Competition Rules and Guidelines

Who can compete?

All paid Wasatch Camera Club members can enter images into two areas; Authentic and Altered Reality. 

What divisions and levels can I compete in?

  1. There are two major divisions:  Authentic and Altered Reality:
    1. Authentic :  the image must be an original photograph captured by the entrant with either a digital camera or scanned from a photographic emulsion; the file can have routine digital photography alterations (including HDR), however the image must be true to the original.
    2. Altered Reality:  The images must have alteration by the entrant including computer effects or artwork created by the entrant; however the original core photograph(s) must be identifiable in the finished image.  Non-altered images are not eligible for this division (but are eligible for the Authentic Division).
  2. Members new to the competitions must be placed in a level by the Competition Committee by emailing at least 3 images of their work to competition_committee@wasatchcameraclub.com.  They will be notified within 1 week of submission the level they are placed in.  Each level is listed below:
  • Novice:  Beginner and minimally experienced photographer.
  • Intermediate:  Previous competition experience or placement.
  • Advanced:  Earned through competition results or placement.
  • Master:  Earned through competition results or placement.

After each club year; the winner of each level automatically advances to the next level (except at the Master level); at the Competition Committee’s discretion other competitors may be placed at a higher level as well.

For all levels and divisions there are two categories; Open and Assigned.

  1. Open – Submissions for the Open Category can include any subject matter.
  2. Assigned – Submissions for the Assigned Category must meet each Competition’s Assignment.  The image will receive a lower score at the judge’s discretion if it does not meet the Assignment’s definition or spirit.  Each Competition’s Assigned Subject is posted on the Wasatch Camera Club website calendar.

How many images can I submit for each Competition?

Four images can be submitted for each division; Authentic and Altered Reality.  Within each division, a maximum of two images can be submitted in the Open Category and a maximum of two images can be submitted in the Assigned Category.

If I compete, how do I know if I’ve won?

1. For all competitions, a three-judge panel of professional photographers and/or an experienced WCC member will score each image submitted for each division using the following points scale:

9 – Superior – Best use of photographic technique and skills

7 – 8 – Exceptional – Exhibiting very good to excellent photographic technique, composition and technical merit; however the image is lacking in a small way.

4 – 6 – Good– Exhibiting average photographic technique, composition and technical merit and can use some overall improvement to image quality.

2 – 3 – Needs Improvement– Exhibiting below-average photographic skills.  Composition and technical merit are fair at best.

1 – Poor – Exhibiting poor photographic technique.  Composition and technical merit are below standard and overall the image needs significant improvement.

0 – Abstain – If a judge knows the maker of the image, they should abstain and enter zero as their score; the total score will be derived from an average of the other two scores.

2. The score given from each judge will be tallied and that will be the score for each image.  After all images have been scored; ribbons will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention for each category (Assigned and Open), within each level (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Master) and within each division (Authentic and Altered Reality).

3. If there are any tie scores for images that have placed, the three judges will select the images they prefer in order to break any ties; and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention will be determined once the ties have been broken.

4. The image receiving the highest score, regardless of division, level or category; will be awarded Best in Show.

5. A People’s Choice Award will be given to the entrant receiving the highest number of votes from attending guests and members.

6. Points earned at each competition are cumulative by Division.  So points earned in the Authentic  division are cumulative, and separately, points earned in the Altered Reality division are cumulative.  At the end of the competition year; 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards will be given to the top three in points at each level, in each division.

7. At the end of the competition year, the Competition Committee will determine the Image of the Year for which the entrant will receive an award.

8. A member need not be present on the evening of the Competition to enter; any awards earned will be given to the entrant as they are available.

9. Images that place will be loaded onto the WCC website’s winner’s gallery and may be placed on the club’s website.

10. The WCC PSA Director will choose from images that have placed to be included in the PSA Intra-club competitions; with the permission of the entrant.

First place winners are encouraged to discuss their image when prompted.

Can I have the Judges critique the images I enter in each competition?

Yes.  Members desiring a critique of their image(s) by the judges will note their desire for a critique with the digital files that are entered in each competition.  The Competition Director may suspend some or all critiquing during competition if he/she feels the number of entries would cause the time limitations to be exceeded.  Judges can comment on entries at their discretion.  At the discretion of the Competition Committee, critiques may be posted to the website.