Competition Rules

Competition rules

1.1. Exhibitors must complete a judging sheet. Only members entering images shall be entitled to vote.

2. The competition will be in two parts:- a. Individual Print b. Group Prints will be a panel of four.

3. The print size shall not exceed A5 in size. (Variation in format is permitted as long as the area is equivalent to A5). This may be varied for designated competitions.

4. Members should indicate which image they consider to be first, second, third and fourth by writing 1, 2, 3, 4 on the official marking form. When considering placings, members should take account of the Society’s Guide to Marking Competitions (PICS).

5. Individual prints will be displayed first, followed by the Group.

6. Individual print must be part of the Group.

7. Images can be manipulated at the discretion of the member by using camera, camera images effects built into cameras, computer or darkroom techniques unless the subject is specified ‘Natural History’.

8. When judging is complete, the results will be tabulated and counted. Finalised scores will be double checked by two members and displayed.

9. The points awarded are as follows: 1st 10 points 2nd 9 points 3rd 8 points 4th 7 points All other positions 6 points. The first four places of the monthly competition will be announced at the meeting and the result grid will be attached to the next month’s newsletter.

10. Name labels will be available if exhibitors wish to identify their photographs.

11. Formal discussion of the images submitted for the competition is encouraged but members should reserve any comments until after all members have marked the photographs and handed in their score sheets. Unless there is a Speaker at the meeting all prints will be retained on view for a period in order for members to review and talk about the pictures submitted for the monthly competition.

12. Monthly totals will be aggregated as the competitions progress throughout the calendar year.

13 Members not present at the meeting and wishing to exhibit may do so. Their prints will be marked in accordance with the above rules by members present.

14 At the December Meeting an Open Competition will be held. Each Member who has a current membership of at least three months can submit one photograph up to a maximum of A4 size which may or may not have been submitted previously in the relevant calendar year to compete for the ‘Best Picture of the Year’ Competition. The image MUST be taken in the present calendar year. The scoring for this competition will use the system used for scoring ‘single’ prints during the monthly competitions or be by an invited outside judge

Redrafted by Committee October 2015 Accepted at AGM October 2015 Effective from January 2016

Guide to Marking the competition P-I-C-S 

P…………………..Presentation………………………………………Suggested mark out of 1
Is the image presented well?
Is the presentation clean and neat?
Is it a mount in sympathy with the photos elements?
/ Does it enhance the image?
Is the colour of the mount in sympathy with the colours of the image?
Is any border present in sympathy with image?
Is the image printed well? (eg Details in highlights and shadow)
I…………………….Interpretation……………………………………… Suggested mark out of 3 
Is the competition title interpreted?
Is the interpretation straightforward/obtuse/clever/amusing/etc?
Is the colour reproduction suitable?
OR Is contrast and tone suitable (monochrome)?
Is composition of image elements used to advantage?
(eg Rule of thirds, perspective, vanishing point , symmetry, Triangulation, colour combination,)
C…………………..Camera technique………………………………………Suggested mark out of 3
Is the technique used well executed?
Is the technique used to enhance the image?
Is the technique used to enhance the interpretation used?
Are f stop / shutter speed/ ISO setting used to an advantage?
Is noise / film grain used to advantage?
Are focus / blurring used to an advantage?
S…………………..Suitability…………………………………………………Suggested mark out of 3
Does the whole package please you?
Do you like it?