ASHBURTON PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY INC

Competition Rules

   GENERAL RULES

  • All entries must be registered with the Competition Secretary on or before the date listed on the Society Programme.
  • Up to two digital images and/or prints may be entered in each competition.
  • The competitors name must not appear on the entry.
  • A title should be given to each entry to identify the image, as well as assisting the judge in understanding the message portrayed. (If you are unable to come up with a title a label such as ‘no title’ is acceptable but not recommended)
  • Before entering any competition you must be a financial member of the Society.
  • Once awarded an Acceptance or Honours in Ashburton Photographic Society Competition’s they image cannot be entered again.
  • Entries that have not been awarded an Acceptance or Honours can be entered again, in any following year’s
  • It is the Competition Secretary’s Role to prepare entries for Judging and ensuring that the rules are adhered to.

 

   DIGITAL IMAGE COMPETITIONS

  •     1620 horizontal x 1080 vertical are the MAX dimensions at 300 DPI (resolution)
  •     Landscape (horizontal) format – 1620 wide
  •     Portrait (vertical) format – 1080 high and whatever it reads for width (not 1620 high)
  •     The image must be saved as a jpg or png as the title.  The Tree.jpg

 

   PRINT COMPETITIONS

  •   The image should be a minimum of a standard 5 x 7 inches print as you would receive it from a photo lab.
  •   Maximum print size is 16 x 20 inches including mount.  (Inches are used as these are the standard when printing prints.)
  •   Prints must be mounted to protect your image (please see separate instructions).
  •   Judges will be instructed to disregard the mounting when doing their appraisal but mounting can improve the image if it has been cropped and does help protect         larger images. 
  •   No frames or glass to be used on competition photographs.
  •   Clear legible titles should appear on the back of your print and be positioned top centre to make handling for projection easier.
  •   It is also requested a digital copy of the Print is provided to the Competition Secretary.  This will allow a greater range for selection in outside   competitions.

 

   GRADING

  •   Two competition grades are used in the Society. New members (unless experienced and transferring from another Society) enter the B grade  and judged on a slightly      less rigid format than A grade members.
  •   Only the Open Digital Image and Print Competition is graded A and B Grade, as with all Competitions the Judges award the results. An Award is one point, anAcceptance is three points,    and Honours will gain five points.
  •   When a B grade member has gained a total of 30 points including at least two Honours they will move up to the A grade competition at the   beginning of next year.
  •   The points for all members contribute to the trophies at the end of the year.


  Competition Definitions

   Landscape and Seascape

Photographs which capture a sense of “space” and “place”, telling the story of the scene before the camera.  A landscape will typically combine elements of earth, sea or sky.   The image may include human elements for scale and context, but not to the extent that they become the prominent element. Creative enhancement of the image is  acceptable, provided that the resulting image still reflects the essential story of what is seen in that landscape.

  Natural History

  • Flora and fauna, untamed animals, insects and birds and uncultivated plants in their natural, wild habitat (evidence of man and his manipulation of the natural environment is undesirable and should be avoided. Cages are not natural environments’.) Includes geology and phenomena not produced by man eg clouds and rocks.
  • Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise, are allowed.  But any other digital manipulation is not permitted.   All allowed adjustments must appear natural. Color images can be converted to grey-scale monochrome.  Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivations, are not allowed.
  • For Natural History entries, only scientific or common names shall be used.
  • Astro-photography will be specifically allowed in this section.

   Photojournalism

  • The Photographic Society of New Zealand defines this as storytelling images such as seen in the news media and magazines.  This includes contemporary life, human interest, documentary, illustrative, spot news, sport, etc.
  • The storytelling value of the image shall receive priority over pictorial quality. In the interest of credibility, photojournalism images must not misrepresent the truth. No situations shall be set up for the purpose of photography.
  • Any manipulation or modification of the original image must not alter the content of the original scene and elements of the story may not be introduced, removed, shifted or changed in any way including HDR toning or use of image enhancement software, but corrections to exposure and the removal of spots are acceptable.
  • Cropping is acceptable only if this does not affect the truth of the story.  Colour images can be converted to grayscale or monochrome. Infrared image, either direct-captures or derivations, are not allowed.

  Open

A graded competition with A and B grades. There are no limits to subject matter in the Open section. The emphasis is on visual interest, impact, composition, and technical  excellence. Images are not confined to any particular subject, type or style of photography and may include scenery, close-ups, buildings, portraits and still-life. Special techniques are also allowed and include unlimited digital manipulation.

   Portrait

A Portrait is a representation of a person, especially of the face – sometimes refers to a group of people. Ideally it gives some insight to their personality and character. The photograph may be posed or candid, of an individual or group, be full length or close-up. If the person is the most important part of your photograph, then it is deemed to be a portrait.  Animals are not acceptable as subjects.

   Set Subject  

The topic will be as defined in the Ashburton Photographic Society program. If necessary a detailed description will be made available to avoid confusion.

   Top 10

At the end of the 3rd Open Results night, all Honours and Acceptance Print entries are asked to be returned back to the Competition Secretary (who has the Digital Entries).  So they can be submitted to another Judge for the selection of the Top 10 Print and Top 10 Digital Competition.  A single Top Print, Top Digital, Image Bird of the Year and Artistic Image are then selected.


  Internal Competitions

    Margaret's Trophy

A field trip is held in August to commemorate the late Margaret Clifford, who served 12 years as President.  This can be based on a Quiz (to be revisited every 5 years) or another brain teaser as set by the Committee.  After the field trip participants are to submit photos 6 x 4 min on a board for voting by popular choice on the following evening meeting.  This is not for Digital entries. The winner is presented with a trophy at the end of the year.

    Field Trip Competition

Two photos from members that attended any field trips during the current year are invited to submit entries to this competition.  The winner is decided by popular vote. A trophy is presented to the Winner at the end of the year.

   Anderson Set of Three  

  • This Competition was originally run by our Past Patron and long serving member Keith Anderson. 
  • Three digital images and/or prints taken within the Mid-Canterbury district, which is defined as bounded by the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, the mountains and the sea.
  • These must be current images taken within and pertaining to the Mid Canterbury district.  The winner is decided by popular vote. A trophy is presented to the Winner at the end of the year.

 

  Outside Competitions

Prior to individual competitions the Secretary will have entry forms available. There is an entry fee for competitions. For individual competitions it is your responsibility to post/courier your images.

NATIONAL SALON:  Entries March - includes the Wiltshire Cup – a club entry of a set of 6 digital images, and the Bledisloe Cup – is a club entry of set of 6 prints.

Also individual print and digital image competition – subjects announced with each Convention

TREENA PACKER:  Entries June – a Natural History competition – a club entry for a set of 6 digital images

LAURIE THOMAS LANDSCAPE:  Entries July – an individual competition of up to 4 digital images held by Christchurch Photographic Society (CPS). All images must be New Zealand landscapes

BATTLE OF THE PROJECTED IMAGES: Entries March – a club competition – this is a representation of club photography and entries accepted from all members but sent as a club contribution. This is held by a Canterbury Photographic Society and judged on the night of competition – all welcome to attend

New Zealand PHOTOJOURNALISM: Entries July – an individual competition for digital images and/or prints. This is held by New Brighton Photographic Society.

SOUTHERN REGIONAL:-

SALON: Entries August – an individual competition of digital images and/or prints

INTERCLUB: Entries August – a club entry of 6 prints and/or digital images

GEORGE CHANCE LANDSCAPE: Entries August – a club entry of 4 landscape prints

BOWRON LANDSCAPE: Entries August – a club entry of 4 landscape digital images