Archives of competitions Recent Clubworker results North Cheshire Challenges website
Other Interclub competition results Rules and guidelines Entry forms & labels for downloading

Competitions - ready for the 2012 / 2013 season

This page is a "one stop shop" for links and information about entering competitions and seeing the results. It is primarily for members, especially newer members. Here are the sections on this page:

Information applicable to more than one type of competition

Useful pages for dates, results, and rules

"Competition Number"

A "competition number" is a unique number possessed by a member "for life", and assigned when a person first joins, typically on the receipt of payment of the membership subscription. (It isn't actually a "membership number", but is the nearest thing we have to that). It lies in the range 1 to 999. (After a long period of disuse, competition numbers may be re-used).

It is used as an identifier that doesn't change even when a person's name changes, and to hide the identity of a person from (for example) a judge. Work handled by a judge must not have a person's name on it, in case that influences the result. Instead, it has a competition number. It is needed when entering competitions of various types.

"Intermediate" versus "Advanced" classes

Work in Clubworker competitions or shown in the Exhibition has a "class", one of "Intermediate" or "Advanced". In effect, classes result in different competitions. "Intermediate prints" are judged separately from "Advanced prints", (but on the same evening), and similarly for projected digital images. Scores are accumulated separately throughout the year for different "worker of the year" awards for the 2 classes.

Once a person has entered any work in "Advanced" class, they can never enter work in "Intermediate" class for any event. This applies across all events and all media - submitting prints in "Advanced" class for a Clubworker competition rules out projected digital images in "Intermediate" class for the Exhibition, etc. But until a person has entered work in "Advanced" class, they can enter work in "Intermediate" class for as long as they like - there is no limit except personal choice.

The advantages of using the "Intermediate" class are that judges may be more sympathetic (less ruthless) when judging, and like-minded people have their own competitions, separate from the "Advanced" class.

The disadvantages of using the "Intermediate" class are that judges may not provide comprehensive criticism, or criticism suitable for someone with aspirations to succeed at a higher level, and so entrants may not learn as much. And if an entrant switches classes in mid-season, points accumulated so far cannot be carried across to the "Advanced" class. (They have been judged to a different standard). Therefore, a person switching mid-season cannot normally expect to do well in the worker of the year results for either class.

Re-use of images

The principle is that images must not be used more than once in the same type of competition, even when presented via different media. For example, an image must not be used as a print then a projected digital image in Clubworker competitions. (Ditto for the Exhibition, etc). This also applies to images that would be perceived to be the same image, even if taken as different exposures.

But images may be re-used in different types of competition. The same image may be re-used in a Clubworker competition, the Exhibition, the Rosalind Bramley Trophy, and (unless otherwise stated) occasional competitions.

A Competition Secretary's perspective

Clubworker competitions

Hand-in and information for new members

Hand-ins for Clubworker competitions are 2 weeks before the judging, to allow time for the administration and perhaps for the judge to see the work in advance. Typically the first hand-in of a season is the first day of the season.

This puts joiners at a disadvantage, because even if they know of the competition, they do not have a Competition Number until they have paid and received the receipt. Therefore, where possible (for example if the judge does not need the work soon after hand-in), new members are able to hand-in work up to one week later, just for the first competition.

Rules

Results

Colour management and profiles

Colour management of the JPEGs used in PDI (Projected Digital Image) competitions is important but easy (even for experts!) to get wrong. Here are brief guidelines:

Forms and labels

Entry forms for Clubworker Competitions and the Annual Exhibition are available on paper for those who want them. However, members are encouraged to use these documents to edit and print entry forms on their computers:

The rules identify information to be provided on the backs of prints. This may be done by hand, but members are encouraged to use these documents to edit and print labels for the purpose. The labels to be used are 8-on-A4, freely sold at stores supplying computer stationery (and sometimes available per-sheet from NCPS).

Mounts for prints

The rules for mounts are primarily so that prints can be carried around in our boxes (hence the maximum size), and without damaging other prints (hence the minimum size).

Prints to be used in L&CPU and PAGB events have a smaller maximum size than ours: 50 cm by 40 cm, rather than our 50.8 cm (20 inches) by 40.64 cm (16 inches). The difference matters, and 20 x 16 prints may be rejected. (L&CPU and PAGB use picture frames suitable for 50 x 40 prints). Another reason for rejection is sticky tape on the back that may damage prints underneath.

The Exhibition

The Exhibition is, in effect, a set of competitions for members for prints and projected digital images. They are judged and given awards as for other competitions. (This is completely independent of the interclub competitions on the Wednesday and Thursday of the Exhibition).

Rules

Results

Forms and labels

Entry forms for Clubworker Competitions and the Annual Exhibition are available on paper for those who want them. However, members are encouraged to use these documents to edit and print entry forms on their computers:

The rules identify information to be provided on the backs of prints. This may be done by hand, but members are encouraged to use these documents to edit and print labels for the purpose. The labels to be used are 8-on-A4, freely sold at stores supplying computer stationery (and sometimes available per-sheet from NCPS).

Rosalind Bramley Trophy

This is a competition for monochrome prints. Key parts of the rules (see link below) include:

“Monochrome” means either a black and grey and white print, or a print toned entirely in a single colour. (This does not include a black and white work modified by partial toning or by the addition of one colour).

Up to 3 entries per person are allowed and the images should have been taken in the last 24 months. (Previous entries to this competition are not allowed. However, work that has been entered into other Competitions and the Exhibition is allowed).

Occasional competitions

These do not have fixed rules, and instead they will be described (here and elsewhere) when they appear in the syllabus.

Valid media are digitally-processed prints and projected digital images.

Prints will be carried by the entrants, so are not subject to normal rules on mounts or anonymity. (But mounted prints are better than unmounted prints, because they are easier to hold up in front of the digital projector which will be used for illumination).

Digital images should conform to: Guidelines for digital images: "SXGA+" (1400 x 1050). CDs, DVDs, and USB Drives are acceptable. USB Drives are preferred. The time available will be allocated fairly to the entrants on the night.

Interclub competitions

Some of this information is also relevant to members and officials of other clubs battling with us.

Interclub competitions in our Exhibition

Other interclub competitions

Selection of images for interclub competitions

Venues of interclub competitions hosted elsewhere