KING’S LYNN & DISTRICT CAMERA CLUB
RULES FOR COMPETITIONS
 
GENERAL RULES
1.      The Committee may make such additions or amendments to these rules as it considers being for the benefit of the Club and its decision as to the intended interpretation of any rule shall be final.
2.      Competitions are open only to full and honorary members.  Associate members are not eligible to enter competitions.
3.      Although every care is taken of work entered for competitions and the Annual Exhibition, submission is at the member’s risk.  The Club does not insure these items, therefore, no claims for loss or damage can be considered.
4.      All forms of photographic images, including digital, are actively encouraged.
5.      Each entry, including any images used in its creation, must have been exposed by, or be the work of, the member entering who must also possess overall copyright.  Using any other image not the copyright of the photographer, in part or whole is forbidden.
6.      Films may be commercially processed (if exposed by the author) and prints commercially produced.
7.      Existing full members are placed in a single Division.
8.      The Committee reserves the right to introduce other Divisions or withdraw them as is necessary to facilitate the management of the Internal competitions.
9.      The dates of all competitions and the subjects for any set-subject competitions shall be decided by the committee and announced in advance.  Details will normally appear in the ‘club’ programme or notice board or website.
10.    For most competitions, the Committee shall appoint an external judge.  Other competitions may be judged by either a Club member, a group of Club members formed as a panel or the entire membership of the Club.  Members judging as individuals or in a panel cannot enter the competitions they are judging.  When the entire membership judges a competition, members will abstain from marking their own entries.  In all circumstances, any decision made by any “Judge” shall be final.
11.    To allow time for adequate preparation and ensure a prompt start to the evening, titles of each entry must be submitted to the Competition Secretary by the date announced.  In case of digital files, these must be submitted by at least nine days before the competition takes place.  Late submission will be accepted at the discretion of the Internal Competition Secretary.
12.    To encourage the production of new work, each entry may be submitted only once in a competition for the same trophy and the image must have been originally created within the last two competition seasons. 
13.    In the range of annual competitions, it is not permitted to enter an identical or similar image in both PDI and print formats in different competitions on the same evening.
14.    A member may not submit more than three (when was it changed to 3?) (it’s always been two) entries for each competition.  This number may be varied under special circumstances by the committee but all entries for each competition must be numbered in order of preference (i.e.: 1-2-3).  If in the opinion of the Internal Competition Secretary, the total entry will result in an extended evening, then, with the agreement of the Chair, all number ‘3’ preferences will be removed from the competition.  This rule applies to all print and PDI competitions.
15.    For the league competitions, the judge shall award marks out of 20 (twenty) for each entry.  All other competitions, the judge shall award first, second and third places together with as many highly commended/commended awards as considered to be merited.
16.    In a themed competition, the competition secretary may refer an image to a quorum of the committee if it is believed that the image falls outside the scope/brief for that competition as published.
17.    Competition winners hold their trophies until required for engraving for the following year’s presentations.  If two, or more, members tie for first place in the league competitions then the trophies shall be awarded to them jointly and held by each of them for a proportionate period by agreement between them.
18.    The Committee reserves the right to retain work.
19.    The complete rules and information contained in this document supersede all previous editions.
20.    For the purposes of the club, we have adopted the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP) definition of Monochrome and Nature, as also used by the PAGB/EAF.
 
MONOCHROME – FIAP Definition 
A black and white work fitting from the very dark grey (black) to the very clear grey (white) is a monochrome work with the various shades of grey. A black and white work toned entirely in a single colour will remain a monochrome work able to stand in the black and white category; such a work can be reproduced in black and white in the catalogue of a salon under FIAP Patronage. On the other hand a black and white work modified by a partial toning or by the addition of one colour becomes a colour work (polychrome) to stand in the colour category.
 
NATURE – FIAP Definition
Nature photography records all branches of natural history except anthropology and archaeology. This includes all aspects of the physical world, both animate and inanimate, that have not been made or modified by humans.
 
Nature images must convey the truth of the scene that was photographed. A well-informed person should be able to identify the subject of the image and be satisfied that it has been presented honestly and that no unethical practices have been used to control the subject or capture the image. Images that directly or indirectly show any human activity that threatens the life or welfare of a living organism are not allowed.
 
The most important part of a Nature image is the nature story it tells. High technical standards are expected and the image must look natural. Adding a vignette or blurring the background during processing is not allowed.
 
Objects created by humans, and evidence of human activity, are allowed in Nature images only when they are a necessary part of the Nature story.
 
Photographs of human-created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domesticated animals, human-created hybrid animals and mounted or preserved zoological specimens are not allowed.
 
Images taken with subjects under controlled conditions, such as zoos, are allowed.
 
Controlling live subjects by chilling, anaesthetic or any other method of restricting natural movement for the purpose of a photograph is not allowed.
 
No modification that changes the truth of a Nature image is allowed.  Images may be cropped but no other technique that removes, adds or moves any part of the image is allowed.
 
Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise and lens flare are allowed.
 
Complete conversion of colour images to greyscale monochrome is allowed. Partial conversion, toning and infrared captures or conversions are not allowed.
 
Images of the same subject that are combined in-camera or with software by focus stacking or exposure blending are allowed. Multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively and combined in-camera or with software (image stitching) are allowed.
21.    Plagiarism.
●       ALL images entered to KLDCC competitions MUST be the work of the author.
●       Composite images are permitted provided all component images meet this requirement. This includes textures and text passages, and other images used as overlays or skies used in sky replacement. It is admissible for layers produced in software packages such as Photoshop or Affinity to be used. Metadata tagged to images should be left intact. Images from any other source including, but not limited to, royalty free image banks and clipart are not permitted.
 
All alleged incidents of plagiarism will be investigated by the full committee and censure if appropriate dictated by them.
 
Any member accused of plagiarism will be entitled to meet with the committee and present their case prior to any decision being taken.
 
Censure can include a range of actions, up to and including expulsion from KLDCC under a lifetime ban and notification to both the EAF and the PAGB. 
 
Expulsion will NOT result in the return of any unused portion of subscription or monies pre-paid for club trips/events.
 
There will be NO right of appeal to censure.
 
Guidance:
Responses to requests for clarification will be based on Plagiarism in Photography – an interpretation by Christine Widdall AFIAP DPAGB BPE3.  (http://christinewiddall.co.uk/musings/plagiarism-photography/) which has also been published on the PAGB website.
 
22.    AI
●       The use of artificial Intelligence in post processing is permitted providing it is a process that does no more than traditional tools such as cloning, spot removal, dodging and burning etc. 
●       AI is not permitted where additional material is added artificially to the subject matter.
 
All alleged incidents of AI use which is not permitted will be investigated by the full committee and censure if appropriate dictated by them.
 
Any member accused of inappropriate use of AI will be entitled to meet with the committee and present their case prior to any decision being taken.
 
Censure can include a range of actions, up to and including expulsion from KLDCC under a lifetime ban and notification to both the EAF and the PAGB. 
 
Expulsion will NOT result in the return of any unused portion of subscription or monies pre-paid for club trips/events.
 
There will be NO right of appeal to censure.
 
 
ADDITIONAL RULES FOR PRINT COMPETITIONS
23.    Prints must be mounted in a mount measuring 400 x 500mm. There is no restriction on the size of the image within the mount size.
Minimum size for prints is 300cm2 (Width x Height in cm must be no more than 300)
Prints would ideally be sized at 300dpi (ie a 12 x 10 inch print would be 3600 x 3000 pixels)
Mounted prints should be brought to the club by 6:45pm on the evening of the competition to allow them to be sorted, and previewed by the judge, before the start.
A JPEG image of each print, which will be projected for the audience to view while the judge assesses your print, should be emailed to comps.kldcc@gmail.com using the same parameters as given above for PDIs, and submitted by midnight on the Saturday nine (9) days before the competition unless otherwise advised. The title of JPEG upload image must be the same as the title on the back of the print. For the projected images of your prints, please make sure that these appear identical to the prints themselves ensuring you allow for print edges hidden under mounts.
Prints must show the title and theme/Open ONLY on the back of the mount/print, preferably on the top left corner.  Prints not adequately identified may be disqualified. Nothing must be written anywhere on the front of the mount.
ADDITIONAL RULES FOR PROJECTED IMAGE COMPETITIONS
24.    Images presented as a digital file must not exceed 1920 pixels wide and 1200 pixels high.  This measurement applies irrespective whether the image is presented in portrait or landscape mode. Highest Quality, baseline standard, sRGB, maximum file size 5Mb.
25.    The member’s name together with a distinctive title must be inserted in the ‘File Info’ section during processing on a computer.  Images not adequately identified may be disqualified.
26.    The maximum amount of EXIF information from the original image file(s) should be maintained at all stages of post processing. Any image which the committee deems has had EXIF information wiped or significantly altered my be disqualified.
27.    PDI entries must be emailed to comps.kldcc@gmail.com by midnight on the Saturday nine (9) days before the competition unless otherwise specified.
RULES FOR FILE NAMING
28.    File naming of PDIs and JPG versions of print entries must comply with the following protocol:
29.    File names will consist of three parts, separated by underscores, as follows:
Competition Short Code_Image Title_Author.jpg
Please note that the underscore is used by the competition software to read the elements of competition, title and author so it is imperative that underscores are NOT used in the file name other than as directed.
The short codes consist of the competition codes are shown against each definition below, plus the last two digits of the first year of the current season. For example, the short code for the first OPEN in the 25/26 season would be Open125_Title_Author.jpg. Print competitions would have the short codes detailed below ie Archi25_Title_Author.jpg.
COMPETITION SPECIFIC RULES
30.    The Committee may make such additions or amendments to these competitions as it considers being necessary for the benefit of the Club and its decision on the interpretation of any description or definition shall be final.
31.    With all competitions, the judge will be advised whether the competition is an “Open Subject” or “Themed Subject”.  In the case of all themed subjects the judge will also be advised of the club’s rules and definitions contained for the theme and his/her decision will be final.
OPEN PROJECTED IMAGE LEAGUE COMPETITION 
32.    League Table Competition (OpenN, where N is the round number. See example above)
         Entries:                Up to two (2) per member. 
         Subject:               Open.
         Awarded to the member attaining first place in an annual league for projected images consisting of seven rounds with each round scoring 20 marks (maximum total 280).
33.    In the event of a tie a joint placing will be declared, and trophy holders will share the trophy for a proportion of the year.
PRINT COMPETITIONS 
34.    Lynn News Cup for Architecture (Archi)
         Entries:                Up to two (2) per member.
         Subject:               Architecture
 
         For images that explore the creative organisation of building materials and components in a land- or cityscape, dealing with mass, space, form, volume, texture, structure, light, shadow, materials, etc. It’s all about the building.
35.    Monochrome Cup (Mono)
         Entries:                Up to two (2) per member.
Subject:               Monochrome
 
For images of any subject displayed as monochrome to emphasise the forms, shapes, lines and tones of the subject. The basic concept is that the image should be made more effective using monochrome and absence of colour. Images may be black and white or varying tones of any one colour (see FIAP definition of Monochrome above).
36.    Nature Cup (Nature)
         Entries:                Up to two (2) per member.
         Subject:               Nature
         
For an image of a zoological or botanical subject occurring naturally. The subject will be wild, live and free and in a natural or adopted habitat of the subject’s choice. (see FIAP definition of Nature above).
 
Titles of a ‘natural history’ image should be limited to the type of animal, plant etc.  Cute titles should not be used.  Latin titles should also be shown for external competitions, but for in-house competitions this will not be a regulation.  Images for external competitions may be subject to more stringent rules.
 
Nature and British Nature competitions will alternate between consecutive seasons.
37.    British Nature Cup (BritNature)
         Entries:                Up to two (2) per member.
         Subject:               Nature
         
For an image of a zoological or botanical subject occurring naturally in the British Isles. The subject will be wild, live and free and in a natural or adopted habitat of the subject’s choice. (see FIAP definition of Nature above).
 
Titles of a ‘natural history’ image should be limited to the type of animal, plant etc.  Cute titles should not be used.  Latin titles should also be shown for external competitions, but for in-house competitions this will not be a regulation.  Images for external competitions may be subject to more stringent rules.
 
Nature and British Nature competitions will alternate between consecutive seasons.
38.    Creativity (Create)
         Entries:                Up to two (2) per member.
         Subject:               Open.
 
         Effects such as ICM and multiple exposure and post-processing manipulation, compositing and digital art. The only requirement is that the final image must be based on photographs taken by the author.
Creativity and Panel competitions will alternate between consecutive seasons.
39.    Panel Competition (Panel)
         Entries:                Up to two (2) per member.
         Subject:               Open.
 
         The panel (triptych) should comprise three (3) separate images mounted on a standard 50cms x 40cms mount. A single image cut into three sections is NOT a panel. The purpose of this competition is to select three separate images that have a common theme or tell a story.
 
Creativity and Panel competitions will alternate between consecutive seasons.
40.    Night (Night)
         Entries:                Up to two (2) per member.
         Subject:               Night-time photography.
 
         For an image taken outdoors, when the sun is below the horizon and cannot be used as the main source of light. This can include images taken in the ‘blue hour’.
41.    Catleugh Bowl (Portrait)
         Entries:                Up to two (2) per member 
         Subject:               Portraiture
 
         For the best representation of a person or persons. The image might include some or all of the following elements – likeness, personality, mood, employment, interests, environment.
 
42.    Pete Mott Cup (Scapes)
         Entries:                Up to two (2) per member.
         Subject:               Scapes
 
A Scape is a photograph of scenery depicting an extensive view of our physical environment. It may include evidence of people and animals in the scene if they are ancillary to and/or supportive of the main subject and provided that none of these elements dominate the photograph. The choice of subject matter can vary to offer a variety of “scapes” but it will be up to the author to ensure that the end result is apparent to the viewer – i.e. the impact of the image will come from the totality of subject matter and not any individual elements.
 
Examples of Scapes include, but are not limited to:
•        Cityscape
•        Seascape
•        Nightscape
•        Snowscape
•        Streetscape
•        Urbanscape
•        Sandscape
•        Skyscape
Scapes and Travel competitions will alternate between consecutive seasons.
43.    David Whitehouse Shield (Travel)
Entries:     Up to two (2) per member.
Subject:    Travel
For any travel or holiday related photograph.
Scapes and Travel competitions will alternate between consecutive seasons.
BEST OF THE YEAR COMPETITIONS
 
44.    Print of the Year
         Entries:    Selected prints attaining 1st 2nd or 3rd place in any of the print competition of the competition season.
         Subject:   Open
 
Awarded to the member attaining first place
 
Any image qualifying for this competition cannot be entered into any subsequent competitions that season, regardless further manipulation or change.
 
45.    PDI of the Year
         Entries:                Selected PDI’s attaining 18, 19 or 20 in any of the PDI competition of the competition season.
         Subject:               Open.
 
Any image qualifying for this competition cannot be entered into any subsequent competitions that season, regardless further manipulation or change.
 
46.    GENERAL CONDITIONS (All Sections)
a)       No Prints or Projected Digital Images from the same image file will be allowed in any single exhibition/competition.
b)      Prints or Projected Digital Images that have been entered and displayed in previous competitions should not be re-submitted to further competitions within a single season except for Print of the Year and PDI of the Year.
c)       All prints must be mounted on board and display on the rear of the mount/print details as requested above.  
 
GENERAL INFORMATION:
 
PRINT TITLES (NOT THE PHYSICAL PRINT) FOR ALL COMPETITIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AT A CLUB MEETING OR BY EMAIL TO THE COMPETITION SECRETARY AT LEAST NINE (9) DAYS BEFORE THE COMPETITION TAKES PLACE.
 
PRINTS SUBMITTED FOR COMPETITIONS SHOULD HAVE THE IMAGE TITLE SHOWN ON THE BACK OF THE PRINT (Preferred on top left).  ALL PRINTS SHOULD BE MOUNTED, AND THE MOUNT SHOULD NOT EXCEED 50 cm X 40 cm
 
FOR PROJECTED DIGITAL IMAGES – THESE MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE COMPETITION SECRETARY BY THE SATURDAY BEFORE THE COMPETITION DATE AT LEAST NINE (9) DAYS BEFORE THE COMPETITION TAKES PLACE AND MUST CONTAIN THE IMAGE TITLE AND AUTHOR’S NAME USING THE “FILE INFO” FACILITY. IMAGES SHOULD BE NO LARGER THAN 1920 x 1200 PIXELS.
 
AMENDMENT UPDATE DETAILS (this edition)
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