Competition Submission Guidelines

Prints.

All prints must be submitted in mounts that are 40cm x 50cm with a competed competition sticker (available from the competition secretary) on the back. The Competition Secretary may have to reduce the number of submissions to oversubscribed competitions and this is done by removing the lower rated images. Please ensure that the reverse side of the mount clean, smooth and is not sticky. This is to ensure that your print does not damage any other entries when boxed for transit.  Prints should be deposited in to the collection boxes on or by the specified hand-in date.

Summary.

Maximum mount size 40cmx50cm

Competed competition label on the back of the mount

Print ranking preference clearly marked on the label

Clean and clear mount reverse.

Hand in prints on the date specified.

Digital images (PDI’s)

All digital images for projection must be saved as JPEG’s sized to within a maximum of 1600 pixels in width by a maximum of 1200 pixels in height and in sRGB mode. A portrait image will have a maximum height of 1200px and a width less than 1200px, a landscape image will have a maximum width of 1600 and a height 1200px or less and a square image will be a maximum of 1200px x 1200px. Details on how to resize images can be found at Tips, Image resizing II (I).

All images should be submitted use Photoentry (see the Photoentry post-it on the website noticeboard) 

Club Website.

Placed images will generally be shown on the club website Competition/Images page unless the author request otherwise.

A full list of all the club rules can be found at competitions/rules.

Submitting an image.

If you would like to submit an image to one of the competition don’t wait to get the perfect image go with what you like. All judges are different and like different types of image, however in my experience all judges like to see the “Basics” done properly. I’ve outline below most of the these based on my experience of competitions,

Basics.

Check out the Tips page if you’re unsure of any of the terms below or if you want to know more about a particular topic.

Focus. Try to ensure that all the bits of your image that should be in focus are in focus and that you have appropriate Depth of Field e.g. Subject in focus and background out of focus or the image in focus from foreground to background.

Exposure. Try to ensure you have the correct exposure without light areas burnt out (pure white areas with no detail) or the dark areas blocked up (pure black areas with no detail).

Horizons/Verticals. Make sure horizons are level and generally not in the centre of the image. If possible try to make the vertical lines straight and vertical also.

Clutter/Distractions.Try to avoid clutter and distractions leaving a clear focal point or points. It also helps to have a lead in to your image.

Composition. Think about the composition, don’t just point and shot. The rules of composition help but remember they are only guidelines.

Printing. When printing don’t make your image too dark, if your printing black and white make sure you have a range of tones (black through to white) and avoid presenting a grey image and also avoid colour casts when printing B & W.

 Simple Checklist. Outlined below is a simple checklist I use before I take an image based on the phrase FIX IT.

F,  for Focus and Framing your image. Frame up the image you want to take then focus.  If you use back button focusing its easy to forget to focus.

I,   for ISO to make sure you have an appropriate ISO setting.

X,  for eXposure. I use manual exposure most of the time so the aperture and shutter speed needs to be set. If you’re on auto then you may only have to set one of these values.

I,  is for Image Stabilisation. Do you want it off or on? Hand held will normally be on but if using a tripod then IS should be off.

T, is for Tripod. If using a tripod then make sure that settled into the ground, don’t just put it up and take you image, settle it into the ground first especially if it’s soft or thick grass. Make sure all the bits that need to be tight are tight.

Lastly for most amateurs, photography is meant to be fun so enjoy taking images and if you don’t get it first time you can always try again, it’s all part of learning. The perfect image doesn’t exist so don’t wait until you get perfection or you’ll never submit and image.  

Competition Submission Guidelines

Prints.

All prints must be submitted in mounts that are 40cm x 50cm with a competed competition sticker (available from the competition secretary) on the back. The Competition Secretary may have to reduce the number of submissions to oversubscribed competitions and this is done by removing the lower rated images. Please ensure that the reverse side of the mount clean, smooth and is not sticky. This is to ensure that your print does not damage any other entries when boxed for transit.  Prints should be deposited in to the collection boxes on or by the specified hand-in date.

Summary.

Maximum mount size 40cmx50cm

Competed competition label on the back of the mount

Print ranking preference clearly marked on the label

Clean and clear mount reverse.

Hand in prints on the date specified.

Digital images (PDI’s)

All digital images for projection must be saved as JPEG’s sized to within a maximum of 1600 pixels in width by a maximum of 1200 pixels in height and in sRGB mode. A portrait image will have a maximum height of 1200px and a width less than 1200px, a landscape image will have a maximum width of 1600 and a height 1200px or less and a square image will be a maximum of 1200px x 1200px. Details on how to resize images can be found at Tips, Image resizing II (I).

All images should be submitted use Photoentry (see the Photoentry post-it on the website noticeboard) 

Club Website.

Placed images will generally be shown on the club website Competition/Images page unless the author request otherwise.

A full list of all the club rules can be found at competitions/rules.

Submitting an image.

If you would like to submit an image to one of the competition don’t wait to get the perfect image go with what you like. All judges are different and like different types of image, however in my experience all judges like to see the “Basics” done properly. I’ve outline below most of the these based on my experience of competitions,

Basics.

Check out the Tips page if you’re unsure of any of the terms below or if you want to know more about a particular topic.

Focus. Try to ensure that all the bits of your image that should be in focus are in focus and that you have appropriate Depth of Field e.g. Subject in focus and background out of focus or the image in focus from foreground to background.

Exposure. Try to ensure you have the correct exposure without light areas burnt out (pure white areas with no detail) or the dark areas blocked up (pure black areas with no detail).

Horizons/Verticals. Make sure horizons are level and generally not in the centre of the image. If possible try to make the vertical lines straight and vertical also.

Clutter/Distractions.Try to avoid clutter and distractions leaving a clear focal point or points. It also helps to have a lead in to your image.

Composition. Think about the composition, don’t just point and shot. The rules of composition help but remember they are only guidelines.

Printing. When printing don’t make your image too dark, if your printing black and white make sure you have a range of tones (black through to white) and avoid presenting a grey image and also avoid colour casts when printing B & W.

 Simple Checklist. Outlined below is a simple checklist I use before I take an image based on the phrase FIX IT.

F,  for Focus and Framing your image. Frame up the image you want to take then focus.  If you use back button focusing its easy to forget to focus.

I,   for ISO to make sure you have an appropriate ISO setting.

X,  for eXposure. I use manual exposure most of the time so the aperture and shutter speed needs to be set. If you’re on auto then you may only have to set one of these values.

I,  is for Image Stabilisation. Do you want it off or on? Hand held will normally be on but if using a tripod then IS should be off.

T, is for Tripod. If using a tripod then make sure that settled into the ground, don’t just put it up and take you image, settle it into the ground first especially if it’s soft or thick grass. Make sure all the bits that need to be tight are tight.

Lastly for most amateurs, photography is meant to be fun so enjoy taking images and if you don’t get it first time you can always try again, it’s all part of learning. The perfect image doesn’t exist so don’t wait until you get perfection or you’ll never submit and image.  

https://www.ejlazenbyphotography.co.uk/