Monthly Competition Guidelines
Monthly competitions are open to all club members and are divided into two levels:
- Club for the general membership
- Masters for veteran club members whose past history of competition entries has demonstrated their photographic abilities at an extremely high level
The Wildlife and Scenic categories are part of each competition. The Wildlife - Captive, Controlled, or Coexisting and Creative categories alternate.
Rules
Images submitted in categories other than Creative may be enhanced or changed using any of the tools available in a post processing graphics editing program, except one cannot copy or significantly alter the primary subject or primary parts of the image in any way, nor can one import items from another image. The intent of the original image must be maintained. Images may be color, black-and-white, or toned (e.g., sepia).
There are no post processing restrictions for the Creative category. Creativity is encouraged.
Up to three images may be entered by each member, with a maximum of two in any one category.
If in doubt about the suitability of an image for a particular category, bring the image to someone on the competition committee for their recommendation prior to entering it. If approved, it may be entered into a subsequent competition.
Entries must be submitted according to the Digital Image Submission Guidelines.
Entries that do not receive an award (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or HM) may be re-entered in future club competitions.
All Categories
- No people allowed in photos.
- No watermarks.
- No man-made objects allowed. This includes buildings, fences, roads, pathways, posts, etc.
- The competition committee will be the final determiner of whether an image is appropriate to the category.
Specific Categories
Wildlife
- Wildlife is the main subject and dominates the frame.
- Wildlife whose normal, everyday movements are not controlled by man and are free to roam.
- No domesticated, captive, or controlled animals.
- The intent of the original image must be maintained.
- Images may be color, black-and-white, or toned (e.g., sepia).
Wildlife – Captive, Controlled, or Coexisting
- Wildlife under controlled conditions, including, but not limited to, zoos, game farms, captives, rehab centers, and domesticated wild animals in a natural setting.
- Coexisting refers to wildlife living in a human-dominated environment such as urban settings, backyards, gardens, or local parks. Birds on posts or feeders, a red fox denning under a shed, or a barn owl in a barn are some acceptable examples.
- Hand of Man is allowed — BUT ONLY in this category.
- The intent of the original image must be maintained.
- Images may be color, black-and-white, or toned (e.g., sepia).
Scenic
- Scenic, geological, botanical, and meteorological subjects.
- Wildlife is allowed in a scenic photograph, however the photo should be judged on its overall scenic qualities.
- Plant life should be naturally occurring. No domesticated species.
- The intent of the original image must be maintained.
- Images may be color, black-and-white, or toned (e.g., sepia). Stitched panoramas and/or HDR processing is acceptable.
Creative
- Any nature image that does not fit into the other categories can be entered in this category.
- There are no post processing restrictions for the Creative category. Creativity and artistic manipulation are encouraged.
- A description of what was done to the image must accompany the entry.
- All components of composite images must be the original artwork of the photographer.
not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of the photographer.