| N4C Competition Category
Definitions: |
Articles on Judging Images
Below is a
comprehensive Judges Manual with many articles which can help
sharpen your capabilities as a judge or train you to be one. Enjoy and
learn!
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On judging photographs by
Kipp Baker
| N4C camera clubs send winning
digital images, slides, and prints to N4C for
interclub competition, they also adhere to these definitions. |
Competition Categories:
N4C COMPETITION
ELIGIBILITY DEFINITIONS
REVISED Jan. 2008
 N4C
New Competition Rules
Effective Jan
2008
|
Pictorial
Creative
Travel
Journalism
Nature
Wildlife
Sequence
Submitting
a Sequence Acceptable to N4C into ICM-2
Labeling
your Images
Sample Labeling for Prints
Classes:
B=basic, I=intermediate
A=Advanced M=
Masters |
|
N4C
COMPETITION
DIVISION DEFINITIONS
Revisions
approved by N4C Board on January 8, 2007 updated 11/09
Preamble
The Northern California Council of
Camera Clubs subscribes to the Ethics Statement of the
Photographic Society of America. Consistent with that Ethics
Statement, all images submitted for competition in both print and
projected image format and in all competition divisions shall originate
as photographs by the entrant on photographic emulsion or acquired
digitally.
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 other than photographs created by the entrant are used in an
image, photographic content must still predominate.
Now that N4C is judging on a monitor rather than a projector, it is more
imperative that members use the N4C standard resolution, a maximum of
1280 in width and 1024
in height so that the judges can better determine whether the focus is
sharp. Probably most of the clubs' competitions are set for this as a
maximum (since that is Larry's default), but you should encourage your
members to use this as the standard, even though when the clubs project
the images they will be projected at 1024x768 at (as far as I know) all
N4C clubs.
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N4C HAS ADOPTED THE
FOLLOWING DEFINITION FOR PICTORIAL:
updated 11/09
Pictorial (P):
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. Pictorial images may be
manipulated in the darkroom, on the computer or in the camera in a manner
consistent with the standards stated in the preamble to these definitions.
There are FOUR
Print classes
B=Basic,
I=Intermediate
A=Advanced
M=
Masters
Labeling your
Print entry: COLOR = CO/B, CO/I, CO/A, CO/M
(upper
LEFT corner) MONOCHROME = MO/B, MO/I, MO/A, MO/M
Projected
Images Pictorial:
B=Basic,
I=Intermediate
A=Advanced
M=
Masters
Back to Index
N4C HAS
ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION FOR CREATIVE (C):
updated
11/09
Creative (C):
Creative photography is producing an image 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. Creative
images may include modifications in
the darkroom, on the computer, or in the camera, as well as unusual points
of view, imaginative use of subject matter or lighting, or any other
presentation that begins with the maker’s photograph or a collection of
photographs. Creative images must be consistent with the standards stated
in the preamble to these definitions. In Creative image competition the
title is read when showing the image.
There are two
Print class for Creative
B=Basic,
A=Advanced
Labeling your
Print entry: (upper LEFT corner) C/B or C/A
Projected
Images: Have four classes for Creative
B=Basic,
I=Intermediate
A=Advanced
M=
Masters
Back to Index
N4C HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING
DEFINITION FOR TRAVEL (T): updated
11/09
Travel (T):
A Travel picture must express the feeling of a time and place, portray a
land, its people or a culture in its natural state, and has no geographic
limitations. Ultra close-ups which lose their identity, studio-type model
shots, or photographic manipulations which misrepresent the true situation
or alter the content of the image are unacceptable in Travel competition No
manipulation or modification is permitted except resizing, cropping,
selective lightening or darkening, and restoration of original color of the
scene. No special effect filters can be applied. Any sharpening must
appear natural. No elements may be moved, cloned, added, deleted,
rearranged or combined. . In Travel competition the title is read when
showing the image. The title should give the location and complement the
travel story. All Travel images must be consistent with the standards
stated in the preamble to these definitions.
There are two
Print class for Travel
B=Basic,
A=Advanced
Labeling your
Print entry: (upper LEFT corner) T/B or T/A
Projected
Images: Have four classes for Travel
B=Basic,
I=Intermediate
A=Advanced
M=
Masters
Back to Index
N4C HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING
DEFINITION FOR JOURNALISM (J):
updated 11/09
Journalism (J):
Journalism entries shall consist of pictures with informative content and
emotional impact, including human interest, documentary and spot news.
Sequences of not more than four (4) images are permitted in the Journalism
category in projected image competition only. The journalistic value of the
photograph shall be considered over pictorial quality. In the interest of
credibility, photographs which misrepresent the truth, such as manipulation
of the image, or situations which are set up for the purpose of photography,
are unacceptable in Journalism competition. The primary concern is to make
story-telling and/or newsworthy photographs. In competition the title is
read when showing the image. Good titles are important and should add to
the photo-story. No manipulation or modification of Journalism images is
permitted except resizing, cropping, selective lightening or darkening, and
restoration of original color of the scene. No special effect filters can
be applied. Any sharpening must appear natural. No elements may be moved,
cloned, added, deleted, rearranged or combined. All Journalism images must
be consistent with the standards stated in the preamble to these
definitions.
There are two
Print class for Journalism
B=Basic,
A=Advanced
Labeling your
Print entry: (upper LEFT corner) J/B or J/A
Projected
Images: Have four classes for Journalism
B=Basic,
I=Intermediate
A=Advanced
M=
Masters
Back to Index
N4C HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING
DEFINITION FOR NATURE (N):
updated 11/09
Nature (N):
The Nature Photography Division is restricted to the use of the photographic
process to depict observations from all branches of natural history except
anthropology and archeology in such a fashion that a well-informed person
will be able to identify the subject matter and certify as to its honest
presentation. The story-telling value of a photograph must be weighed more
than the pictorial quality. Sequences of not more than four (4) images are
permitted in the Nature category in projected image competition only.
Human elements shall not be present except
on the rare occasion where those human elements enhance the nature story.
The presence of scientific bands on wild animals is acceptable. Photographs
of artificially produced hybrid plants or animals (any plant or animal that
has its appearance changed by breeding and selection by man), mounted
specimens, or obviously set arrangements, are ineligible, as is any form of
manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.
In Nature competition the title is read
when showing the image. The title should be factual and descriptive and
will be read as shown. Scientific names are encouraged but are not to be
used as a basis for judging.
No manipulation or modification of Nature
images is permitted except resizing, cropping, selective lightening or
darkening, and restoration of original color of the scene. The only
acceptable monochrome submittal is black and white. No special effect
filters can be applied. Any sharpening must appear natural. No elements
may be moved, cloned, added, deleted, rearranged or combined. Horizontal
flipping (equivalent to reversing the image) is an acceptable modification.
All Nature images must be consistent with the standards stated in the
preamble to these definitions.
There are two
Print class for Nature
B=Basic,
A=Advanced
Labeling your
Print entry: (upper LEFT corner) N/B or N/A
Projected
Images: Have four classes for Nature
B=Basic,
I=Intermediate
A=Advanced
M=
Masters
Depending on
club policy some have (Zoological or Other category).
Back to Index
N4C HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING
DEFINITION FOR NATURE (W):
updated 11/09
Authentic Wildlife (W):
Authentic Wildlife is defined as one or
more organisms in the animal kingdom living free and unrestrained in a
natural or adopted habitat. Therefore, photographs of zoo or game farm
animals are not eligible.
(This will be judged in the Nature
Projected Image Division only.)
Labeling your
Projected Images: W
Back to Index
N4C HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING
DEFINITION FOR SEQUENCE:
updated 11/09
Sequence
(S): A sequence consists of
two or more related images on one mount, printed separately on the same
sheet of paper or overlapping as in a multiple exposure or panorama.
Sequences will be judged in prints only. All Sequence prints must be
consistent with the standards stated in the preamble to these definitions.
There is still only one
Print class for Sequence
Labeling your
Print entry: S (upper LEFT corner)
Back to Index
Submitting a Sequence
Acceptable to N4C into ICM-2
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