Clarifying Photogenesis Competitions:

Slides:

You may enter up to 4 slides listed on the top of the entry form as regular entries. All 4 entries will be scored and honors given as determined at each competition. All 4 entries will be entered into the database, but only the 3 highest scores will be counted for standings. This is to encourage members to submit as their 4th entry an image they would like to try out to see how it does in competition or to receive comments on.

You may enter up to 4 make-up entries listed on the bottom of the entry form. These entries will also be scored and awarded honors as determined during the competition. We do not discriminate between regular and make-up entries for honors.

On each entry form, you may identify 2 regular and 2 make-up images that you would like to have commented on.

A full compliment of slide entries for the year is 12 entries whose scores are counted towards the standings. At the end of the year, if you have entered 12 or less slides, all of their scores will be counted when calculating the standings. If during the year you have entered more than 12 slides, only the 12 highest scores will be counted when calculating the final standings.

Prints (Small Color and Mono):

The same rules apply to Small Prints as those used for slides as explained above.

Large Prints (Color and Mono):

You may enter up to 3 large prints listed on the top of the entry forms as regular entries. All 3 entries will be scored and honors given as determined at each competition. All 3 entries will be entered into the database, but only the 2 highest scores will be counted for standings. This is to encourage members to submit as their 3rd entry an image they would like to try out to see how it does in competition or to receive comments on.

You may enter up to 3 make-up entries listed on the bottom of the entry form. These entries will also be scored and awarded honors as determined during the competition. We do not discriminate between regular and make-up entries for honors.

On each entry form, you may identify 2 regular and 2 make-up images that you would like to have commented on.

A full compliment of large print entries for the year is 8 entries whose scores are counted towards the standings. At the end of the year, if you have entered 8 or less large prints, all of their scores will be counted when calculating the standings. If during the year you have entered more than 8 large prints, only the 8 highest scores will be counted when calculating the final standings.

 Why Compete?

One of our newer members had some great questions. Since we've had several recent new members - and some of our current members could use a quick update on the mechanics of our competitions - here goes:

I really enjoyed the print competition last night and may get up the courage to submit something at the next print competition.

When I first entered photos I got several 18's (6-6-6). A "6" means it is a basic entry level photo. When/If you get a "5" it means the judge is telling you that "this isn't really a competition image". It may be a great photo for you - don't stop taking those photos, but they won't hold up in competition. The judges may not have liked the image, but I have at least one 17 or 18 hanging on my wall because "I" liked it. The competitions are meant to help you improve - not scare you away from taking images.

I went to the CACCA site and read the Competition info and the Judges document but I have a number of questions, most probably very remedial...

Good idea - http://www.chicameraclubs.org/handbook.htm is a good place to start. It also has a good explanation of the scores.

I noticed the prints are all mounted on dark poster-board material. Is there a preferred material to use? Best source to purchase?

For small prints, the image must fit on an 11x14 matte board. The best place to purchase these are from the club - we purchase them bulk and sell them for $0.75 - a pretty good price and the club makes a few bucks to help pay for incidentals. Some club members are usually at the meeting by 7pm or so - if you come early anyone would be happy to help you get going. Bring some double sided tape - I personally use double sided photo corners - something like $5.00 for 1000.

Generally the photos with a thin white border (1/16" or 1/32") seem to do better. You can add the border when you print, or stop by the auto supply store and get some pin striping.

I notice the shots that seem to get the highest scores are nature/scenic from mainly "exotic" (not local) locations. Are local shots considered passe' or just not usually providing unique looks?

We have some amazing photographers in our club. Keep in mind that our "A" photographers tend to score higher which is to be expected. They also tend to travel a lot - HOWEVER, there are plenty of great subjects locally. I would say the local shots aren't passe' - rather photographers locally are blasse'. We get used to our surroundings and don't always seek out great images in our local surrounds. Fortunately there are some exceptions in our club and they inspire all of us to get out there and shoot!

I felt this way also when I first joined. I love to shoot portraits and used to think there was no way a portrait could get 9-9-9, like a mountain scenic could, but I have learned that isn't true. I've also improved my images
striving to have one of my local portraits score higher than a foreign scenic. Its fun and I improve. For me, Winning isn't everything - improving and making great images is. I would love if our club could award a "most improved" award - I just haven't figured out how to determine such a thing.

I have some water-drop macro shots - would that be a suitable subject
COOL!

or has it been overdone in the past and everyone would roll their eyes in disgust?

No way! There is a reason you took the shot. Even more of a reason you blew it up to 8x10, 8x12 or whatever (any size as long as it fits on the matte board). So share it with us.

I noticed everyone had labeled their entries - is there a office label you need to do and entry?
Yes - for the entry form you can go to:
http://www.galifree.com/photog/component/option,com_weblinks/task,view/catid,2/id,17/

They are also available at the meetings. It is best to have them filled in before the meeting, but it doesn't take too long to do before the meeting (just get there a little early). Coming up with a title is the hardest part.

How Are Images Judged?

One of our newer members had some great questions. Since we've had several recent new members - and some of our current members could use a quick update on the mechanics of our competitions - here goes:

I really enjoyed the print competition last night and may get up the courage to submit something at the next print competition.

When I first entered photos I got several 18's (6-6-6). A "6" means it is a basic entry level photo. When/If you get a "5" it means the judge is telling you that "this isn't really a competition image". It may be a great photo for you - don't stop taking those photos, but they won't hold up in competition. The judges may not have liked the image, but I have at least one 17 or 18 hanging on my wall because "I" liked it. The competitions are meant to help you improve - not scare you away from taking images.

I went to the CACCA site and read the Competition info and the Judges document but I have a number of questions, most probably very remedial...

Good idea - http://www.chicameraclubs.org/handbook.htm is a good place to start. It also has a good explanation of the scores.

I noticed the prints are all mounted on dark poster-board material. Is there a preferred material to use? Best source to purchase?

For small prints, the image must fit on an 11x14 matte board. The best place to purchase these are from the club - we purchase them bulk and sell them for $0.75 - a pretty good price and the club makes a few bucks to help pay for incidentals. Some club members are usually at the meeting by 7pm or so - if you come early anyone would be happy to help you get going. Bring some double sided tape - I personally use double sided photo corners - something like $5.00 for 1000.

Generally the photos with a thin white border (1/16" or 1/32") seem to do better. You can add the border when you print, or stop by the auto supply store and get some pin striping.

I notice the shots that seem to get the highest scores are nature/scenic from mainly "exotic" (not local) locations. Are local shots considered passe' or just not usually providing unique looks?

We have some amazing photographers in our club. Keep in mind that our "A" photographers tend to score higher which is to be expected. They also tend to travel a lot - HOWEVER, there are plenty of great subjects locally. I would say the local shots aren't passe' - rather photographers locally are blasse'. We get used to our surroundings and don't always seek out great images in our local surrounds. Fortunately there are some exceptions in our club and they inspire all of us to get out there and shoot!

I felt this way also when I first joined. I love to shoot portraits and used to think there was no way a portrait could get 9-9-9, like a mountain scenic could, but I have learned that isn't true. I've also improved my images
striving to have one of my local portraits score higher than a foreign scenic. Its fun and I improve. For me, Winning isn't everything - improving and making great images is. I would love if our club could award a "most improved" award - I just haven't figured out how to determine such a thing.

I have some water-drop macro shots - would that be a suitable subject
COOL!

or has it been overdone in the past and everyone would roll their eyes in disgust?

No way! There is a reason you took the shot. Even more of a reason you blew it up to 8x10, 8x12 or whatever (any size as long as it fits on the matte board). So share it with us.

I noticed everyone had labeled their entries - is there a office label you need to do and entry?
Yes - for the entry form you can go to:
http://www.galifree.com/photog/component/option,com_weblinks/task,view/catid,2/id,17/

They are also available at the meetings. It is best to have them filled in before the meeting, but it doesn't take too long to do before the meeting (just get there a little early). Coming up with a title is the hardest part.