HPS competition rules, categories, labels and guidance documents
HARROGATE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Competition Rules
General Rules:
Images must comply with these rules, or they will be disqualified.
These rules are applicable to all Harrogate Photographic Society (HPS) competitions.
The Competition Team will apply these rules and have the final decision in case of query.
Only current members of HPS may enter HPS competitions - Payment of subscription must have occurred to qualify for membership.
There is currently no entry fee for any of the competitions.
Entries must be in the possession of the Competition Team on or before the announced closing date. Late entries will not be accepted.
No entry, or a substantially similar entry, whether or not from the same original source, may be entered in more than one competition during the same HPS Season.
No entry or a substantially similar entry may be entered if it has previously won an award (Trophy or Certificate) in the Society’s Annual Competitions.
Trophies and Certificates are awarded at the discretion of the Judge and/or the Committee.
Trophies are held by the winner until recalled the following year.
Unless specifically requested it will be assumed that all entries shall be available for:
• Yorkshire Photographic Union (YPU) competitions
• Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB) competitions
• Retention in the HPS Archive
• Display on the Society website/PhotoEntry.
All images must have been created by the entrant and they must own the copyright. All parts of a creative or composite images must be the sole work of the entrant. Use of commercially available images, clip art, screen grabs or similar is not allowed. Images must be primarily of photographic origin.
Some post processing of images on computer is permitted in all categories this is limited to adjustments of brightness, contrast, sharpness, colour, tone, removal of blemishes and cropping. More radical alteration of the image is restricted to certain categories
- refer to the category definitions document for further information. Any post processing must be carried out entirely by the entrant.
You must submit an image in PhotoEntry
Prints may be either self or trade processed.
Entries submitted into PhotoEntry may be changed, replaced or deleted up to competition closing date. After that all entries are automatically locked.
Definitions
Entry - A single image or in the case of panels the set of images comprising the panel. So for example in the Open Panel an entry would be between 3 and 7 individual images plus the combined panel image.
Competition - A group of entries that are judged together and against each other.
Normally a trophy and/or certificates are awarded for best entries in that competition.
Some examples: - Annual PDI-Nature, Monthly PDI-October, Annual Print-Monochrome.
Competition Group - A grouping of competitions that have the same rules and often have an overall Entry limit. Current competition groups are Annual PDI, Annual Print and Monthly PDI.
Category - A description of the type of photographs allowed in a particular competition. These may also include the amount of image adjustment allowed. See separate document covering HPS categories definitions.
PhotoEntry – Web based software used by HPS to input all digital images.
PhotoEntry Sequence Number – In each Competition PhotoEntry generates a unique 4 digit random number for each Entry. This identifies the photo/panel and in particular is used to tie the PDI image to the printed version (i.e., Number must be on back of print).
Substantially similar - An image that is exactly the same, an image that is very close in appearance to another image already entered (for example one of a short burst of images), an image that replicates or attempts to replicate an existing image. Images taken that are for example of the same animal, location, activity but are different by virtue of the season, lighting, position, or time elapsed can qualify. An image entered as a single entry in a competition should not be entered again as part of a panel, but other images shot for example at the same activity/event can be entered.
Annual Projected Digital Image (PDI) Competition (Group Rules):
No more than 2 entries are allowed in any one competition per member.
No more than 8 entries are allowed in total in this competition group per member.
In the case of excessive entries, the Competition Team may reduce these numbers.
All images must be in .jpg format, maximum file size is 10Mb.
Minimum dimensions to ensure that your images are projected at optimum quality are 1920 Pixels wide by 1200 Pixels high. Images may be in landscape, portrait or square format.
PhotoEntry will resize images down (but not up) to these sizes. Suitable warnings will be given in PhotoEntry. Lower resolution images will work but quality may suffer.
Colour space should be (if possible) sRGB. If not PhotoEntry will warn you and colours projected may not quite match those expected.
Annual Print Competition (Group Rules)
No more than 2 entries are allowed in any one competition per member.
No more than 9 entries are allowed in total in this competition group per member.
In the case of excessive entries, the Competition Team may reduce these numbers.
There should be no printed/written information on the front of a print.
Prints must be submitted online by the date identified in the programme, and then handed in on the date identified in the programme. This will be around a week later to allow the entries to be reviewed
On the reverse of each mounted print, put a label in the top left-hand corner as viewed
from the rear showing:
• PhotoEntry “Sequence Number”
• Category Code (As on PhotoEntry)
• Photograph Title
Example:
Seq No 6805
A
Cat Code
Title Nidd Viaduct, from Knaresborough Castle
See separate document for more comprehensive label instructions. Take care not to change any data in PhotoEntry after doing this, Print and PhotoEntry data must always match.
The judge will judge against the physical print they are provided, however print images must match the PDI images on photoentry. Prints without PhotoEntry records or which are visually different from the digital image will not be accepted.
All prints must be mounted and fit within the mount. The mount is to be 50cm x 40cm, plus or minus 2 mm. The overall thickness of print plus mount shall be no greater than 4mm. This is the standard size adopted by the YPU and PAGB for all competition entries; any print intended for subsequent entry into these competitions must comply with these requirements.
Prints may be either surface or ‘window’ mounted. Entrants must ensure that neither print nor mount has any feature – such as an unsuitable mount material, sharp edges or rough surfaces, extraneous glue, adhesive tape etc. – that is likely to cause damage to other print entries when placed, for transit, in a stack of mounted prints.
The minimum size of print for an entry in the annual print competition is 7” x 5” (178mm x 107mm).
Monthly PDI Competition (Group Rules)
A single image based on the theme/subject chosen for the month may be submitted per month. All other annual PDI competition group rules apply.
Subjects are publicised on the HPS website. It is expected that the images submitted are recent and not from a back catalogue.
The competition is judged by the current President, or if circumstances dictate, the President may elect another person to judge.
The results of this competition will be announced at Society meetings and the images and comments will be made available for all to view on PhotoEntry.
The current President (or elected judge) will select one or more entries to progress to the final. Specifically, this is done in PhotoEntry by marking entries suitable to go forward to the final. The numbers may vary depending on the quality and number of entries each month. There will be a popular vote for the winning image from the finalists.
Finalist entries must not be entered into any other Society annual competitions.
HPS Competition Rules and Categories
HARROGATE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
ANNUAL PROJECTED DIGITAL IMAGE (PDI) COMPETITION RULES – Updated August 2024
These Rules differ from previous issues. Please read carefully. Your entries may be disqualified if they do not comply.
1. The Annual PDI Competition is open to any member of Harrogate Photographic Society (HPS) with a membership number that is valid for the current season.
2. All images must have been created by the entrant. All parts of a creative or composite image must be the sole work of the entrant. Use of commercially available images, clip art, screen grabs, or similar images is not allowed. Images must be primarily of photographic origin.
3. Post processing of images on the computer is permitted in all categories but, in some categories, this is limited to adjustment of brightness, contrast, sharpness, colour tone, removal of blemishes, and cropping; more radical alteration of the image is restricted to certain categories - refer to the Category Definitions document for further information. Any post processing must be carried out entirely by the entrant.
4. Entrants may enter up to eight PDI images with a maximum of two per category.
5. Images must comply with the official category definitions
6. No image, or substantially similar image (whether or not from the same original source), may be entered:
a) into more than one category in the same season;
b) into more than one of the HPS Annual Competitions in the same season;
c) if it has previously won an award (Trophy or Certificate) in any HPS competition;
7. PDI Competition entries must be entered into Photoentry as per the deadline and upload requirements
8. It will be assumed that digital versions of members' competition entries shall be available for retention in the HPS Archive, and for display on the Society website.
9. Trophies and Certificates of Merit are awarded at the discretion of the Judge. Trophies are held by the winner until recalled the following year by the Trophies Manager. They must be returned undamaged and cleaned.
10. If uncertain about the Rules, please contact info@yahoo.co.uk
HARROGATE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Digital Open Panel Competition – Updated August 2024
How the Open Panel Competition works:
The purpose of the panel is to show a group of images that relate to each other and which, in their arrangement, work together both aesthetically and logically. They may tell a story, or illustrate a concept. The entirety of the panel should ideally work better than any individual image. The judge will also assess whether the panel fulfils the author's statement of intent
The individual images, and the completed panel image (ie the composite image) will be sent to the appointed judge, together with the statement of intent, prior to the evening of the competition. This allows the judge sufficient time to carefully consider each panel.
1. The Digital Open Panel Competition is open to any member of Harrogate Photographic Society (HPS) with a membership number that is valid for the current season.
2. All images must have been created by the entrant. All parts of a creative or composite image must be the sole work of the entrant. Use of commercially available images, clip art, screen grabs, or similar images are not allowed. Images must be primarily of photographic origin.
3. Post processing of images is permitted and must be carried out solely by the entrant.
4. No image, or substantially similar image whether or not from the same original source, may be entered into any of the other HPS competitions in the same season.
5. No image, whether or not a part of a panel, which has previously won an award (Trophy or Certificate) in any HPS competition, either as a part of a panel or as an individual image, may be included as a part of the panel to be entered
6. A panel consists of between four and seven individual images of a common theme or subject, plus a composite of the images arranged as a single image.
7. Entry must be via Photoenry. Photoentry will ask you for an entry title and entry statement, plus your individual entries and your composite image. Individual entries can also have a title if you wish.
8. It will be assumed that the composite image shall be available for retention in the
HPS Archive, and for display on the Society website.
9. Trophies and Certificates of Merit are awarded at the discretion of the Judge.
HARROGATE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Competition Categories – Updated August 2024
The following categories apply to the Annual Print Competition and to the Annual Projected Digital Image (PDI) Competition. They do not apply to the Monthly Competition or the Open Panel Competition.
Important Notes:
1. Images which do not comply with the category definitions are not acceptable and will be disqualified.
2. Images that qualify for any of the following categories – Architecture and Manmade Objects; Creative; Landscapes and ‘Scapes; Nature; Portrait and Figure; Sport and Action; Street Photography – must be entered in the appropriate category and must NOT be entered in Pictorial.
3. Each of these categories is designed to allow entrants to demonstrate their skills in specific photographic genres or disciplines.
4. Entries that do not conform to the category definitions and guidance below may be moved into another category, if appropriate, at the discretion of the Competition review panel. Members will be offered the chance to accept a suggestion or provide a new image should there be sufficient time between the closure of photo entry and submission to the judges.
ARCHITECTURE AND MANMADE OBJECTS (Code A)
Any man-made object or part of an object, photographed in an accurate, interesting, informative and realistic manner.
Guidance: Subject matter includes: An individual building or part of a building or structure, ancient or modern, exterior or interior, including architectural or engineering details, and/or allied objects or furnishings, manufactured, constructed or created inanimate objects such as vehicles, sculpture and other works of art, ceramics, tapestries, jewellery, furniture, archaeological artefacts, etc. The subject matter must form the dominant part of the image.
NB: Correction of apparent perspective distortion is permitted. Manipulation or modification of the original image is limited to minor retouching of blemishes, cropping, colour, contrast, sharpening and tone corrections, however these must not alter the content and realism of the original photograph as captured by the camera.
Trophies: Annual Print: The Ackrill Trophy Annual PDI: The Allen Trophy
CREATIVE (Code C)
A work of the imagination created through the use of camera techniques and/or post processing manipulation.
Guidance: The essence of a creative image is Altered Reality. The creative work must be seen in the skilful and appropriate use of camera techniques and/or post processing manipulation. A photograph of a physical artwork does not constitute creative photography and will not be allowed in this category. Enhancements which do not obviously alter the reality of the scene, such as pasting in or cloning out features, do not constitute Creative Photography. The source material of a creative image should be predominantly photographic, from camera or scanner. Photographic images may be used in any combination and with computer generated imagery. Unlimited manipulation of the image is permitted only in this category. All source material and subsequent manipulation thereof must be the work of the author; imported "clip art" is not permitted. On their own, the use of effects filters, HDR, art brushes, special lenses, camera movements
and similar enhancements and distortions of an otherwise straight image can only be regarded as Creative if a new meaning or interpretation of the subject is revealed as a result. Images should not be created with AI.
Trophies: Annual Print: The Menwith Hill Trophy Annual PDI: The Brown Trophy
LANDSCAPES AND ‘SCAPES (Code L)
An image showing a vista: Natural, physical, geographical or urban scenery.
Guidance: This category includes, but is not restricted to, landscapes, countryside, seascapes, shorelines and waterscapes, skyscapes, townscapes and cityscapes, to illustrate the physical and human geographic features of the world around us. An image must show a broader view rather than a close detail of the location; An individual feature may be included but it must not dominate the overall vista. Skills tested include image composition, mood, atmosphere, and use of light
NB: Use of infra-red photography is acceptable. Post capture image manipulation is allowed but it is important that the character and features of the view are retained.
Trophies: Annual Print: The Cartmel Trophy Annual PDI: The Civil Service Trophy
MONOCHROME (Code M)
Any subject, in monochrome only, produced either by traditional darkroom techniques or by computer and printer.
Guidance: An image rendered entirely in shades of grey or a single colour. Images using partial toning of a greyscale image, or any toning involving a second colour, are not acceptable.
Trophies: Annual Print: The Ogden Trophy Annual PDI: The Counter Trophy
NATURE (Code N)
Images that depict living, untamed creatures and uncultivated plants in a nature habitat, and the wide diversity of natural phenomena.
Guidance: Images may include microscopic subjects, geology, botany, zoology, meteorology,
astronomy etc. Minimal evidence of humans is acceptable for nature subjects, such as barn owls or storks adapting to an environment that has been modified by humans. Natural forces such as hurricanes, tidal waves etc. affecting and reclaiming the environment from mankind are also acceptable. Creatures in reserves, wildlife parks and zoos are permitted provided there is minimal evidence of humans. Subjects such as “falconer’s” birds are acceptable although only minor retouching is permitted, which would not, for example, include cloning to remove jesses in post processing. Also allowed are images of “wild” flowers growing in parkland or “wild” gardens provided they have not been modified by such cultivation. Creatures photographed under “controlled conditions” in order to record species behaviour that would be very difficult or impossible to record in the wild, such as in burrows, vivaria or aquaria, or microscopic subjects which may have to be anaesthetised, are eligible.
NB: Photographs of pets and animals that are domesticated, cultivated or hybrid plants, dead or mounted specimens, museum groups and the like are ineligible. Artistic skill and composition in the image may be assessed. Creatures in poor condition, perhaps due to their captivity, may be judged less favourably. Ringed birds and tagged wild creatures in a nature habitat are acceptable. Entries should be accurately titled – although Latin names are not essential – but not on the front of the image. Any manipulation of or modification to the original image is limited to minor retouching of blemishes, cropping, colour correction for accuracy, contrast, sharpening and tone corrections, and must not alter the content and truth of the original scene.
Trophies: Annual Print: The Campbell Trophy Annual PDI: The Harrogate
Corporation Trophy
Outings (Code O)
Images that are taken of the outing subjects that were set by the president and on the HPS website
Guidance: Images must be submitted within the specific timeframe or day of the outing – eg a specific event, or a date range.
Trophies: Annual Print: The Alan Steel Trophy Annual PDI: The Eric Downer Trophy
PICTORIAL (Code P)
Any image that does not fit into any other category.
NB: This category must not be used as an extra opportunity to enter additional images that would better fit any of the other category descriptions
Trophies: Annual Print: The Newey Trophy Annual PDI: The Simmonds Trophy
PORTRAIT AND FIGURE (Code F)
Individual and group portraits, and figure studies of the human form.
Guidance: Candid, informal and formal photographs of a person or a group. Images of the human form in part or in entirety.
NB: Portraits of animals are not acceptable in this category.
Trophies: Annual Print: The Brotherton Trophy Annual PDI: The Marshall Trophy
SPORT AND ACTION (Code S)
Any sport or action image.
Guidance: Sport: Competitive and individual sports, between people, animals or vehicles, including those with specialist equipment or machines; horse and motor racing, windsurfing, skiing, fishing, cycling, running, skateboarding, etc. Action: Includes activities such as dancing, juggling, skipping, or other activity not generally considered to be a `sport`, but where active movement of the subject is involved.
NB: Images may capture (‘freeze’ ) a moment in time or convey movement in the sport or action portrayed.
Trophies: Annual Print: The Murgatroyd Trophy Annual PDI: The Preston Trophy
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY (Code U)
An image that illustrates life in the Urban Environment.
Guidance: Pictures should show the candid life of the city, town or suburb in an interesting way, and may include people, buildings, traffic, situations and any aspect of the urban scene. Images may be in colour or monochrome, but must not be altered other than in tone, colour, contrast, sharpening and cropping. Images should not be posed or contrived.
Trophies: Annual Print: The Vessey Trophy Annual PDI: The Dabell Trophy
TRAVEL (Code T)
An image illustrating the characteristic features or culture of a place outside the British Isles, as they are found naturally.
Guidance: Subject matter may be the land, towns and other forms of habitation, the people, their everyday lives and customs or special occasions. Close up pictures of a person or a group of people must show something of the environment in which they are photographed. The original scene must not be altered or enhanced by the use of effects filters, or by cloning objects in or out. Images may be in colour or monochrome, and post processing is allowed only for adjustments to levels, contrast, colour balance, sharpness and cropping. Infrared or simulated infrared images are not permitted.
NB: Images must be a true representation of the region in which they were taken.
Photographs of hired models or of scenes staged only for photography are not permitted. For example, ‘tourist shots’ where scenes are set for photographers to take, often for payment.
Trophies: Annual Print: The Bass & Bligh Trophy. Annual PDI: The Davidson Trophy
Guidance for completing Print Competition Labels
Editable Print Competition labels document
.