Club Competition Rules
Internal Competition Rules
(Revised December 2024)
1. There are four annual competitions, open to paid-up members. They are:
a. The Club League
b. Three on a Theme
c. Image of the Year
d. The 6x4 Competition (for which different rules apply, described later)
2. There are three categories in each of the competitions. They are:
a. Colour Prints
b. Monochrome Prints
c. Projected Digital Images (PDI)
3. Members may submit up to two entries in each category in each round of the Club League competition, and up to two panels in each category of the Three on a Theme competition. Images may be of any age. Unless otherwise notified the entries may be of any subject and will be judged in the “Open” category.
4. Images entered in a Club Competition should not have previously been entered in a Club Competition as either a print or projected image. The image may be used in a Club Competition if it has previously been used in a Cup Competition, an inter-Club Battle or a CACC (Chilterns Association of Camera Clubs) Competition. The exception to this rule is the “Image of the Year”, where the images submitted MUST have been entered in the League or Three on a Theme competitions that season. Members may enter up to two images in each category for the Image of the Year
5. All entries must be original images that are the work of the author
a. Images must be essentially photographic, and a photographic process must feature significantly in the creation of the image.
b. In composite images, all the images merged must be the work of the author.
c. Manipulation (such as Photoshop) of images is perfectly acceptable.
d. Images that are created purely by computer software are not acceptable.
e. The use of copyright-free or third-party material in images is not permitted.
f. The Club policy on AI follows the PAGB position. Members are referred to PAGB guidelines on the use of AI here.
6. Titles are to be provided with all entries; titles will be read out as each image is displayed. If no title has been given, it will be referred to as “untitled”. For prints, please ensure you have indicated on the back of each of your submissions (a) title of print, (b) your name and (c) a directional arrow indicating “UP” so the image will be correctly displayed.
7. Digital Images are to be submitted in jpeg format only, by email, and resized to a maximum dimension of 1600 pixels on the horizontal and 1200 pixels on the vertical in order to project at their best resolution. Some competitions may specify different dimensions. There is a tutorial for download on the Tutorial page of this web site. Digital Images should be less than 5Mb in size. Deadlines for delivery of PDI will be specified in advance but will generally be the Friday before the competition, unless otherwise notified in Club Notices. No late entries will be accepted.
8. Unless otherwise indicated, prints may be of any size and should be mounted. Authors should however bear the following in mind:
a. Prints in mounts larger than 16” × 20” (40cm × 50cm) will be ineligible for use in CACC, PAGB (Photographic Alliance of Great Britain) and possibly other events.
b. The Club is unable to offer any safe means of transporting or storing any material larger than 18” × 27” (47cm × 68.5cm).
9. Entries for Print competitions should be delivered to the Print Secretary no later than the Monday before the competition date unless otherwise notified in Club Notices.
10. League and Three on a Theme Images are scored by members, in a range of 14 to 20. Guidelines on scoring competitions are available on the club website. The Image of the Year competition is judged by an external judge.
11. Three-on-a-Theme Competition: Each member may enter a maximum of two sets of PDI, two sets of monochrome prints, and two sets of colour prints Each set shall consist of 3 images or 3 prints to be viewed together in a side-by-side arrangement. Digital sets should include a fourth image showing the three distinct images (as submitted) in a single image. Authors must clearly indicate the positioning and orientation of each image within the arrangement (eg, L-left, M-middle, R-right, or 1,2,3). PDI must be titled for the panel (eg My Panel-1.jpg, My Panel-2.jpg, My Panel-3.jpg, My Panel-4.jpg.) No image or print must have been used in any previous Three-on-a-Theme Competition. Entries will be judged as sets in the “Open” category.
12. The 6×4 Competition: This competition tests a photographer’s ability to take a series of photographs, within a restricted space and time, and under what may be less than ideal conditions. The location and timeframe will be chosen and those attending on the given evening are invited to submit the results of their photographic foray for judging at a future club evening to be announced in advance. Photographs taken at the same time, but on an adjacent day may be entered at the discretion of the Competition Secretary. Entrants to this competition are invited to submit one or more sets of (maximum) five 6” x 4” images mounted on a board. The panels are judged by members.
13. The following Awards are given to competition winners:
14. Copyright: The Copyright of any image entered into Club competitions remains with the image author. However, by submitting an image to Club competitions, the author grants the Club free licence to distribute (with attribution) the image for use in interclub competitions, and in social media posts and advertisements promoting the club.
(Revised December 2024)
1. There are four annual competitions, open to paid-up members. They are:
a. The Club League
b. Three on a Theme
c. Image of the Year
d. The 6x4 Competition (for which different rules apply, described later)
2. There are three categories in each of the competitions. They are:
a. Colour Prints
b. Monochrome Prints
c. Projected Digital Images (PDI)
3. Members may submit up to two entries in each category in each round of the Club League competition, and up to two panels in each category of the Three on a Theme competition. Images may be of any age. Unless otherwise notified the entries may be of any subject and will be judged in the “Open” category.
4. Images entered in a Club Competition should not have previously been entered in a Club Competition as either a print or projected image. The image may be used in a Club Competition if it has previously been used in a Cup Competition, an inter-Club Battle or a CACC (Chilterns Association of Camera Clubs) Competition. The exception to this rule is the “Image of the Year”, where the images submitted MUST have been entered in the League or Three on a Theme competitions that season. Members may enter up to two images in each category for the Image of the Year
5. All entries must be original images that are the work of the author
a. Images must be essentially photographic, and a photographic process must feature significantly in the creation of the image.
b. In composite images, all the images merged must be the work of the author.
c. Manipulation (such as Photoshop) of images is perfectly acceptable.
d. Images that are created purely by computer software are not acceptable.
e. The use of copyright-free or third-party material in images is not permitted.
f. The Club policy on AI follows the PAGB position. Members are referred to PAGB guidelines on the use of AI here.
6. Titles are to be provided with all entries; titles will be read out as each image is displayed. If no title has been given, it will be referred to as “untitled”. For prints, please ensure you have indicated on the back of each of your submissions (a) title of print, (b) your name and (c) a directional arrow indicating “UP” so the image will be correctly displayed.
7. Digital Images are to be submitted in jpeg format only, by email, and resized to a maximum dimension of 1600 pixels on the horizontal and 1200 pixels on the vertical in order to project at their best resolution. Some competitions may specify different dimensions. There is a tutorial for download on the Tutorial page of this web site. Digital Images should be less than 5Mb in size. Deadlines for delivery of PDI will be specified in advance but will generally be the Friday before the competition, unless otherwise notified in Club Notices. No late entries will be accepted.
8. Unless otherwise indicated, prints may be of any size and should be mounted. Authors should however bear the following in mind:
a. Prints in mounts larger than 16” × 20” (40cm × 50cm) will be ineligible for use in CACC, PAGB (Photographic Alliance of Great Britain) and possibly other events.
b. The Club is unable to offer any safe means of transporting or storing any material larger than 18” × 27” (47cm × 68.5cm).
9. Entries for Print competitions should be delivered to the Print Secretary no later than the Monday before the competition date unless otherwise notified in Club Notices.
10. League and Three on a Theme Images are scored by members, in a range of 14 to 20. Guidelines on scoring competitions are available on the club website. The Image of the Year competition is judged by an external judge.
11. Three-on-a-Theme Competition: Each member may enter a maximum of two sets of PDI, two sets of monochrome prints, and two sets of colour prints Each set shall consist of 3 images or 3 prints to be viewed together in a side-by-side arrangement. Digital sets should include a fourth image showing the three distinct images (as submitted) in a single image. Authors must clearly indicate the positioning and orientation of each image within the arrangement (eg, L-left, M-middle, R-right, or 1,2,3). PDI must be titled for the panel (eg My Panel-1.jpg, My Panel-2.jpg, My Panel-3.jpg, My Panel-4.jpg.) No image or print must have been used in any previous Three-on-a-Theme Competition. Entries will be judged as sets in the “Open” category.
12. The 6×4 Competition: This competition tests a photographer’s ability to take a series of photographs, within a restricted space and time, and under what may be less than ideal conditions. The location and timeframe will be chosen and those attending on the given evening are invited to submit the results of their photographic foray for judging at a future club evening to be announced in advance. Photographs taken at the same time, but on an adjacent day may be entered at the discretion of the Competition Secretary. Entrants to this competition are invited to submit one or more sets of (maximum) five 6” x 4” images mounted on a board. The panels are judged by members.
13. The following Awards are given to competition winners:
| Competition | Category | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Club League | Colour Print | John Orme Cup |
| Club League | Monochrome Print | Maurice Baker Shield |
| Club League | PDI | Abbey Shield |
| Three on a Theme | Colour Print | Roberts Trophy |
| Three on a Theme | Monochrome Print | Monochrome Prints Trophy |
| Three on a Theme | PDI | Broadhurst Trophy |
| Image of the Year | Colour Print | Presidents Cup |
| Image of the Year | Monochrome Print | Arthur Morgan Cup |
| Image of the Year | PDI | Digital Image of the Year |
| The 6x4 Competition | (Panel) | The Peter Delehar trophy |
14. Copyright: The Copyright of any image entered into Club competitions remains with the image author. However, by submitting an image to Club competitions, the author grants the Club free licence to distribute (with attribution) the image for use in interclub competitions, and in social media posts and advertisements promoting the club.