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 or Controlled and Open categories alternate.

* Changes to the guidelines made in May 2011 are shown in red.
* Changes to the guidelines made in February 2011 are shown in blue.

Rules

Images submitted in categories other than Open 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 (i.e., sepia).

There are no post processing restrictions for the Open 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.

Categories

Wildlife

• Wildlife whose normal, everyday movements are not controlled by man and are free to roam.
• No domesticated, captive, or controlled animals.
• The animal(s) must be the primary focal point, and evidence of the hand of man, if any, must be secondary.
• The intent of the original image must be maintained.
• Images may be color, black-and-white, or toned (i.e., sepia).
• The competition committee and/or judge will be the final determiner of whether an image is appropriate to the category.

Wildlife – Captive or Controlled

• Wildlife under controlled conditions, including, but not limited to, zoos, game farms, captives, rehab centers, and domesticated wild animals in a natural setting.
• The animal(s) must be the primary focal point, and evidence of the hand of man or the controlled environment, if any, must be secondary.
• The intent of the original image must be maintained.
• Images may be color, black-and-white, or toned (i.e., sepia).
• The competition committee and/or judge will be the final determiner of whether an image is appropriate to the category.

Scenic

• Scenic, geological, botanical, and meteorological subjects.
• Plant life should be naturally occurring. No domesticated species.
• The scenic must be the primary focal point. Evidence of the hand of man must be minimal.
• Man-made objects or wildlife are acceptable as long as they are a very minor compositional element and not a main focal point of the image. They should not distract from, or enhance, the scenic elements of the picture.
• The intent of the original image must be maintained.
• Images may be color, black-and-white, or toned (i.e., sepia). Stitched panoramas and/or HDR processing is acceptable.
• The competition committee and/or judge will be the final determiner of whether an image is appropriate to the category.

Open

• 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 Open 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.
• Images must meet the subject matter of the above categories.

* Changes to the guidelines made in May 2011 are shown in red.
* Changes to the guidelines made in February 2011 are shown in blue.