Alameda Photographic Society
N4C Competition Division Definitions

INTRODUCTION

Almost all of us join a photography club with two primary objectives - to improve our photography skills, and to have fun. Alameda Photographic Society (APS) competitions offer members an opportunity to learn from experienced judges about the strengths of their images and areas for improvement. Members find that they are able to build their knowledge and skills not only from the feedback they receive on their own images but they also learn from comments on the photographs submitted by fellow members.

Competitions are organized by image division (see below). Each division is judged against its corresponding set of criteria.  Members are encouraged to learn by competing in a full range of division. APS conducts all competitions using projected images; there are no print competitions.  Three to five divisions are selected for each competition night. The mix is different each month. Check the Home Page to see which divisions are being judged each month.   Divisions fall into two broad groups:

To help you better understand the criteria being used to judge images in each division and to help you decide which division works best for your image, we have provided:

• General Guidelines that apply to all divisions (except "Challenge of the Month").
• Definitions for each division based where applicable on those used by Northern California Council of Camera Clubs (N4C) with which APS is affiliated.
• Specific Expectations or Restrictions for each division as related to post processing, titles, sequences and judging.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

• Images may be in color or monochrome.
• Titles are considered an integral part of the image and are included as a factor in the judging, especially in the Storytelling categories. Keep in mind that the title of each image is read aloud during the competition.
• Do not add your name, watermark, copyright or other identifying text to the image itself.
• By virtue of submitting an entry, the photographer certifies the work as his/her own. No clip art, digital art or photographs other than those made by the entrant may be used in whole or in part in any portion of the image.
• Images may only be manipulated as noted in individual Division Definitions.
• When graphic elements, such as borders or shapes, are used in an image,
  • They must have been created by the maker - using photo editing software
  • Photographic content must still dominate the image overall
• Where sequences are allowed, the total number of images is limited to four. The sequence should either show a chronology of activity or help to tell a story. No composited images are allowed when creating a sequence.

ARTISTIC DIVISIONS

Definitions

PICTORIAL

Pictorial photography is the use of the photographic medium as an art form. The emphasis is on interest, visual impact, composition and technical excellence. Images in the Pictorial division are not confined to any particular subject, type, or style of photography.

MONOCHROME

Monochrome refers to an image in black and white (grayscale), but also includes images made of tones of a single color. For example, sepia images, which display tones from light tan to dark brown, or cyanotype images (‘blueprints”) are also monochrome.

Judges look for appropriate dynamic range and areas of under or over exposure. Monochrome images follow all of the same guidelines that apply to pictorial.

CREATIVE

Creative photography is an image produced through the use of imaginative skill or originality of thought, including the altering of reality. No image should be eliminated from competition simply because it looks realistic, provided it shows originality of concept.

Images submitted under the Creative division may include unusual points of view, imaginative use of subject matter or lighting, or any other presentation that begins with the maker’s photograph or collection of photographs.

STORYTELLING DIVISIONS

Definitions

TRAVEL

A Photo Travel image expresses the characteristic features, culture, or feeling of a land as they are found naturally. There are no geographical limitations. The travel value of the photograph shall be valued over pictorial quality.

Close-up pictures of people or objects must include a recognizable sense of a unique culture or place. The title should give the location and complement the travel story.

JOURNALISM:

Journalism entries shall consist of pictures with informative content and/or emotional impact. They can include human interest, documentary or spot news.

The journalistic value of the photograph shall be valued over pictorial quality. The primary objective in this division is to make storytelling and/or newsworthy photographs. Good titles are important and should add to the photo-story. A best practice is to include the who, what, when, where and why of the story - the description should read like a newspaper caption.

NATURE:

Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict any branch of natural history, except anthropology and archeology, in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and certify its honest presentation.

The informative and nature storytelling value of a photograph is weighed more than the pictorial quality, while maintaining high technical quality. The title should be factual and descriptive. Scientific names are encouraged but are not required. A best practice is to keep the description relevant to the activity in the image - e.g. do not describe chicks getting fed unless that is the activity in the image.

Images entered in the Nature division can have landscapes, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with the subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food.

• Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens.
• Human elements shall not be present in the image and are ineligible except:
  • in situations where wild animals have been tagged with scientific bands, tags or radio collars;
  • in situations where nature subjects (e.g. barn owls, storks, eagles etc.) have adapted to an environment modified by humans, and these human elements

Authentic Wildlife is a subdivision of the Nature division. Alameda does not hold any separate competitions for this subdivision but N4C does. To qualify for Authentic Wildlife at the N4C level, an image must be labeled Authentic Wildlife on submission and must place first, second or third in the Nature competitions both at the club level and at the N4C Interclub level.

Authentic Wildlife Definition: One or more extant zoological or botanical organisms free and unrestrained in a natural or adopted habitat.

• Landscapes, geologic formations, photographs of zoo or game farm animals, or of any extant zoological or botanical species taken under controlled conditions, are not eligible for labeling as Authentic Wildlife.
• Wildlife is not limited to animals, birds and insects. Marine subjects and botanical subjects (including fungi and algae) taken in the wild are suitable wildlife subjects, as are carcasses of extant species.

Division-Specific Expectations or Restrictions

Note: Follow this link to the N4C Competition Rules.

CLUB "CHALLENGE OF THE MONTH" DIVISION

Club members can submit up to five images for the "Challenge of the Month" contest. 

Images MUST have been taken SINCE the last "Challenge of the Month" contest - do not submit images that were taken before the announcement of the current month's theme. (The purpose of his contest to take new images once the current theme is announced.)

Other than date taken and size, no other restrictions apply to images in this division, as long as the image is original or derivative in a way that would make it eligible for copyright by the maker. The winner will select the next Challenge of the Month theme.  Places and Honorable Mentions are allowed. 

 Date 09.09.2020