Print Competition Policies and Procedures
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Professional Photographers Guild of Houston
"CONDUCTING MONTHLY PRINT COMPETITIONS"
Revised January 09, 2004 For more information, contact the Print Competition Director, Darrin Hill studioone@cox-internet.com
1.0 PURPOSE
This procedure is intended to provide all necessary information for Guild members to effectively compete in the print competition at each regular monthly meeting. It is considered a starting point for entries and is aligned to national PPA rules.
2.0 SCOPE
2.1 This procedure shall delineate the guidelines for the acceptance of entries, the judging of entries, and the selection of the ribbon winners at the regular PPGH monthly print competition.
2.2 This policy and procedure shall be applied to all qualified members’ entries submitted for competition at each regularly scheduled Guild meeting. This does not include entries shown or displayed at a Guild meeting or as a Guild function not directly related to the competition.
3.0 ENTRY CATEGORIES AND STATUS GROUP
3.1 Status Group
Any individual active or aspiring member in good standing may enter the competition in the appropriated Status Group: Master, Active, Aspiring, or Videographer. Competition in the Master status is only open to PPA Degreed Master Photographers (In the event a PPA degree is awarded, entrant must complete the current year in the Active photographer Group). Each member may submit up to two entries for each monthly competition.
3.2 Classification of Entries
Entries should be designated by the entrant in one of the following eleven categories:
3.2.1 Album Category
An album will be judged for; impact, creativity, style, print quality, technique, story content, expressions of subjects, lighting, presentation and salability of work.
3.2.1.1 All photographs must be from the same social event
3.2.1.2 Submission of an album will be counted as one entry
3.2.1.3 If a photograph is entered in an album, it can not be entered as an individual submission.
3.2.1.4 No multiple volume albums allowed.
3.2.2 Portrait Category
Predominately features people or animals in a studio or scenic setting. The Portrait category is sub-divided into 3 groups.
3.2.2.1 Child/Children - Includes one or more pre-teen children
3.2.2.2 Groups – Includes two (2) or more individuals, adults, children and/or animals combined.
3.2.2.3 Individual – A portrait of a person 13 years old or older or an animal.
3.2.3 Commercial/Industrial Category
A tearsheet (if applicable) must be enclosed in an envelope (8.5" x 11") and attached to the top center on the back of the print or transparency.
3.2.4 Electronic Imaging Category
Images created or enhanced by Electronic/Digital Imaging means. E/I entries demonstrate proficiency in electronic/digital imaging and/or video production. All electronic/digital work on the entry must have been performed by the entrant. Directing the work is not sufficient to enter these categories.
3.2.5 Video Category
The video competition may be held during the regular print judging. Each video must be on a separate cassette ( ½" VHS or SVHS) rewound to the beginning of the tape and edited to a "highlight" version of the production of not more than 3 minutes viewing. The entrant’s name must not appear in the work. Two complete entry labels should be made – one attached to the cassette and the other to its tape case. Each tape should have no more than fifteen seconds of black, or bars and tone as leader. Electronically created slide series or animated sequences (such as shows) must be transferred to videotape before entry into competition. Video productions need not be the solitary effort of the entrant; however, the entrant must specify exactly what his or her role was in its creation. The Video category is sub-divided into 2 categories.
3.2.5.1 Special Events Video Category
Wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, anniversaries, reunions, party pictures, etc.
3.2.5.2 Commercial/Industrial/Corporate Video Category
Includes work done for; business, industry, advertising, electronic newsgathering, documentaries, training, still video images and other applications.
3.2.6 Illustrative Category
Illustrative entries contain scenic, artistic, photojournalistic, or other similar subject matter.
3.2.7 Wedding/Bridal Category
Entries contain bridal, wedding or other social event photographs.
3.2.8 Folio Category
Folios must contain a minimum of eight (8) 4x5 or 5x5 un-retouched machine prints. All prints must be from the same session and subject matter. The presentation, lighting, composition, creativity and salability of work will all be taken into consideration
4.0 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
4.1 Mounting:
4.1.1 All prints in the Photographic competition must be permanently mounted on a 16"x20" mount board. Masonite is not allowed. Entry thickness must be a minimum of 1/8 inch and a maximum of 3/8 inch at any point on the entry. The prints must not be framed or under glass. Plastic covering is permitted but not recommended. Overlays, under lays and mounted Polaroid transfers are acceptable.
4.1.2 Images may be less than 16 inches x 20 inches and any shape, but must be mounted on the above-mentioned board. To prevent damage to other prints, no foreign material may be added to the surface of the print other than standard retouching materials. Expanded PVC (such as Sintra) is permissible. For this material, 3mm is the minimum thickness and 4mm is the maximum.
4.1.3 Additional Mounting Rules for Masters
In addition to the mounting specifications for general entries, Masters may submit entries that may not exceed 480 square inches with the longest dimension being 30 inches. (If an entry is 30 inches long, the maximum other dimension is 16 inches) The presentation may be of any proportion or shape, but may not be smaller than 80 square inches.
4.2 Transparencies may only be entered in one of the following categories: Commercial/Industrial, Illustrative or Electronic Imaging. All transparencies must be 2.25" x2.25" or larger. Transparencies must be masked and mounted on a 12" x 12" black mat with the area to be viewed (minimum of 2 inches x 2.25 inches) cut from the mat, and thickness of ¼" maximum at any point on the entry.
4.3 No two images shall be of the same subject. (i.e.: same model, models, subject, etc…) Each image must be distinctly different.
4.4 An image may only be entered once unless it becomes part of another, new image.
4.5 Entries previously accepted at State, affiliated, PPA International Exhibition, or any prior winning PPGH entries are ineligible.
4.6 No entry will be eligible that has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment.
4.7 All entries must be presented to the Print Competition Chairperson by the specified time on the day of the monthly meeting. Late arrivals will not be accepted.
4.8 Proper precaution to protect all entries and allow sufficient time for sprays to dry should be taken. Although precautions are taken in handling all entries, the Print Competition Chairperson, assistants, nor the PPGH, can be held responsible for any damage, etc. to any print.
5.0 MODEL RELEASE AND ENTRY FORM
5.1 Before any entry can be accepted into competition, a properly completed PPGH Print Entry Form must be attached to the reverse side of the Entry.
5.2 The Entry Form shall include: the creator’s name, the creator’s membership status, the entry’s title the entry’s category, and a checkbox to confirm the availability of a signed Model Release. All entries submitted that include people in their content, must have the "Model Release on file" box on the entry form checked for the entry to be accepted.
5.3 The creator’s name must not be visible from the front of the image.
5.4 Entrants agree to hold PPGH harmless against any liabilities or claims arising from PPGH’s consideration, display, publication, promotion, or other use of each image or other materials submitted to PPGH.
6.0 MONTHLY PRINT COMPETITION JUDGING
6.1 During sign-in, only the Print Competition Chairperson and the designated print room assistants are allowed in the print room. If a Judge has an entry he must fill his entry form in an area away from the other entrants.
6.2 Before the actual judging begins, only the Print Competition Chairperson, any assistants, and the judges shall be allowed in the competition room. Once the judging begins, all members are welcome to quietly witness the judging.
6.3 The Print Competition Chairperson shall set up proper lighting to provide 75 foot candles of incandescent light (f16 at 1 sec. @ ISO 100) for judging. Room lights must remain off during judging of prints, transparencies, and video’s. Room lights can be turned on for the judging of albums and folios if requested by the judges.
6.4 The monitor used for judging the video competition must be set by SMPT standards for color balance, contrast and brightness.
6.5 All qualified entries shall be judged by a panel of 4 judges (three (3) plus one (1) alternant).
6.6 Judges shall be chosen in the order of the following qualifications:
Master Photographers
Completion of judging school
Craftsmen Photographers
CPP degreed photographers
6.7 Judging shall be performed as close to national competition standards as is practical.
Display entries in random order for judging.
Announce each entry’s title and category before displaying it for judging.
Call, in varying order, for each judges’ score.
Record each judges score for each entry.
Average each entry’s total score, rounding up or down to the nearest whole number.
Announce the entry’s score.
Accept discussion on any challenges.
Re-judge any challenges.
Record each final average score.
Announce final averaged score.
Repeat challenge process as necessary.
6.8 Point System: The following point system will be adhered to.
Exceptional - 100-95
Superior - 94-90
Excellent - 89-85
Deserving of a Merit - 84-80
Above Average - 79-76
Average - 75-74
Acceptable - 73-70
Unacceptable - 69&Under
6.9 After the judging is completed, all entries may be placed on display for all members and guests to view.
6.10 The Print Competition Chairperson shall have the authority to decide any questions not specifically covered by these rules and his/her decision will be final. Any entry not following these rules will automatically be disqualified.
7.0 MONTHLY RIBBON WINNERS
7.1 The three entries of Master status, receiving the highest scores of 76 or above will receive one (1) ribbon each. In the case of a tie or ties for 3rd place, additional ribbons shall be awarded as appropriate.
7.2 The three entries of Active status, receiving the highest scores of 76 or above will receive one (1) ribbon each. In the case of a tie or ties for 3rd place, additional ribbons shall be awarded as appropriate.
7.3 The three entries of Videographer status, receiving the highest scores of 76 or above will receive one (1) ribbon each. In the case of a tie or ties for 3rd place, additional ribbons shall be awarded as appropriate.
7.4 The three entries of Aspiring status, receiving the highest scores of 76 or above will receive one (1) ribbon each. In the case of a tie or ties for 3rd place, additional ribbons shall be awarded as appropriate.
7.5 Active member’s ribbons will be blue, Master’s ribbons will be red; Aspiring member’s ribbons will be white, and Videographer’s ribbons will be green.
7.6 The creator of the image must be present at the meeting when the awards are announced and the ribbons are presented. Delivery of an entry by another individual, should the creator expect to arrive after the specified deadline, is acceptable provided Section 5.0 above is properly completed in advance.