMPETITIONS

All entries will be judged by three judges (from outside ECC), each of whom will assign to each image a score that has a maximum value of 10 points (therefore, the maximum total for an image is 30 points). The score for a standard image is 5 points.  The images are judged by division—Intermediate, Advanced and Superset.

The total points scored of the three images submitted in each regular competition will count toward the total aggregate scores at the end of the competition season.  The members in each division with the top 10% of the total aggregate scores, or at the 90^th percentile, will advance to the next division (refer also to Section A, Competition Divisions)

Within each division, the judges will select winning images to receive a Gold Ribbon (first place), a Silver Ribbon (second place) and Honourable Mentions. The number of Honourable Mentions will represent approximately 10% of the total number of submitted images in the division. In addition, the judges will select the "Gold of the Month" from the three Gold Ribbon winners. 

SPECIAL COMPETITIONS

Points received in the following two types of special competitions will not count for the year end scoring. 

1.       TRIOS

This is a "regular" special competition held at the Christmas social evening each year. Choose 3 images that tell a story, and submit them either electronically or on a CD a week prior to  the evening of the social. Three ECC judges will be the judges.  

2.       PRINT (two competitions per season)

1.     Any club member in good standing may enter a maximum of 2 prints.

2.     All entries will be judged together – there are no competition divisions.

3.     Subject matter is open.

4.     You may enter images that have already been in a regular competition, or you plan to enter in a future regular competition.

5.     All prints must be the work of the maker.  Photographs made in workshops without significant ownership by the entrant may be disqualified from competition.

6.     Conventional or digital prints are acceptable. Colour and monochrome prints may be commercially or entrant made.  Monochrome prints may be hand tinted, toned, or coloured. Digital prints may be scanned/printed commercially or by the entrant. All/any digital manipulation must be done by the entrant.

7.     Prints must be mounted, and have a maximum presentation dimension of 20” x 24” and minimum presentation dimension of 11” x 14” – i.e., the outside dimensions of the mount, not the print).  Prints may be matted. Prints with frames, glass, wire hooks, or other hanging devices, or which include the title or individual name on the front will be disqualified.  The back of prints must be clear of any material that could cause damage or stick to another print.

8      Print the maker name, image title and division in the upper right corner of the back of the  mount and apply an UP Arrow to indicate the viewing orientation.

9      Complete one copy of the entry form and submit it to the Evaluation Director at the evening of print judging.

10    Scoring – there will be three judges who will score each image out of a maximum of 10 points for a total maximum of 30.  The judges will award the following ribbons: Gold, Silver, and Honourable Mentions, i.e.,10% of the total number of submitted prints.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Please refer to the 2009/10 Etobicoke Camera Club program for the schedule of competitions and the submission deadline dates. All judging evenings are open to members and guests with the exception of the Image-of-the-Year Competition.

IMAGE OF THE YEAR

All images that received ribbons in the regular competitions during the 2009/10 season are eligible. In addition, each member may submit 2 entries that received 15 or more points during the season. For example, a member who received a total of 4 ribbons in regular competitions may submit a total of 6 entries (the 4 ribbon-winning images and 2 other images which scored 15 or more points = total of 6).  

YEAR-END AWARDS

The following are awarded for accomplishment in various categories as described below. The recipients of trophies will retain them for one year. 

Photographer-of-the-Year Trophy (one for each division)

The competitor scoring the highest total aggregate points in the year in each division will receive a trophy:

Intermediate                            McDonald Trophy

Advanced                               President's Trophy

Superset                                  Ian Billington Trophy

 

Bob Campbell Award

         Awarded to the maker of the top scoring Nature image (any division)

3M Award Trophy

         Awarded to the maker of the Image-of-the-Year image (any division)

Carling O'Keefe Award Trophy

         Currently ‘on hold’ – will not be awarded this season

Award Certificates:

-          The "Award of Merit" Certificate is awarded for each regular competition to the competitor with the highest scoring points (any division). This award is based on the total scoring points within that competition category.

-          The "Ted Maginn" Certificate is awarded to the competitor (any division) having the highest total of scoring points in all the regular competitions held during the year.