King's Lynn & District Camera Club

Competition Rules - 2009-10

1. General Rules

1. All fully paid-up members are eligible to enter club competitions during the relevant Club Year and to vote in person whenever points are awarded.
2. Members are encouraged to enter competition images taken within the last two Club Years.
3. Unplaced entries (i.e. not 1st, 2nd or 3rd) may be entered for any subsequent competition.
   Placed entries may be entered only in a subsequent trophy competition (see Rule 12).

2. Prints - general

• Prints to be mounted with the title and member's number clearly visible on the reverse with a suitable area for the club entry label.
  The Club label should also show the membership number and the date.
  Minimum print size 12 cm (5") on the shorter side. Maximum mount size 50x40cm (20x16").

3. Slides - general

• Slides (colour or mono) to be in a 5x5cm (2x2") mount with or without glass, spotted in the bottom left-hand corner (as correctly viewed by hand). The slide title and member's number to be clearly visible on the mount on the reverse side. The club shall not be liable for damage caused to or by slides.

4. Digital projected Images (DPI) - Amended 21.12.2009.

• Images are to be submitted as 8-bit JPEG files (at best quality), using the Adobe RGB colour space, with a maximum image size of 1280 pixels wide and 800 pixels high. Unused pixel areas will be filled automatically in black by the projection software. For more advice on preparing and naming files (click)
  

  NB Other digital file requirements.

  Image files for other, non-Club DPI competitions will depend on the specifications of the projector and computer used and thus by the rules published by the organisers.

  Files for publication on the Club's website must adhere to the specific requirements described on here.

  Also see how to prepare your images for the website (Easy Steps).

5. Open Print Competition

• Prints must conform to Rule 2.
• Maximum 1 print per member (colour or mono, judged together).

6. Open Print A4 (30x20cm or 12x8") Competition

1. Prints must conform to Rule 2.
2. Minimum print size 12cm (5") on shortest side.
3. Maximum print size A4
4. Maximum mount size 50x40cm (20x16").
5. Maximum 1 print per member (colour or mono, judged together).

7. Open Projected Image Competition (slides and DPIs)

1. Slides may be entered that have been produced on traditional slide film or from digital files.
2. Slides must conform to Rule 3.
3. DPI may be entered that conform to Rule 4
4. Maximum 2 slides and or DPIs per member (colour and/or mono, judged together).

8. Open Traditional Slide Competition

1. Slides may be entered that have been produced using only traditional slide film.
2. Slides must conform to Rule 3.
3. Maximum 2 slides per member (colour and/or mono, judged together).

9. Themed Competition

1. Entries are to interpret the named theme.
2. Prints must conform to Rule 2 and slides to Rule 3.
3. Titles of slides will be announced whilst judging. The title of each print should be displayed during judging.
4. Maximum of 1 print or 1 slide per member (colour or mono, judged together).

10. Print Panel Competition

1. Each panel is to consist of 5 images (mono and/or colour); each image to share a common theme.
2. Each print in the print panel to be of any size and all to be mounted on a board not more than 50x40cm (20x16").
3. Maximum 1 Print Panel per member.

11. Slide Panel Competition

1. Each panel is to consist of 5 images (mono and/or colour); each image to share a common theme.
2. Each slide in the slide panel is to conform to Rule 3 and be shown in a pre-determined sequence.
3. Maximum 1 Slide Panel per member.

12. Trophy Competitions.

1. Lynn News Cup (Architecture - print or slide)
   1. This competition is for images that explore the creative organisation of building materials and components in a land- or city-scape, dealing with mass, space, form, volume, texture, structure, light, shadow, materials, etc.
   2. Maximum 1 print or slide per member (colour and/or mono), judged together.
   3. Prints to conform to Rule 2 and slides to Rule 3.
2. Catleugh Bowl (Portrait - print or slide)
   1. This competition is for the best representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person.
   2. Maximum 1 print or slide per member (colour and/or mono), judged together.
   3. Prints to conform to Rule 2 and slides to Rule 3.
3. Fred Pick Cup (Humour - print or slide)
   1. This competition is for an image which makes the viewer laugh - a very personal response!
   2. Maximum 1 print or slide per member (colour and/or mono), judged together.
   3. Prints to conform to Rule 2 and slides to Rule 3.
4. David Whitehouse Shield (Holiday Travel - Print or Slide)
   1. This competition is for an image that represents the scene or atmosphere of a holiday and/or the journey to or from the destination.
   2. Maximum 1 print or slide per member (colour and/or mono), judged together.
   3. Prints to conform to Rule 2 and slides to Rule 3.
5. British Wildlife Cup (Wildlife - Digital Projected Image - DPI)
   1. This competition is for images taken during within the previous 24 months of a zoological subject occurring naturally in Great Britain. The subject will be wild, live and free and in a natural or adopted habitat of the subject's choice. No manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement is allowed. Only minor distractions or blemishes may be removed from the images.
   2. Maximum 2 digital images per member (colour and/or mono).
   3. Images to conform to Rule 4.

13. Print of the Year and Projected Image of the Year - Amended 17.11.09.

1. These two competitions take place during the Annual Presentation Night, with an external judge.
2. Only prints and projected images (slides and digital projected images) entered into a Club competition or exhibition, or selected by the Club for an interclub competition, during the previous 12 months are eligible.
3. All Club competition winning images from the past 12 months should be entered. In addition all members not so represented may each enter 1 print and 1 projected image.
4. Prints to conform to Rule 2, slides to Rule 3 and digital projected images to Rule 4.

14. Entering a competition - Amended 17.11.09.

1. All entries for Club competitions must be pre-entered using the on-line entry form shown here  On-line entries  and on the website. Entries must be received by 12 noon on the Friday three days before the competition, except those for DPI competitions for which both registration and files must be received by 12 noon on the Friday ten days before the competition (to allow time to prepare the competition on the laptop).

   NOTE. You can find other links regarding on-line entry on the website at www.klcameraclub.co.uk - select "MEMBERS AREA" and "on-line entry form". Links are also shown on the Programme page each week. Any member without an internet connection should contact the Competition Registrar (see Appendix) or another Club member with an internet connection. All entries must be received by the above deadlines.

   IMPORTANT. It's the member's responsibility to check the "Entries Received" list to ensure your entry form has been received and your image/s are listed correctly. When DPI images are involved the form also indicates with two stars when the images are also satisfactorily received. This "Entries Received" form can be viewed in the Members Area of the website. Remember if it's not displayed on the list it's NOT entered and can not be entered after the closing time.

2. The following information will be required for pre-entry: membership number, name and date of competition/s, email address, telephone contact number, title of image/s, slide or print entries, colour or monochrome.
3. No entries can be accepted after the deadline.
4. All print entries must be positioned on the display stands and slide entries placed in the projector slide carrier, by 7.30pm on the evening of the competition. No entries can be accepted after this time. DPI files will be brought to the meeting in the Club laptop.

15. Scoring

1. Competitions may be judged by an external assessor, appointed by the Committee. The remainder are judged by members.
2. When a competition is judged by members each print and projected image will be individually scored by participating members using a scale of marks from 1 to 10 (10 being the highest mark).
3. These marks should reflect an absolute not a relative assessment (that is they should not be marked relative to the other entries but rather to a scale that reflects the perceived merit of each image without reference to that of any other image in the competition).
4. Members should ensure each and every entry - apart from their own - is marked. A Member cannot vote for his/her own entry(ies) and voting forms must have a vertical line drawn below their own entry number(s) to indicate a no-score.
5. Awards are made to those scoring the most points in each of the following categories:
   1. Open Prints
   2. Open Prints (A4)
   3. Open Projected Image (Slide and DPI)
   4. Open Traditional Slide - Pete Mott Cup
   5. Themed Competitions
   6. Print Panel
   7. Slide Panel
   8. British Wildlife Cup (David Hennessey)
   9. Catleugh Bowl (Portrait)
   10. David Whitehouse Shield (Holiday Travel)
   11. Fred Pick Cup (Humour)
   12. Lynn News Cup (Architecture)

       PLUS

   13. Highest total points for the Year (from competitions i to vii above)
   14. Print of the Year
   15. Slide of the Year
   For competitions i. to vii. above competition points are gained according the placement achieved from the aggregated members' marks:
   1. Winner 10 points
   2. Second 8 points
   3. Third 7 points
   4. Fourth 6 points
   5. Fifth 5 points
   6. Sixth 4 points
   7. Seventh 3 points
   8. Eighth 2 points
   9. All other entrants 1 point

      Where two entrants gain the same aggregated marks they share the place points. The next placed entrant is awarded points for the position two below. Thus, for example, if equal third both entrants gain (7+6) divide 2=6.5 points and the next placed entrant gains 5 points.

6. For Trophy Competitions (viii to xii) the winner is selected by the appointed judge or, in the absence of a judge, on the highest aggregated marks awarded by members.
7. For Highest Total Points (xv) award the winner is the member gaining the highest total competition points during that Club year.
8. For Print of the Year (xiii) and Slide of the Year xiv) the winner is selected by the appointed judge.

16. Presentation of Shields, Cups and Awards

1. All Awards are presented at the annual Presentation Evening held early in the following Club Year. All cups, shields and other awards must be returned to the Chairman by the last meeting of each Club Year.

17. Dispute.

1. In any dispute regarding interpretation of these Competition Rules the decision of the Committee is final.

Date: 25th June 2009

Appendix:

Competition Registrar: John Barrett LRPS click with any of your questions or enquiries in connection with Membership/Website or Competitions.

Image Preparation for use on the website only

If you are sending images to the webmaster for use on the website it's important that you follow these instructions.

It's recommended that you print these instructions and follow the stage-by-stage instructions. The procedure is different from the above Digital Projected Images preparation (DPI).

Members 20 Images on the Gallery Page - Important Rules

1. If you have been a fully paid up member for more than three months you can have 20 of your prints added to the KL& DCC website.

2. Copyright: The image must have been created by the member who must own all copyright to it. Full copyright of the image will remain with the member although the KL& DCC reserves the right to publish the image on the website.

3. Removal: At any time a member may have his images deleted by contacting the webmaster John Barrett.

4. Images should be sent via email although we can accept via a CD if members so wish.

6. Each image must meet the requirements as explained on the IMAGES page of this website

NOTE: Please notifiy John Barrett of your intention to send images so your space can be reserved.

Guide for completing score forms

Display of Images for Club competitions

Prints must be on display by 7.30 pm. The print position is allocated randomly before the meeting (see web site on the day of the competition). Clip the print position number on the right side of the top of the mount and place the mounted image in numerical order on the stand leaving room for entries yet to arrive.

You may start marking prints as soon as you arrive but you will have another chance to see each print again, singly and in sequence on the central viewing stand. Marked sheets will be collected at the end of this process. Check you have marked every eligible print except your own and remember that, if you change your mark, you must place an "X" over your previously circled mark and then circle your new mark.

Slides must be placed in numeric order in the projector slide carrier by 7.30 pm. The slide position is allocated randomly before the meeting (see web site on the day of the competition). Please mark your slide position number in the spot (that has been positioned in the top right hand corner when the slide is positioned in the carrier, as explained in the Competition Rule 3a).

Digitally projected images (DPI) will have been submitted before the meeting (2009-2010 Competition Rule 14c).

We will show projected images up to three times with the room in darkness and then run through them again in low light to enable you to vote on each side, omitting your own. The image position number will be confirmed when each image is displayed for scoring. Scoring forms will be collected at the end of this process.

Scoring of images by members (internal judging)

At the start of the meeting please pick up a scoring form and enter your membership number, the date and the name of the competition. The score sheet shows the print/slide numbers horizontally along the top row of the spreadsheet. These numbers are allocated beforehand by the Competition Registrar. Vertically below each image number is a column with the score numbers 10 - 1 (10 being the highest allocated score and 1 the least).

You cannot vote for your own entry, so if you have entered the competition, draw a vertical line through the numbers 10 to 1 for your entry position. You should assess every remaining image on its own merit, not by comparison with the other images entered into that particular competition.

In making your judgement you should consider the various elements that contribute to a good photograph:-

• Impact - the immediate response to the image.
• Composition - arrangement of pictorial elements, placing of main focus of interest, crop, proportions, etc.
• Focus - sharpness.
• Exposure - tonal and colour range and accuracy.
• Presentation - no artefacts, free from dust and damage, good masking of slides, well chosen & cut mount for prints.
• Aesthetics - the pictorial appeal of the picture and/or your emotional response to it after the immediate impact has faded (the "slow burn" phenomenon). The originality of the subject or the creative interpretation of the subject by the author may also be considered here.

Not all these elements carry the same weight and your marking should reflect this. As a guide we suggest you award marks in the following manner:-

• max 1 for immediate impact
• max 3 for composition
• max 1 for focus/sharpness
• max 1 for exposure, tonal & colour range & accuracy
• max 1 for presentation
• max 3 for aesthetic factors, such as originality, creativity, pictorial appeal and your own emotional response.

The outcome of your assessment will be to grade images from 10 (indicating a flawless, exhibition standard image) down through 6 (indicating a good average image but with at least one significant perceived flaw) to 1 (indicating a poor image with too many major imperfections). A score of 0 is inconceivable!

Then place a circle around the score you wish to allocate to each image. If you change your mind please place an X over the previously circled number and place a circle around the revised score. You can only circle one number in each column and only circled numbers will be recorded.

Try to apply this scoring system and its values consistently within each competition and across all competitions during the Club Year.

MJB dated 16th July 09