COMPETITION RULES FOR ENTRY

The next Competition is Saturday, November 2, 2024

It will open on August 3, 2024.

The deadline for entering images is October 13, 2024 (Midnight)

Location: Virtual Competition; a link will be given so that members may watch the final selection of images.

Attn: If you have not used the uploader before, you must register before uploading. It will take 24-48 hours for your images to be approved, so please plan ahead.

By submitting images, the entrant permits WACCO to reproduce all or part of the entered material free of charge for display on the WACCO website, use in the PSA Councils Challenge, and/or display in media related to the competitions. The works will not be used in a commercial context.

Image Creation
Entries must originate as photographs (image-captures of objects via light sensitivity) made by the entrant on photographic emulsion or acquired digitally.

Special Themes

Nature Projected –   Birds

Birds are defined as animals with feathers and wings. Wild birds, waterfowl, and domesticated birds are allowed in this theme. However, no mammals, fish, or mounted subjects are allowed. The subject should be presented in its natural environment and not be moved to a studio location.

Open Projected – Portraits

The portrait category is restricted to human subjects only. Portraits of animals, birds, etc., will not be allowed and disqualified.

Rev. 7/2021

1. This competition is open to any member in good standing of a WACCO-affiliated camera club(s).

2. Entries that have received a medal (gold, silver, or bronze) are not eligible to enter future competitions.

3. Entries that have received an Honorable Mention (HM) are not eligible to enter the same media (projected or print) divisions in which the HM was won in future competitions. Once an image has received an HM in both projected and print, it is not eligible to enter future competitions.

4. An image is eligible to be entered once per competition.

5. Entry fee must accompany all entries. An entry fee is charged for each Division entered.

6. Entrants may have a maximum of three entries in each Division.

7. Membership of more than one WACCO-affiliated club does not entitle the entrant to submit more than three entries in any Division.

8. All divisions, including print divisions, are entered via the uploader on the Competition page of the WACCO website. See Uploader Instructions for detailed instructions.

9. Images must be uploaded, and fees must be paid by midnight of the stated deadline. The uploader will automatically shut down at that time, and you will not be eligible to participate.

10. The Best of Show winner is expected to participate as a judge at the next competition. Best of Show winner is not eligible to participate in the next competition.

11. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damage to entries in transit or the Committee’s possession. All possible care will be taken to prevent such loss or damage.

12. By submitting images, the entrant permits WACCO to reproduce all or part of the entered material free of charge for display on the WACCO website, use in the PSA Councils Challenge, and/or display in media related to the competitions. The works will not be used in a commercial context.

JUDGING

1. Three judges, as selected by the Competition Committee. They will judge each competition. During judging, each judge will assign a value from "1" to "5" for each entry shown—the value of "5" being high and the value of "1" being low. The judges will receive WACCO judging procedures before the competition, which will be reviewed with them by the Competition Committee chairperson on the day of the competition.

2. To determine the medal winners of each Division, the entries will be assembled according to the score received. If four (4) or more images exist in the top score groups, the placement will be picked from the top score groups. If less than four (4) images exist in the top score group, the next score group(s) will be included to guarantee four (4) or more images from which the medals will be picked. The method of re-judging will be on the "in or out" basis, with the number "1" signifying in and the number "0" signifying out. Any entry receiving three “1”s or two “1”s will be re-judged until the judges have selected their first, second, and third place choices. Depending on the scoring system used, "1" and "0" can be replaced with "In" and "Out".

3. From the first place winners in each medium (digital projected and print), a “Best of Projected” and a “Best of Print” will be selected, using those as mentioned above in the “in or out” process.

4. The Best of Projected and Best of Print entries will compete for Best of Show, using the “in or out” process.

5. Monochrome Print is defined as "representations in black & white or in varying tones of only one color.

6. Judges are not permitted to handle prints or request that they be removed from the print box. All prints should be viewed under the lightbox from a distance of 4 feet.

7. THE DECISION OF THE JUDGES IS FINAL.

AWARDS

1. Based on the judges’ initial score, Honorable Mention ribbons will be awarded to the top 20 percent or more of the entrants in each Division. The Competition Chair will determine the percentage based on the number of images and scores received.

2. Medals will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place (gold, silver, and bronze) entries in each division.

3. Judges will determine the Best of Projected from the 1st-place winners of the 6 Projected Divisions. The winner receives an engraved plaque.

4. Judges will determine the Best of Prints from the 1st-place winners of the 8 Print Divisions. The winner receives an engraved plaque.

5. Judges will determine a Best of Show from the Best of Projected and Best of Print images. The winner receives an engraved plaque.

PROFICIENCY AWARDS

Photographers earn Proficiency Awards in Projected and Print by earning HM's or better. Level I proficiency is earned after 25 HMs or better. Level II proficiency is awarded after 75 HMs or better: level III, 150 HMs, Level IV 250, Level V 500. Images are combined from the projected divisions to earn Proficiency in the Projected. Images are combined from the Print divisions to earn a Proficiency in Print.