Newark & District Photographic Society — Competition Rules — Spotlighting the best in local Amateur Photography

General Competition Rules

Images entered must be entirely the work of the photographer, who must be a current member of the Society. Composite images are permitted provided all component images meet this requirement. Chemical processes and mounting may have been carried out by others.
Prints and mounts must be 500mm x 400mm, no more than 4mm thick, and must include the orientation, name of the author, and title (if any) clearly marked on the reverse. The title and name of the author must not be added to the image, its border, or the front of the mount.
The definition for Monochrome currently adopted by N&DPS will apply when judging Monochrome and images deemed to be at odds with this definition will be rejected.
The definition for Nature currently adopted by N&DPS will apply when judging Nature and images deemed to be at odds with this definition may be rejected. Images entered into Nature sections must as a minimum be titled with the correct genus, common family name, or common name for the subject species; the stratum or lithology where geological formations are the subject; the scientific or common name for any weather event or formation that is the subject; or the country or continent where the image represents a landscape. Frivolous or cute titles are not acceptable.
The definition for Wildlife currently adopted by N&DPS will apply when judging Wildlife and images deemed to be at odds with this definition may be rejected.
The definition for Altered Reality currently adopted by N&DPS will apply when judging Altered Reality and images deemed to be at odds with this definition will be rejected.
A member may apply to be considered a 'beginner' but must do so before entering any competition in any given season. Reasons for rejection of their application include, but are not limited to: holding any photographic distinctions from the PAGB, FIAP, the RPS, overseas equivalents, or any professional body; having been awarded any significant prizes for photography; having received one of the Society's awards; or having been placed third or above in final standings for any of the Society's awards other than Beginner awards. Dispensation may be given where it is believed a member received a placing or award by default, due to limited qualifying entries. An experienced worker is expected to make him/herself known.
Projected Digital Images must be a maximum of 1400 pixels wide, a maximum of 1050 pixels high, and supplied in the sRGB colour space in JPEG format. Unused space must not be filled with a background colour (e.g. black) and any borders should be applied to all sides.
Entries must be made using the online submission system (detailed on the competitions page of The Society's website) by the published deadline, except where this rule is superseded by another or under exceptional circumstances and with the agreement of the Competition Secretary.
Print entries should be accompanied by accurate PDI copies of the images for eligibility checking, simultaneous projection, reference and inclusion in catalogues, newsletters, and online galleries. Format and submission should be as rules 8 and 9. Where electronic copies are not supplied prints must be made available, for photographing, one week before the published deadline.
Where members have given their consent, and for as long as their membership and consent continues, The Society may use any Projected Digital Images (including PDI copies of prints) from any internal competitions (in any season), to represent The Society in inter-club competitions, or to select images to request prints of for use in print based competitions. Members shall be advised of the intention to include their image in any specific competition entry, or in the bank of images for competitions where the entry is finalised during the competition, and The Society shall proceed on the basis of the existing consent unless a specific objection is raised, including indication of prior use with another club. All prints shall be returned at the earliest opportunity unless the author agrees to their retention for further use or (subject to prior notice and agreement) the competition rules allow for retention or destruction of images.
The Committee may in any season withdraw sections identified in the Photographer of the Year (POY) Rules or Annual Exhibition Rules without recourse to a General Meeting provided the withdrawal is in response to an issue beyond their control and provided the change is communicated to the membership at least 14 days in advance of coming into effect.
The Committee may modify any definition without recourse to a General Meeting provided the change is in response to the announcement of a change to a definition adopted by a body The Society is a member of or is directly or indirectly affiliated to and provided the change is communicated to the membership at least 14 days in advance of coming into effect.
The Committee may modify any competition rule without recourse to a General Meeting provided the change is communicated to the membership at least 42 days in advance of coming into effect in order to allow members to consider the change and, if necessary, request an EGM to modify the change.
The Committee may reject any entry deemed unsuitable, their decision is final.
The judge's decision shall be final.

Photographer of the Year (POY) Rules

There will be competitions as indicated in the current programme with sections for Open Prints; Monochrome Prints; Nature Prints; Open Projected Digital Images; Monochrome Projected Digital Images; and Nature Projected Digital Images.
Any image significantly similar to another entered by the same author in any other form (Colour, Monochrome, Print, or PDI) cannot be entered in another heat of the same season.
Any print significantly similar to a print previously entered by the same author or any PDI significantly similar to a PDI previously entered by the same author cannot be entered in another season. Colour and Monochrome versions of an image are not considered significantly similar for this rule.
Entries must be handed in one week prior to the competition, except with the agreement of the Competition Secretary.
The judge will award points on a scale of 0 to 20.
Entrants may submit two entries in each section each heat. Each image must be identified as a first or second choice for that section. The Competition Secretary may impose a cap on entries based on the expected number of entries or on actual entries received. Where a cap is imposed after submission the entrant's preferred choice across all sections shall, if identified, be respected but where not identified the Competition Secretary shall determine which entries to exclude to maintain a balance between section sizes. Only the highest placed entry in each section in each heat will count towards the entrant's totals for the season.
A beginner's work will be judged alongside that of experienced members, their best print and Projected Digital Images scores in each heat will also count towards separate Beginner awards for prints and Projected Digital Images.
Entrants do not need to enter a section in all heats but shall score zero for any section they do not enter in a particular heat. After taking this into account their lowest mark for a section, or their lowest scoring heat for a Beginner award, shall not be counted
The person with the highest number of points at the end of the season will be declared POY for that section or Beginner award with subsequent places being awarded in standard competition ranking. In the event of a tie between three or more competitors first place will be determined by count back. Any members still tied will be declared joint winners.
The members with the highest number of points across all Print or Projected Digital Image sections will be declared Print Photographer of the Year or Projected Digital Image Photographer of the Year respectively, with subsequent places being awarded in standard competition ranking. In the event of a tie between three or more competitors first place will be determined by count back. Any members still tied will be declared joint winners.

Digital Audio Visual Rules

Sequences must be the work of the entrant, who must be a current member of the Society.
Any sequence significantly similar to another entered by the same author cannot be entered in the same or a subsequent season.
Sequences must have an aspect ratio of either 4:3 or 16:9 and output to play in the sRGB colour space; images should be cropped to a final size of not less than 1400 pixels wide by 1050 pixels high or 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high depending on the aspect ratio of the show.
At least 75% of the images in each sequence must have been taken by the photographer and any post-processing must have been undertaken by the photographer.
Video clips taken by the photographer may be included but must not exceed 10% of the running time of the sequence.
The accompanying soundtrack may have been performed by others but must be copyright free or covered by an appropriate performance licence.
Sequences may feature text including but not limited to a title but must not include the author's name.
The definition for Narrative Sequences currently adopted by N&DPS will apply when judging Narrative Sequences.
The definition for Photo Harmony Sequences currently adopted by N&DPS will apply when judging Photo Harmony Sequences.
Narrative Sequences must not exceed 8 minutes in length and Photo Harmony Sequences must not exceed 5 minutes in length; there are no minimum length limits.
All Entries must play without the need for any additional software and without any projection that may restrict their transfer to the judging platform. Sequences must be configured: to play in full screen mode without a 'run box', start-up screen, menu, on screen controls, or visible cursor; to advance automatically; and to close upon completion.
Entries must be made by online transfer, or on physical media, to the published recipient by the published deadline.

Annual Exhibition Rules

Any image significantly similar to another entered by the same author in any other form (Colour, Monochrome, Print, or PDI) cannot be entered in the same season.
Any print significantly similar to a print previously entered by the same author or any PDI significantly similar to a PDI previously entered by the same author cannot be entered in another season except that individual images (in any given form) may be entered on their own or in a panel, subject to compliance with Annual Exhibition Rule 1. Colour and Monochrome versions of an image are not considered significantly similar for this rule.
Monochrome and Colour work will be judged together, except for specified awards.
Each entry must be made in one section only out of Altered Reality Prints; Monochrome Prints; Nature Prints; Open Section Prints; Print Panel; Altered Reality Projected Digital Images; Monochrome Projected Digital Images; Nature Projected Digital Images; Open Section Projected Digital Images; Projected Digital Image Panel; or Digital Audio Visual.
Entries into the Nature Prints and Nature Projected Digital Images sections may be further identified as Wildlife, provided they also comply with General Competition Rule 5, and if so will be eligible for consideration for the Best Wildlife Print or Best Wildlife Projected Digital Image awards. No image entered into any other section, or not identified as Wildlife, will be considered for these awards.
Entries into the Print Panels and Projected Digital Image Panels must consist of 3 images each listed in the desired sequence of display; for Print Panels this will be the sequence from left to right.
Awards will be made for the best individual entry in each section and certificates issued for second and third places.
Highly commended certificates may be awarded, at the judge’s discretion, for up to 2 images in each individual image section, or up to 3 images where a section has more than 100 entries.
Commended certificates may be awarded, at the judge’s discretion, for up to 3 images in each individual image section, or up to 4 images where a section has more than 100 entries.
Overall awards will be made, provided there are suitable entries, for the Best Beginner's Print; Best Landscape Print; Best Portrait Print; Best Print in Exhibition; Best Beginner's Projected Digital Image; Best Landscape Projected Digital Image; Best Portrait Projected Digital Image; and Best Projected Digital Image in Exhibition. Component images of Panels are ineligible for these awards but may be entered individually in another season per Annual Exhibition Rule 2.
The maximum number of entries per member across the sections for individual prints is 40, which may include no more than 15 prints in each section; the maximum number of entries per member across the sections for individual projected digital images is 40, which may include no more than 15 images in each section.
The maximum number of Print Panels per members is 2; the maximum number or Projected Digital Image Panels per member is 2.
The maximum number of Digital Audio-Visuals per member is 2. Both Narrative and Photo Harmony Sequences are eligible, being judged against their respective criteria but for a single award and places per Annual Exhibition Rule 8.
If there is insufficient space the Committee may omit entries after consultation with the Judge.
No entry shall be removed from the Exhibition before it ends.