C.ex Coffs Harbour Camera Club
Guidelines for Photo/Digital Competitions
February 2012
Monthly competition is a chance to see the work of others and, if you wish, get feedback on the photographs you have
taken.
The Club also participates in several Inter Club competitions throughout the year and encourages members to
participate. With this in mind, it was decided that additional points would be awarded to those members who support
Club entries in other competitions, eg, FCC and Northern Zone, etc. One (1) additional point for each entry accepted
into the Club entry.
General points
 Monthly competitions run throughout the year with points allocated to winning entries each meeting, concluding
with a tallied Point Score and annual presentation of Awards, in December.
 For scoring, generally it is the Club Members who cast votes each meeting, with points allocated to First,
Second, Third and Fourth placegetters in each category.
 Each entry, in any Category, receives 1 point. First Place in each Category receives 4 points, Second receives
3 points, Third receives 2 points, Fourth 1 point.
 The Point Score runs from December to November with the presentation in the form of a Christmas ‘gettogether’. Award categories are the same as the Annual Digital and Print of the Year Competition (see below).
 Members may enter as many Categories as they like, ie, Mono Print, Colour Print (in their allocated category A
or B) and Digital.
 Members may submit up to 2 entries in each of the aforementioned categories.
 Colour and Monochrome printed photo entries are submitted on the night of the meeting.
 Digital images are submitted via email (see Digital Category below for details)
 All subject matter submitted for competition must be original work exposed by the competitor.
 Framed prints are not accepted due to display difficulties. Members are required to mount prints on a piece of
firm cardboard to assist display and presentation. These 'mounts' which are available in different colours, may
be obtained at specialist Camera stores.
 When a photograph wins a monthly award in a section it cannot be entered again in that section except in the
Print & Digital of the Year Competition.
 Entries may not be any older than 18months old – ie exposed no more than 18 months ago.
 You may enter more than one version of the same image if you wish (ie colour and mono, or different editing)
There are 4 Competition Categories
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2.
3.
4.
COLOUR PRINTS (B Category)
COLOUR PRINTS (A Category)
MONOCHROME PRINTS
DIGITAL
Colour Prints “B” Category
F.I.A.P. Colour Photo Definition - Any photograph that is not monochrome. It includes a monochrome photograph
that has been partially toned or had colour added.
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New members will automatically be eligible for the “B” Section competition, unless they make a request to a
committee member that they be moved into the “A” Category and that request is agreed to. Once the change
has been made it cannot be rescinded, unless agreed to by both parties.
Maximum Print size is 6 x 9”
“B” section members with three (3) first place wins in a row will automatically be moved up into the “A”
Category in the first month of the next competition year. No changes to grade are permitted mid-year.
At the end of the competition year, the winner of “B” Category is promoted to “A” Category (as based on the
point scoring referred to above.
Colour Prints “A” Category
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F.I.A.P. Colour Photo Definition – as above.
As mentioned above, members will usually start in Category B prior to being advanced to Category A.
No restrictions on photo size.
Monochrome Prints
F.I.A.P. Definition of Monochrome prints - 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.
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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 (sepia is accepted).
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.
No restrictions on photo size.
Open to any member.
Digital
 Digital Image entries should be emailed to Garth Howard: howardgf@bigpond.net.au BEFORE 7pm on the
THURSDAY PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
 include your name and title of the digital photo in the jpg filename, eg, G.Smith-What a Photo.jpg
 include the words 'CAMERA CLUB' in your Email subject line
 Images must be in JPEG format with maximum dimensions of 1024 x 768 pixels and a maximum file size of
500kb. We recommend sRGB colour profile. If you have any trouble with these rules, please let Garth know
and he can assist.
Other Definitions:
Nature - F.I.A.P. Definition
 Nature photography depicts living, untamed animals and uncultivated plants in a natural habitat, geology and
the wide diversity of natural phenomena, from insects to icebergs.
 Photographs of animals that are domesticated, caged or under any form of restraint, as well as photographs of
cultivated plants are ineligible.
 Minimal evidence of humans is acceptable for nature subjects, such as barn owls or storks, adapting to an
environment modified by humans, or natural forces, like hurricanes or tidal waves, reclaiming it.
 The original image must have been taken by the photographer, whatever photographic medium is used.
 Any manipulation or modification to the original image is limited to minor retouching of blemishes and must not
alter the content of the original scene.
 After satisfying the above requirements, every effort should be made to ensure the highest level of artistic skill
in all nature photographs.
Annual Projected Image and Print of the Year Competition
 Any photo entered throughout the year in any monthly competition from December to November, in either
digital, mono prints or colour prints is eligible for this competition.
 Each individual member is allowed a maximum of three (3) entries per section (your best images).
 Any photograph or digital entry shall be the same image as previously entered (cropping or re-framing is
permissible).
Five sections are awarded:
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Colour Print (‘A’ Grade)
Mono Print
‘B’ Grade Colour Print
Digital (Projected Image)
Northern Zone Competition
This is a major event each year. It happens towards the end of May and is hosted by a different club each year. It
consists of a number of workshops presented by some of Australia’s best photographers and displays of the inter club
competition photographs and digital.
What Makes a Good Photo?
A photograph is a message. It conveys a statement, an impression or an emotion. You are an author trying to convey
this message in a clear, concise and effective way. How:
The lighting quality
The composition – the framing: what is left in and what is left out
It is technically of good quality – correct exposure
It captures a moment
It is nice or appealing
Simple, impact, humour, moody, emotional …….
The C.ex Coffs Camera Club is open to all members of the C.Ex Coffs Club. Our objects are:
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To encourage, foster, promote and advance photography for the benefit of members;
To promote, conduct and support photographic competitions;
To associate with other clubs, bodies or organisations in the furtherance of these objects.
There is a wide variety of members with various skill levels and equipment. The club therefore has considered the
altering of images (referred here as “photoshopping”, but may mean any post-exposure adjustments) and offers the
following as a guideline only:
In all instances, following adjustments are allowed: Cropping and straightening, and colour, sharpness, contrast and
brightness adjustments that affect the entire picture in the same manner (B&W conversion is okay).
Selective editing, such as air-brushing, selective colourisation, clone-stamping, layer masking, composites of multiple
photos etc. will also be accepted, however bear in mind as a photo club, we encourage the advancement of
photography and so would like to encourage members to use these to make a good or great image visually more
appealing, rather than make a poor or average image better.