Introduction

1. The purpose of competitions within the Manassas Warrenton Camera
   Club (MWCC) is to improve the photographic skills of the members and to allow them to display their creative work.
2. The Club’s competition year is comprised of a series of monthly
   competitions starting in September and ending in May.
3. A Competition Committee will be formed to assist the Vice President for
   Competitions. The Committee’s duties are to assist the Vice President in running the monthly competitions and carrying out all other matters as outlined in the Rules of Competition.
4. The Vice President for Competitions serves as Chairperson of the Competition Committee.
5. All amendments to the Rules of Competition will be presented and
   implemented in accordance with the MWCC Bylaws and Constitution.
   

Eligibility

1. Competitors must be members of the Manassas-Warrenton Camera Club in good standing.
2. While no age restriction for the entries is applicable, photographers are
   encouraged to enter photographs that are indicative of their current work. The Competition Committee may establish special competitions for which the age restrictions are modified.
3. An image that has won first, second, or third place once or an honorable mention award twice may never be resubmitted in another MWCC monthly competition.
4. It is the competitor’s responsibility to bring all questionable entries to the attention of the Vice-President of Competitions PRIOR to the start of the competition. Failure to do so may result in the disqualification of the applicable entry.

Competition

1. A competition will be held every month from September through May in each class.
2. Competitions canceled due to inclement weather will be rescheduled.
3. Competition subjects will be established prior to the start of the
   competition year. Subject definitions will be published in the first newsletter of each Club year and be available at club meetings.
4. A maximum of three (3) images may be entered by each competitor in each class. This number may be reduced for a specific competition at the discretion of the Vice-President for Competitions.
5. Entries will not be accepted after the cut off time established by the Vice President of Competitions. This time will be determined prior to the beginning of the competition year and included in the monthly newsletters.
6. Competitions will be divided into the following three (3) divisions, each of which includes three (3) classes for the entry of images (see section 3.8 below). Members entering competition for the first time are encouraged to consult with the Vice-President of Competition, or other club officer, to aide in determining which division is applicable to their entry.

   Novice

   Any individual new to photography who is learning basic photographic principles and concepts such as metering, composition, mastering the camera’s manual operation.

   Intermediate

   Any individual who has competed in the Novice Division the previous year or who has mastered the basic photographic skills and is at a skill level above that expected of a novice.

   Advanced

   Any individual who has been named Photographer of the Year at the Intermediate Level or who has demonstrated photographic skills that consistently maintain an exemplar quality.

7. An individual can be promoted under the following conditions:
   1. An individual who has competed in the Novice Division is
      automatically advanced to the Intermediate Division effective the following year. Anyone who has competed in four or less competitions may appeal to the Competition Committee to stay at the Novice Division level for one additional year only.
   2. An individual named Photographer of the Year in the Intermediate Division classes is automatically promoted to the Advanced Division effective the following year.
   3. Any individual may voluntarily move up a division level at any time within the club year; however, once the move has been made, the individual cannot move back down a level without an appeal to and approval by the Competition Committee. In the event of a mid-year self promotion (or voluntary promotion), an individual may retain one-half (1/2) of their points earned prior to the promotion. Said points are not to exceed the points earned by the highest scorer in the next higher division to which
      the transfer culminates.
   4. The Competition Committee may determine, at any time within the club year, that the quality of an individual’s work supports promoting that individual to the next higher division level. If such promotion occurs, one half (1/2) of the points earned while competing in the lower division shall be carried to the next higher division. Said points are not to exceed the points earned by the highest scorer in the division to which the transfer
      culminates.
8. Images will be entered into the following classes within each of the three divisions:

   Color Prints

   All color and monochromatic prints, including those
   printed by the photographer or a commercial lab.

   Black and White Prints

   All black and white prints, including those printed by the photographer or a commercial lab.

   Color and Black and White Slides

   Images specifically captured in film cameras and developed for slide presentation.

9. Image Format

   Slides

   There is no size restriction for an image; however, all slides must be mounted in 2x2 inch mounts. Slides must have the maker’s name and image title on the mount with a dot in the upper right corner as placed in the projector tray.
   

   Prints

   The longest edge of the visible portion of the of the image must
   be between 6 inches and 16 inches, except for the longest edge of a Polaroid transfer which may be less than 6 inches. All prints must be mounted on a backing at least 1/16 inch thick to ensure that the photograph is adequately supported and protected. Over mats may be used without color restrictions. Mounts and mats shall not exceed 20 inches along the longest side. Prints may not be framed. No multiple print images are allowed. Prints shall have the maker’s name and print title on the back with an arrow indicating the top of the print.

Awards

1. In every monthly competition, ribbons will be awarded in each class as follows:
   
   1-4 entries 1st place only
   5-8 entries 1st and 2nd places
   9-12 entries 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places
   13-16 entries 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 1 honorable mention
   17-20 entries 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 2 honorable mentions
   21-24 entries 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 3 honorable mentions
   25-28 entries 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4 honorable mentions
   29-32 entries 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5 honorable mentions
   33-36 entries 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6 honorable mentions
   37 and more entries 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7 honorable mentions
   
   In addition to ribbons for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mentions, competitors will receive points for each entry as follows:
   1st place 10 points
   2nd place 8 points
   3rd place 6 points
   Honorable Mention 4 points
   Entry not receiving an award 1 point
   
2. End of Year Awards:
   1. Photographer of The Year
   2. At the end of the competition year,
      the Club will recognize the Photographer of The Year in each class. These awards will be made to the competitors with the highest point totals in each class during the competition year. Points are not transferable between classes. In addition, to be eligible for Photographer of the Year, the competitor must have entered at least five of the monthly competitions within a given class.
   3. The Top Ten Prints, Top Ten Slides, Print of the Year, and Slide of
      the Year will be selected after the end of the competition year. All images that win an award during the year may be submitted for consideration, and there will not be any division distinctions for these awards. Judging will be conducted by a judge(s) who has not participated in any of the current year’s monthly competitions. The Vice president for Competitions is responsible for selecting the judge(s).
   4. The Competition Committee may recognize other photographers
      from time to time based upon the merit, quality, and consistency of their photographic work.

Judging

1. Selection of Judges: Judges will be selected from within the Club, other
   area camera clubs, local professional photographers, and photo-educators based upon their knowledge and skill as photographers and their experience critiquing others’ work. For special subject competitions, an effort will be made to find a
   judge with a background in the subject to be judged. The Vice President for Competitions is responsible for selecting judges.
2. Judging Criteria: Judges will judge all images based upon the emotional impact of the image and the ability of the photographer to execute the theme. While cropping and composition affect the overall impact of the image, the use of ‘text book” composition is not an item of judging but is considered as part of the overall impact of the image.
3. Print Quality: The Club encourages each photographer to make the best quality image possible, including the production of the highest quality prints to be entered into competition. The print quality will not be a separate item of judging; however, it will be considered as part of the overall impact of the photograph.
4. Judge’s Discretion: The judge may remove from competition any image that is believed to be in poor taste or that does not meet the requirements of a special subject competition.

How to Label Your Slides

Hold your slide in front of you as it should be viewed. Put a red dot in the lower left corner. Invert the slide so that the dot is now in the upper right corner and place it in the projector tray. The dot should be next to the outside of the tray. Please avoid using the name of “untitled” as this is confusing when recording awards.

Competition Category Definitions

Unless otherwise defined for a specific competition these definitions shall be used.

Abstract

Blends of color, texture, shape, form, and light to create a design-patterned image.

Architecture

Buildings, interiors, ruins, bridges, statues, sculptures, monuments, memorials, or anything where manmade structures are the principal interest.

Close-up

Images that result from the use of close-up lenses, or macro lenses, where the
magnification of the subject exceeds that obtained with a standard lens at a minimum focusing distance.

Earthscape

An expressive portrayal of a landscape or waterscape , not necessarily a literal recording of a scene but rather expresses the photographer's personal vision or emotion. An Earthscape does not show the hand of man.

Macro

Images taken at a very close range with the use of a specially designed lens, extension tubes, diopters, etc., where the magnification exceeds that of a standard lens at minimum focusing distance.

Montage

An image created outside the camera by layering two or more separately
captured images (e.g. placing two or more frames of slide film in one slide mount, printing two or more negatives over top of each other on the same piece of paper, or layering two or more images in a digital darkroom).

Multiple Exposure

An image created in the camera by placing more than one exposure on a single frame (e.g. one film frame or one digital image).

Nature

Images that illustrate the natural features of land, sea, or sky, or that reveal
certain natural phenomena such as cloud formations, precipitation, frost, fire, etc., but do not show the hand of man.

Open

Any subject including those listed herein.

Photojournalism

Storytelling pictures where the activity itself is the center of interest.

Portraiture

An individual, or group of individuals, where the subject rather than the activity is the main interest.

Plants and Flowers

Images where plants and flowers are the principal interest.

Reflections

Images reproduced on a reflective surface such as clouds on water, or structures on window glass.

Shadows

Darkness cast upon a surface by a body, human, animal, or structure,
intercepting the light rays.

Still Life

Small inanimate objects such as fruit, flowers, glassware, structures, etc., as the center of interest.

Transportation

An image showing the process of moving an object from one place to another and/or the equipment necessary to do so.

Wide Angle

An image which was produced with a 35mm lens or wider and exploiting the properties of the wide angle lens including different angles of view and perspective rather than just including more of the scene in the image.

Merit Prints - Most Important Elements

Judging photography is a subjective act, with personal preferences supported by a Judge‘s knowledge. Attempting to discern a particular judge’s personal preferences is futile. It is possible, however, to codify the standards judges use to formulate their opinions.

The photographic Exhibit Committee established the 12 critical elements of a meritquality photograph. These elements are endorsed by the committee for use by International Print Competition judges. In order of importance these elements, with brief definitions, are:

Impact

Invokes a first-impression opinion from a judge. It is the aspect of the photograph that holds a judge’s attention and commands him to look further. Impact stands at the top of this list because of its umbrella coverage; many other elements have the opportunity to create impact.

Creativity

Photographer’s invention and design skills at work. It is the element that transfers imagination and feeling from the creator to the viewer, lifting the photograph into the realm of art.

Style

Distinguishes one photo from another in a manner that is real, not contrived. It expresses a photographer’s individuality.

Composition

Divides a photograph into a successful arrangement of subject matter. It creates a harmonious rhythm in the photograph through symmetry and repetition.

Print Presentation

Addresses the choices made in cropping, matting, and mounting that enhance a photograph. It dares a photographer to be different in either a dynamic or traditional format.

Color Balance

Weighs the use of complementary colors (dark against light, strong against weak) and how these are incorporated into the subject matter of the photograph.

Center of Interest

Leads the viewer’s eyes through a photograph without unnecessary distraction. It identifies a dominant component that gives strength and definition to a photograph. The center of interest should always be the focal point of, and supported by, secondary objects.

Lighting

Illuminates the characteristics, mood and statement of the subject matter. The correct quality of light stems from proper exposure.

Subject Matter

Is the appropriateness of the subject for the total interpretation of the photograph.

Print Quality

Comprises the levels of contrast, color, lighting, angles, and other elements that make a statement for the photo.

Technique

Is the foundation of photography which intermingles with a photographer’s knowledge of art principles. It takes abstract ideas and makes them concrete.

Storytelling

Achieves the photo’s narrative purpose. It builds an emotional response that challenges a viewer’s imagination.

Reprinted from “Professional Photographer,” January 1992.