Competition Rules for CdCC Club Competitions 2007 / 2008
 

CONDUCT OF THE COMPETITIONS:

1. The Competition Committee chair is responsible for conducting the CdCC Club Competitions and for recruiting members to assist with the tasks associated with the running of competitions. In particular, the Competition Committee chair is responsible for recruiting volunteers to act as Registrars for the prints being submitted by members.

2. All competition entries must be submitted to the Registrar by 8:00 PM. Late entries may only be accepted with the approval of the Competition Committee chair.

3. The Registrar is responsible for collecting all the entries into the competition, noting the details of each entry on the entry form for each level, ensuring that member's prints are entered into the correct level and that no member enters more than the correct number of entries allowed. The Registrar will check each print to make sure that it complies with the CdCC rules for entry into the competition (e.g. eligibility, presentation and content). The Registrar will also review the condition of each print to ensure that they cannot damage other entries in the competition (e.g. excess glue from mounting the print which might stick to other entries).

4. Once prints have been accepted by the Registrar they may not be changed, modified or substituted in any way. A member may request that an entry be withdrawn up to the start of the judging of their level.

5. Once all the entries for the Competition have been received, the Registrar will carefully shuffle the prints using a technique to be determined by the Competition Committee chair. This will ensure that a maker's prints are not presented to the Judge together.

6. As the entries for each level are presented, the chair announces to the Judge and the membership:

   1. Competition Level (A, B, C, or Youth)

   2. Category (Open or "Assigned Topic")

   3. Number of entries (Total in Level)

   4. Number of places to awarded (In each Level)

7. Photo titles are required for record keeping. The title of each photo will be announced as it is placed before the Judge for critique.

8. All entries will be presented to the Judge for a brief initial viewing. On the second showing the Judge will critique and eliminate entries. If, after the second showing, there are more entries left in the competition than there are prizes to be awarded, then there will be a third showing for the Judge to eliminate the requisite number of entries so that the number of prints remaining is the same as the number of prizes. The Judge will then view the remaining prints to determine the awards.  

9. The Judge will announce the placing entries in order (i.e.: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the HM's) with the makers identifying their images as they are shown. Ribbons will be presented by the Competition Chair or his delegate at this time.

10. Failure to follow the competition rules as stated herein may result in the mandatory removal and disqualification of an entry from the competition by the Competition Committee Chairperson. Disqualified photographs may be critiqued by the Judge but will not be eligible to win any prizes.

 

ELIGIBILITY:

1. Only members whose annual dues have been paid, and who are in good standing, may compete in CdCC competitions.

2. A member need not be present at a competition to compete.

3. All entries must be the original work of the competitor.

4. Photographs submitted to CdCC competitions should represent the recent work of the maker and should not be more than three (3) years old.

 

COMPETITION LEVELS:

1.        Members will be able to compete at one of four (4) levels. A short description is included below for each level to give the member an idea of where to start to compete in the different categories. Please note that the descriptions provided are intended to show some of the typical experience that may be found at that level:

A - Advanced: (Professionals, have had college courses in Photography, sold Photographs, extensive successful experience in Camera Club competitions, been a photography competition Judge, typically uses high end photographic equipment),

B - Intermediate: (Has a good understanding of Composition and Lighting, may have had some mentoring in Photography, has sold Photographs, some successful experience in Camera Club competitions, typically uses higher end photographic  equipment),

C - Entry Level: (Beginner, may not yet understand F Stops, Aperture settings, shutter speeds, composition and lighting; typically uses Point & Shoot cameras or uses higher end cameras set to automatic; little or no success or experience in Camera Club competitions; new to photography)

Y - Youth: (Generally, 18 years old or under regardless of knowledge or experience)

2.         All new members will be required to declare their preference for the level they wish to compete at prior to entering their first competition of the year.

3.         Members who begin a year competing at a given level, or enter a given level during the course of the year, may not move to a lower level until the end of the calendar year.

4.         When a member who has been competing at the B or C level earns 75 points, that member must move to the next higher level at the start of the next calendar year. Members may be moved to a higher or lower level at the discretion of the Competition Committee.

5.         Members who have not won any prize (e.g. 1st, 2nd, 3rd or HM) at their existing level having entered in at least six (6) competitions during the calendar year may petition the Competition Chair to move to a lower level. The Competition Chair may approve or deny the petition at his sole discretion. The Competition Chair's decision is final and may not be appealed.

5.         Youth members are not eligible to be moved to the A, B or C levels unless by exception. The Competition Chair may direct the move to an A, B or C level only in extraordinary circumstances.

6.         Youth 1^st place prints are eligible to compete for Best in Show (monthly and annual) awards.

 

COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

Typically, the CdCC competitions each year will have twelve assigned theme competitions. Subject matter for the ASSIGNED category will be distributed by email, newsletter, through the CdCC website or in any other manner deemed suitable by the Competition Committee, to all members and potential members no later than December 1st for the following competition year.

GOOD TASTE:

Any print that is in "Good Taste" may be entered. The Competition Chair, or his designate, will determine what constitutes "Good Taste" and may bar entries that, in their opinion, may be offensive or inappropriate for display. As CdCC has a Youth category, and children under the age of 18 may be in attendance at club meetings, members should ensure that their entries are appropriate for this type of audience. If in doubt, members should consult with the Competition Chair, or his designate, prior to the start of the competition.

 

IMAGE FORMATS:

The only image format used for CdCC competitions will be prints that can be from film or digital images. As the Club expands, a digital projection format for competition may be added. The determination of when and if a digital projection format is to be added will be at the discretion of the Competition Committee. Before a new display format is introduced the Competition Committee shall ensure that all members are given due notice and provided with an opportunity to practice with the new format.

 

PRESENTATION OF ENTRIES:

1. All prints submitted to CdCC competitions must be mounted on firm material e.g. mat board, poster board, foam core, etc. This prevents bending or warping. The prints may have a border, or can be mounted edge-to-edge. The material on which the print is mounted can be of any color.  At the discretion of the maker, prints may also be over-matted with a window mat of any color. It should be noted that most Judges prefer white mats.

2. Prints may not be presented in any type of frame or covered with any material e.g. a clear bag.

3. While the competition volunteers will take every care when handling prints, makers must ensure that their entries are sturdy and robust enough to withstand being stacked, moved around, turned face over, displayed in the light box and handled a number of times. Any print that comes apart or separates from the mounting material may be removed from the competition at the discretion of the Competition Committee Chair.

4. The length of the shortest side of the print may not be less than eight (8) inches. The length of the longest side of the mounting/backing board or mat may not exceed twenty four (24) inches. Note that competitions in Camera Clubs other than CdCC usually stipulate a 16" x 20" maximum mat size.

5. Prints must be identified on the back with the maker's Name, Title of Print and Level of Competition in the upper left hand corner. An arrow, clearly visible, must point to the top of the print, next to the previous information. Failure to include all the above information will result in an automatic disqualification and the print will be removed from the competition. The following is an example of the identifications required on the back of a print/mat:

 

John Doe "wild Geese" Level C

 

NUMBER OF ENTRIES:

Members may submit a maximum of two (2) entries to each CdCC Competition. The Competition Committee may at their discretion, change the number of entries allowed to be submitted. One month’s notice is required to change the number of entries allowed. Such notice is to be given to the general membership of CdCC by email and in the club newsletter.

 

RE-SUBMISSION OF IMAGES:

1.   Entries that have previously placed (1st, 2nd, 3rd or Honorable Mention) in any CdCC competition are not eligible for re-submission. Similar photographs to those which have placed in any CdCC competitors (e.g., slight position change, slight exposure change) are discouraged from entry, even if the photo fits that month’s competition. Remember, the point of the themed competitions is to make the member stretch and grow in an area of photography where they might not be comfortable. A non-placing entry, including prior year entries, may be resubmitted only once.

2.   Any member who submits an entry that is ineligible because it had previously placed will be excluded from the following two (2) Club competitions.

LEVEL SIZE:

1.   Levels are defined as Advanced (A), Intermediate (B), Entry (C) or Youth (Y).

2.   There must be at least two (2) entries in a level for it to be judged and points awarded.

3.   If there is a single entry in a level, the image will be awarded four (4) points.

 

PLACING AWARDS:

Number of Entries in a Level	1st Place  Award	2nd Place  Award	3rd Place  Award	# of Honorable Mentions Awarded
1	None	None	None	One
2 – 3	Yes	None	None	None
4 – 5	Yes	Yes	None	None
6 – 7	Yes	Yes	Yes	None
8 – 9	Yes	Yes	Yes	One
10 – 12	Yes	Yes	Yes	Two
13 – 16	Yes	Yes	Yes	Three
17 – 21	Yes	Yes	Yes	Four
22+	Yes	Yes	Yes	Five

 

*Note: Judges are not required to award 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd or Honorable Mention if the entries are not deemed worthy and may award additional Honorable Mention awards on a case by case basis due to the level of a particular competition. Honorable Mention awards are not given in any particular order.

 

POINT AWARDS:

1.       First Place = 10 points

2.       Second place = 8 points

3.       Third place = 6 points

4.       Honorable Mention = 4 points

5.       Best in Show (Monthly) = 5 points

6.       Best in Show (Annual) = 25 points

 

JUDGING:

1. All entries will be anonymous to the Judges.

2. No comments from the audience are allowed during the judging.

3. Judges are required to briefly critique each entry. To identify what they like/dislike about the photo, what makes it a good photo, and how it could be improved. (See section below on Judging Guidelines).

4. The Judge's decision will be final and may not be appealed.

5. Judges (at their discretion) may award special recognition to a photograph that does not come in 1st, 2nd, 3rd or Honorable Mention. No points or award will be given for this recognition.

JUDGING GUIDELINES:

 1)       Main Elements of Evaluation of Images:

a)       Technical:

1)       Design Elements:

(a)     Horizontal/Vertical Choice

(b)     Patterns/Textures

(c)     Composition Elements

(d)     Placement of Point of Interest

(e)     Light/Dark Values & Balance

(f)       Color Values & Balance

(g)     Sharpness

(h)     Background

(i)       Minimizing distracting elements

 

2)       Subject Matter:

(a)     What & Why Selected - Motive of Photograph

(b)     What Included - What Not

(c)     Complementary Background

 

3)       Imagination or Point of View:

(a)     Uniqueness

(b)     New Perspective

(c)     Unusual Lighting

 

4)       Technique or Difficulty:

(a)     Timing, a captured moment

(b)     Treatment of movement or speed

(c)     Management & Control of Light

(d)     Exposure

 

5)       Presentation:

(a)     Appropriate Cropping

(b)     Choice of Mounting

(c)     Clean, Dust-free

(d)     No signalers

 

b)      Viewer Impact:

1)       Mood, Emotion, Feeling affect on viewer

2)       Message or Story

3)       Strength or Impact (the WOW factor)

4)       Creativity