PICTORIAL GUIDELINES
(Revised January 25, 2018)
C A T E G O R I E S:
There are three categories for the Pictorial Competitions.
CREATIVE:
The "Creative" category promotes the manipulation of a photograph to create a fictional or conceptual image, or “photographic art.” The resulting photograph exhibits an evident use of a person’s imagination to Alter Reality. The change(s) should be evident in some fashion using in-camera or post-processing techniques whether they be in colour, form, shape, or any combination of these three elements. Creative images are often a blend of multiple images or a manipulation of a single image through duplication, etc.
The original photographic content of an image should still be identifiable in the final creation but it may also include artwork or computer graphics generated by the photographer. Images that are created totally electronically with no photographic origin are prohibited.
Note: Contemporary practice also allows limited use of "selected" portions of a clearly identifiable artwork such as, Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam”, or a portion of an iconic (meaning universally known) photographic image, to be part of a multilayered creation. This is considered visual quoting.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) images without further changes are not considered Altered Reality.
Judges score images based on evident creative elements, innovation, quality of execution, the WOW factor, as well as the usual emphasis on composition technique and subject matter.
The Montreal Camera Club guidelines incorporate the definitions of "Creative" as found in the Canadian Association for Photographic Art and the Photographic Society of America.
STREET:
The "Street" Category reflects the un-posed human condition within public places, not just literally "on a street." The subject matter is a person or people going about everyday activities. The image tells a story, showing something candid, funny, emotional, political or out of the ordinary. There is often a direct or implied narrative quality to street photography.
Subjects are usually not aware they are being photographed because the photographer tries to be unobtrusive. An image where a person or persons looks at the camera can sometimes work if it adds to the storytelling quality of the image. All individuals photographed should be treated with respect and dignity. Special consideration should be given to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy.
The capture is often reactive and spontaneous and the resulting photo is not judged by the same compositional or technical standards as other types of photography. For example, there may be people or objects awkwardly cut off on the edge of the frame, some unavoidable highlighting, harsh contrasts, etc. There should not be extensive post-processing of street images. Adjustments of variables like the exposure, contrast or clarity should not take away from the authenticity of the image. Some cropping is permitted but not removal of elements within the frame.
PICTORIAL:
The "Pictorial" category covers everything not included in "Creative" or "Street".
There are three categories for the Pictorial Competitions.
- Creative
- Street
- Pictorial
CREATIVE:
The "Creative" category promotes the manipulation of a photograph to create a fictional or conceptual image, or “photographic art.” The resulting photograph exhibits an evident use of a person’s imagination to Alter Reality. The change(s) should be evident in some fashion using in-camera or post-processing techniques whether they be in colour, form, shape, or any combination of these three elements. Creative images are often a blend of multiple images or a manipulation of a single image through duplication, etc.
The original photographic content of an image should still be identifiable in the final creation but it may also include artwork or computer graphics generated by the photographer. Images that are created totally electronically with no photographic origin are prohibited.
Note: Contemporary practice also allows limited use of "selected" portions of a clearly identifiable artwork such as, Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam”, or a portion of an iconic (meaning universally known) photographic image, to be part of a multilayered creation. This is considered visual quoting.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) images without further changes are not considered Altered Reality.
Judges score images based on evident creative elements, innovation, quality of execution, the WOW factor, as well as the usual emphasis on composition technique and subject matter.
The Montreal Camera Club guidelines incorporate the definitions of "Creative" as found in the Canadian Association for Photographic Art and the Photographic Society of America.
STREET:
The "Street" Category reflects the un-posed human condition within public places, not just literally "on a street." The subject matter is a person or people going about everyday activities. The image tells a story, showing something candid, funny, emotional, political or out of the ordinary. There is often a direct or implied narrative quality to street photography.
Subjects are usually not aware they are being photographed because the photographer tries to be unobtrusive. An image where a person or persons looks at the camera can sometimes work if it adds to the storytelling quality of the image. All individuals photographed should be treated with respect and dignity. Special consideration should be given to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy.
The capture is often reactive and spontaneous and the resulting photo is not judged by the same compositional or technical standards as other types of photography. For example, there may be people or objects awkwardly cut off on the edge of the frame, some unavoidable highlighting, harsh contrasts, etc. There should not be extensive post-processing of street images. Adjustments of variables like the exposure, contrast or clarity should not take away from the authenticity of the image. Some cropping is permitted but not removal of elements within the frame.
PICTORIAL:
The "Pictorial" category covers everything not included in "Creative" or "Street".
SELECTING AND PREPARING IMAGES:
You are encouraged to take your time in selecting and preparing images for the competitions. Look at some of the excellent images submitted in past years or in other clubs and ask yourself “am I submitting a good image?” Have a checklist nearby and consider the following points:
You are encouraged to take your time in selecting and preparing images for the competitions. Look at some of the excellent images submitted in past years or in other clubs and ask yourself “am I submitting a good image?” Have a checklist nearby and consider the following points:
- Check basic composition, simplicity, balance, framing, background, use of lines and the Rule of Thirds. Does the image have impact? Will the judges say "Wow"?
- Check the subject’s position and focus (If you intend the subject to be in focus then it should be sharp. You may have intentionally softened the subject for a romantic effect or blurred the subject to show action and that may be perfectly fine.)
- Is the viewer’s eye drawn to the main subject or are there distractions such as over-exposed highlights or undesirable elements that can easily be eliminated using processing software? If your image is abstract or creative then different considerations may apply.
- Is the image correctly adjusted - appropriate sharpening, white balance, colour space and dimensions?
- Zoom into your image at least 100% to ensure there are no weird artifacts or sensor dust spots you might want to eliminate (clone out).
- Do not add frames around the image, nor include your name on the image.
- Images that are substantially modified in image editing software such as Photoshop, Lightroom, Corel Painter, etc., may do better in the Creative category.
ENTERING IMAGES IN COMPETITION:
Pictorial submissions for each competition are due by the Monday evening of the week before the competition presentation and should be sent to [email protected].
Three judges will rate all the images in advance of their presentation. Images will be marked based on impact, composition, technique and technical correctness. At the presentation evening, the judges will provide comments on the images. Winner ribbons are awarded at each competition and annual trophies are handed out in the spring.
Please refer to the "Club Trophies and definitions" page of the website to learn about eligibility for the trophies.
If you have any questions concerning the Pictorial Division Competitions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
Date Revised: Jan. 25, 2018
Pictorial Email Address revised: May 29, 2019
- A maximum of three images per competition in each of the five competitions are allowed for a total of 15 submissions over the year.
- Images should be digital and saved for best quality in “.jpg” format.
- Images should be submitted with a maximum width of 3840 pixels and a maximum height of 2160 pixels. Not adhering to the guidelines of size and colour space may negatively impact quality when projected.
- Images must be correctly titled – see “File Naming Rules” on the website under the"Membership – Competitions" tab.
- Link: Quick Reference Guide
Pictorial submissions for each competition are due by the Monday evening of the week before the competition presentation and should be sent to [email protected].
Three judges will rate all the images in advance of their presentation. Images will be marked based on impact, composition, technique and technical correctness. At the presentation evening, the judges will provide comments on the images. Winner ribbons are awarded at each competition and annual trophies are handed out in the spring.
Please refer to the "Club Trophies and definitions" page of the website to learn about eligibility for the trophies.
If you have any questions concerning the Pictorial Division Competitions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
Date Revised: Jan. 25, 2018
Pictorial Email Address revised: May 29, 2019
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