May 2010 Competition Rules

I.    General.

• The purpose of this competition is to help club members prepare for future juried shows by becoming better critics of our own images, while at the same time enjoying one another’s work.
• The competition is open to all members of LVPC in good standing.
• The rules of this competition closely follow those of the Photographic Society of America (PSA), which are available on its website.
• All entries must originate as photographs – film or digital – and must be entirely the work of the entrant. (Commercial prints made of the entrant’s files or negatives are acceptable.)
• Unless otherwise stated, entries may be of any inoffensive subject matter, and may be altered, either digitally or otherwise, but only by the entrant. Artwork or computer graphics may be incorporated, but only if it was created by the entrant and the     photographic content clearly predominates.
• Entrants may submit a maximum of two images in each of the four divisions of the competition. But, an individual image may be entered in only one division.
• The competition is divided into two main sections, each with two divisions. The divisions in the second section are sub-divided into two classes. In each of the first two divisions and in each class of the last two divisions the judges will issue three awards of merit. From all the images receiving these awards, one will be selected as “Best of Show.” Unless otherwise stated, judging will score entries on the basis of interest, composition and technique. Following the issuing of these awards the judges will share their observations on the distinguishing attributes of the images judged meritorious and also make constructive suggestions on the other entries in the novice classes of the Projected Images Divisions.

II.    Printed Images

A.    General

• Prints must be a minimum of 8 x 10″ and a maximum of 12 x15″. For uniformity purposes, prints must be mounted on 16″ x 20″ white matte or foam core. Overlay mattes, glass or plexiglass coverings and frames are not permitted.
• Entries are to be identified ONLY by a label attached to the upper left hand corner on the REAR of the mounting material. The label shall include a unique name of the entry, the division in which it is entered, and the name of the entrant. For example: Bridge to Nowhere/Monochrome/John Q. Smith.

B.    Monochrome Division

• A monochrome print is defined as having no more than two colors: shades of gray plus one other color for emphasis. Toning is permitted.

C.    Color Division (No further restrictions)

III.    Projected Images

A.    General

• All entries, whether they originate on film or digital media, are to be submitted in digital files. These files shall be in jpg format, a maximum of 1024 pixels horizontally, a maximum of 768 pixels vertically, maximum resolution and, if possible, in sRGB color space.
• Entrants decide whether all their images are to be judged in the Novice  (N) classes or the Experienced (E) classes of the two divisions.. They may not place some images in one class and some in the other.
• Entries are identified ONLY by their file names. These shall be formatted as follows: The class in which the images are entered, the division in which it is entered,  the unique name of the entry, the initials of the entrant, and jpg. For example: N]Pictorial]Bridge_to_Nowhere]JQS.jpg.

B.    Pictorial Division (No further restrictions)

C.    Photojournalism Division

• Photojournalism, as understood by the PSA,  is devoted to recording current events or situations of interest to preserve them for some future use – whether for family records, a private collection of historical happenings, or publication.
• Entries in this division shall consist of images with informative content and emotional impact, including human interest, documentary and spot news.
• Entries that either misrepresent the truth or model/stage events and situations are not accepted in this division. Techniques that add to, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image, except by cropping, are not permitted. However, techniques that enhance the presentation of the image, without changing the photojournalistic content are permitted. All adjustments must appear natural.
• Judging will score images in this division primarily on the basis of credibility and authenticity and secondarily on the basis of interest, composition and technique.