Print Competition

Print Competition Policies and Procedures

*PLEASE NOTE: Maximum image file size is 3.5M and NOT 2G.

Print Competition:

Starting in January 2012, only digital files will be submitted for competition. It is important that you keep the following policies and procedures in mind to avoid possible disqualification. The method used to display images will be profiled/calibrated accordingly. This means your images should also be profiled/calibrated to avoid miscolor representation in your digital files.

Entries must be submitted online only through the send space drop box located here on the PPGH website

Entries must be uploaded at least 2 days before the scheduled PPGH meeting at midnight. Example Guild meeting is on Tuesday night your images need to be uploaded by Sunday at midnight.

Late entries as well as incorrectly titled entries will not be accepted.

Print Dimensions and Submission Guidelines:

ALL IMAGES

Files must match the prints submitted for competition using the following specifications:

1) Files must be sized so the longest dimension is 4,000 pixels (20 inches at 200 ppi)

2) Format: JPEG quality 10 (total file size must not exceed 3.5 mb) Imbedded Color Profile: sRGB or Adobe RGB (1998)

3) Files are to be named: LastName_ImageTitle (use _ for spaces, e.g. Smith_See_Spot_Run.jpg)

DIGITAL ALBUM ENTRY

1) All page/spread files must have the longest file dimension at 4,000 pixels (20 inches at 200 ppi), have an embedded colorprofile of either sRGB or Adobe RGB1998 and be saved at a JPEG quality setting of 10.

2) Each page/spread file may contain as many images as you desire.

3) An entry may contain up to 36 page/spread files.

4) Files are to be numbered in viewing order using two digits (i.e., 01 jpg, 02 jpg, 03 jpg, etc.).

5) All individual files must be compressed into a single ZIP file. ZIP file must be named: LastName_Album_Title (use _for spaces, e.g. 123456_Summer_Wedding.zip)

6) Studio identification or entrant’s name cannot appear on any file within the album entry.

End of Year Awards

Master
Active

Categories: Masters, Active, Video

Album Category

An album will be judged for; impact, creativity, style, print quality, technique, story content, expressions of subjects, lighting, presentation and salability of work.

All photographs must be from the same social event

Submission of an album will be counted as one entry

If a photograph is entered in an album, it can not be entered as an individual submission.

No multiple volume albums allowed.

Portrait Category

Predominately features people or animals in a studio or scenic setting. The Portrait category is sub-divided into 3 groups.

1) Child/Children - Includes one or more pre-teen children

2) Groups - Includes two (2) or more individuals, adults, children and/or animals combined.

3) Individual - A portrait of a person 13 years old or older or an animal.

Electronic Imaging Category

Images created or enhanced by Electronic/Digital Imaging means. E/I entries demonstrate proficiency in electronic/digital imaging and/or video production. All electronic/digital work on the entry must have been performed by the entrant. Directing the work is not sufficient to enter these categories.

Illustrative Category

Illustrative entries contain scenic, artistic, photojournalistic, or other similar subject matter.

Wedding/Bridal Category

Entries contain bridal, wedding or other social event photographs.

Folio Category

Folios must contain a minimum of eight (8) Images. All prints must be from the same session and subject matter. The presentation, lighting, composition, creativity and salability of work will all be taken into consideration

1.0 PURPOSE

This procedure is intended to provide all necessary information for Guild members to effectively compete in the print competition at each regular monthly meeting. It is considered a starting point for entries and is aligned to national PPA rules.

2.0 SCOPE

2.1 This procedure shall delineate the guidelines for the acceptance of entries, the judging of entries, and the selection of the ribbon winners at the regular PPGH monthly print competition.

2.2 This policy and procedure shall be applied to all qualified members' entries submitted for competition at each regularly scheduled Guild meeting. This does not include entries shown or displayed at a Guild meeting or as a Guild function not directly related to the competition.

3.0 ENTRY CATEGORIES AND STATUS GROUP

3.1 Status Group

Any individual active in good standing may enter the competition in the appropriated Status Group: Master, Active, Premier (first year entering print competition), or Videographer. Competition in the Master status is only open to PPA Degreed Master Photographers (In the event a PPA degree is awarded, entrant must complete the current year in the Active photographer Group). Each member may submit up to two entries for each monthly competition.

3.2 Classification of Entries

Entries should be designated by the entrant in one of the following eleven categories:

3.2.1 Album Category

An album will be judged for; impact, creativity, style, print quality, technique, story content, expressions of subjects, lighting, presentation and salability of work.

3.2.1.1 All photographs must be from the same social event

3.2.1.2 Submission of an album will be counted as one entry

3.2.1.3 If a photograph is entered in an album, it can not be entered as an individual submission.

3.2.1.4 No multiple volume albums allowed.

3.2.2 Portrait Category

Predominately features people or animals in a studio or scenic setting. The Portrait category is sub-divided into 3 groups.

3.2.2.1 Child/Children - Includes one or more pre-teen children

3.2.2.2 Groups - Includes two (2) or more individuals, adults, children and/or animals combined.

3.2.2.3 Individual - A portrait of a person 13 years old or older or an animal.

3.2.3 Commercial/Industrial Category

3.2.4 Electronic Imaging Category

3.2.5 Video Category

The video competition may be held during the regular print judging. Each video must be on a USB Jump Drive and edited to a "highlight" version of the production of not more than 3 minutes viewing. The entrant's name must not appear in the work. Two complete entry labels should be made - one attached to the Jump Drive and the other to its case. Each Jumpe Drive should have no more than fifteen seconds of black, or bars and tone as leader. Electronically created slide series or animated sequences (such as shows) must be transferred to Jump Drive before entry into competition. Video productions need not be the solitary effort of the entrant; however, the entrant must specify exactly what his or her role was in its creation. The Video category is sub-divided into 2 categories.

3.2.5.1 Special Events Video Category

Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, anniversaries, reunions, party pictures, etc.

3.2.5.2 Commercial/Industrial/Corporate Video Category

Includes work done for; business, industry, advertising, electronic newsgathering, documentaries, training, still video images and other applications.

3.2.6 Illustrative Category

Illustrative entries contain scenic, artistic, photojournalistic, or other similar subject matter.

3.2.7 Wedding/Bridal Category

Entries contain bridal, wedding or other social event photographs.

3.2.8 Folio Category

Folios must contain a minimum of eight (8) 4x5 or 5x5 un-retouched machine prints. All prints must be from the same session and subject matter. The presentation, lighting, composition, creativity and salability of work will all be taken into consideration

4.0 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

4.3 No two images shall be of the same subject. (i.e.: same model, models, subject, etc&) Each image must be distinctly different.

4.4 An image may only be entered once unless it becomes part of another, new image.

4.5 Entries previously accepted at State, affiliated, PPA International Exhibition, or any prior winning PPGH entries are ineligible.

4.6 No entry will be eligible that has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment.

4.7 All entries must be presented to the Print Competition Chairperson by the specified time of the monthly meeting. Late arrivals will not be accepted.

5.0 MODEL RELEASE AND ENTRY FORM

5.1 Before any entry can be accepted into competition, a properly completed PPGH Print Entry Form must be attached to the reverse side of the Entry.

5.2 The Entry Form shall include: the creator's name, the creator's membership status, the entry's title the entry's category, and a checkbox to confirm the availability of a signed Model Release. All entries submitted that include people in their content, must have the "Model Release on file" box on the entry form checked for the entry to be accepted.

5.3 The creator's name must not be visible from the front of the image.

5.4 Entrants agree to hold PPGH harmless against any liabilities or claims arising from PPGH's consideration, display, publication, promotion, or other use of each image or other materials submitted to PPGH.

6.0 MONTHLY PRINT COMPETITION JUDGING

6.1 During sign-in, only the Print Competition Chairperson and the designated print room assistants ar e allowed in the print room. If a Judge has an entry he must fill his entry form in an area away from the other entrants.

6.2 Before the actual judging begins, only the Print Competition Chairperson, any assistants, and the judges shall be allowed in the competition room. Once the judging begins, all members are welcome to quietly witness the judging.

6.4 The monitor used for judging the video competition must be set by SMPT standards for color balance, contrast and brightness.

6.5 All qualified entries shall be judged by a panel of 4 judges (three (3) plus one (1) alternant).

6.6 Judges shall be chosen in the order of the following qualifications:

Master Photographers

Completion of judging school

Craftsmen Photographers

CPP degreed photographers

6.7 Judging shall be performed as close to national competition standards as is practical.

Display entries in random order for judging.

Announce each entry's title and category before displaying it for judging.

Call, in varying order, for each judges' score.

Record each judges score for each entry.

Average each entry's total score, rounding up or down to the nearest whole number.

Announce the entry's score.

Accept discussion on any challenges.

Re-judge any challenges.

Record each final average score.

Announce final averaged score.

Repeat challenge process as necessary.

6.8 Point System: The following point system will be adhered to.

Exceptional - 100-95

Superior - 94-90

Excellent - 89-85

Deserving of a Merit - 84-80

Above Average - 79-76

Average - 75-74

Acceptable - 73-70

Unacceptable - 69&Under

6.10 The Print Competition Chairperson shall have the authority to decide any questions not specifically covered by these rules and his/her decision will be final. Any entry not following these rules will automatically be disqualified.

7.0 MONTHLY RIBBON WINNERS

7.1 The three entries of Master status, receiving the highest scores of 76 or above will receive one (1) ribbon each. In the case of a tie or ties for 3rd place, additional ribbons shall be awarded as appropriate.

7.2 The three entries of Active status, receiving the highest scores of 76 or above will receive one (1) ribbon each. In the case of a tie or ties for 3rd place, additional ribbons shall be awarded as appropriate.

7.3 The three entries of Videographer status, receiving the highest scores of 76 or above will receive one (1) ribbon each. In the case of a tie or ties for 3rd place, additional ribbons shall be awarded as appropriate.

7.4 The three entries of Premier status, receiving the highest scores of 76 or above will receive one (1) ribbon each. In the case of a tie or ties for 3rd place, additional ribbons shall be awarded as appropriate.

7.5 Active member's ribbons will be blue, Master's ribbons will be red; Premier member's ribbons will be white, and Videographer's ribbons will be green.

7.6 The creator of the image must be present at the meeting when the awards are announced and the ribbons are presented. Delivery of an entry by another individual, should the creator expect to arrive after the specified deadline, is acceptable provided Section 5.0 above is properly completed in advance.

The Twelve elements listed below are in accordance to their importance.

Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. There can be impact in any of these twelve elements.

Technical excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Retouching, manipulation, sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color are some items that speak to the qualities of the physical print.

Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought.

Style is defined in a number of ways as it applies to a creative image. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject. It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds.

Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.

Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used, either physical or digital, should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.

Color Balance supplies harmony to an image. An image in which the tones work together, effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.

Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest.

Lighting—the use and control of light—refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.

Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.

Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, capture, presentation media, and more are part of the technique applied to an image.

Story Telling refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image.