Image Critique
Topics
 
 
 
       
 
  2020 Club Image Critique Topics
 
Entries should be sent to Dennis Hughes via WeTransfer at: images@redlandscameraclub.org.au
 
IMAGES SENT VIA EMAIL OR PROVIDED ON USB WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
 
Looking Down Submisson Due: January 20th
Scapes Submisson Due: February 3rd
Film or Song Title Submisson Due: March 2nd
Action Submisson Due: April 6th
Nature Submisson Due: May 4th
Portrait Submisson Due: June 1st
Open Submisson Due: July 6th
Reflections Submisson Due: August 3rd
Monochrome Submisson Due: September 7th
Book Submisson Due: October 5th
One Photo For EOY Slideshow Submisson Due: November 2nd
 

The Club will conduct Image Critiques Evenings throughout the year for Grades A, AB, B,
Prints, Digital and other categories.   

Digital entries and digital versions of Prints should be sent via WeTransfer to
Competition Director Dennis Hughes at
images@redlandscameraclub.org.au

Prints should be handed to Dennis on the appropriate club evening.


Sections 

A Grade
All eligible club members with a Club Grade of A may submit a TOTAL of ONE (1) image into the Digital Competition AND a TOTAL of TWO (2) images into the Print Competition in any one month.

B Grade and AB Grades
All eligible club members with a Club Grade of Youth, B and AB may submit a TOTAL of TWO (2) images into the Digital Competition AND a TOTAL of TWO (2) images into the Print Competition in any one month.

All Entries

Entries must originate as photographs (image-capture of objects via light sensitivity)
made by the entrant
on photographic emulsion or acquired digitally.
All Post Processing must be made by the entrant.

By virtue of submitting an entry, the entrant certifies the whole of the work as his/her own. All submissions into into any competition must be your own work and must not include any third party imagery, graphics, or textures).

Submitted entries may NOT contain text in any form where it has been added to the picture. E.g watermarks, logos, photographer name or ANY text added in post processing.
 
Prints may be non-owner printed.  Digital images should be lodged with the Competition Director via USB, email or via a cloud sharing host e.g. Dropbox/Google Photos etc.

For full details on Competition submissions and rules, please refer to the Redlands
Camera Club Members Handbook.

File Size

Prints

Prints must be a minimum of A4 (210mm x 297 mm / 8.3 in x 11.7 in)
and a maximum of A2 (420mm x 594 mm 16.5 in x 23.4 in)

Digital Images

Horizontal oriented images must be 1920 pixels in width
and let the height take care of itself as long it does not exceed 1200px.

Vertical oriented images must be 1200 pixels in height
and let the width take care of itself.

Square oriented images must be a maximum of 1200 pixels on the longest side.

Failure to submit images using the correct dimensions
may result in the image/s not being accepted.

Images should be submitted as sRGB jpg files at 300px per inch

File Naming

Digital
The convention for naming the jpg files is as follows:
Topic-Grade-Image Title-Member Name-Member Number
ie. Nature-AB-Kookaburra-Joe-Bloggs-452

Lower case and no spaces or special charactors.

Print
Write on the back of the print:
1. Member Number only (not your name)
2. Member Grade
3. Image Title
4. Image Critique Topic
5.
Arrow pointing to which direction the print should be positioned

You MUST ALSO WeTransfer a digital copy of your print to the competition Director (See top of page). 1920px by 1200px (Same as Digital entries).

The convention for naming the jpg files is as follows:
PRINT-Topic-Grade-Image Title-Member Name-Member Number
ie. PRINT-Nature-AB-Kookaburra-Joe-Bloggs-452

Club Image Critiques

Image Critiques of competition submissions follow the guidelines of the Australian Photographic Society (APS) and are conducted by accredited judges, experienced photographers or industry professionals. 

Dates and Topics

See the Competitions link on the club website for details of Section Topics and
also dates for submitting images.

Obtaining a Club Grade (New members)

There are four (3) Adult Grades - A, AB & B
Members are advised of their club grade after submitting 4-5 images to be assessed
for the purpose of participating in the monthly Image Critiques.
Image Critiques provide members with constructive feedback.

Images for grading may be submitted via WeTransfer or Prints may be handed in, on a club evening.

MINIMUM Size for Grading submission
Print - A4 or 10x12 / Digital - 1920 x 1200 pixels.

Please submit images to Pia Jessen for GRADING on a club night or WeTransfer Digital images to: Pia Jessen pia@piajessen.com

Club Grade Number

Each Member will be allocated a member number which is to be included in the image file name when submitting digital files (See File Naming Convention) or written on the back
of their Print competition entries.

Topic Definitions

1.   Photograph

A photograph is a visible image originating from the action of light or other forms of radiant energy upon a photosensitive medium or device.  A photograph is a work that retains obvious evidence of one or more photographic images that are predominant in the picture and taken only by the author.  A photograph consisting entirely of one's own or another person's art form, not of photographic origin, is inadmissible.

2.  Media

Print - A photograph that is presented on an opaque surface.

Digital Image - A photograph that is presented by electronic digital means.

3.   Post Processing

Photography post-production or post-processing refers to work that is done on the
digital files after they have been captured by the camera. The processing stage is
a term for all activities after shooting which lead to the completion of the work.

A photograph which has not been post-processed in its entirety by the entrant is inadmissible in club related competitions / exhibitions.

Topic Definitions

Action
This can include animate or inanimate objects involved in any form of action. It is not limited to human activity. The possibilities are infinite but as long as the main thrust of the image implies action then it will be acceptable under the definition.

After Dark - No Flash
A picture taken after sunset in which no Flash is added by the photographer.

Aged
A picture of the whole or part of, an aged object, person, animal or scene that depicts the passage of time. It may, for example, be a portrait or a part of a person, or any part or whole of an object or surroundings associated with age.

Animals
Any living creature, excluding humans/insects/birds/invertebrates/reptiles/amphibians.

Tip 1: Wait for the subject to be facing their head/body toward the camera - avoid rear ends etc .. Place your focus on the eye/s of the animal, ensure eyes are sharp.

Tip 2: Think outside the square .. think of what everyone else will photograph then do something DIFFERENT.

Architecture
The picture must be of a building intended for human occupation or use.
It may be a picture of the exterior or interior and may be a detail of a limited part of a building that displays architectural angles and lines in a dynamic or colourful way (Monochrome allowed).
Broad cityscapes that include many buildings will not be accepted. Engineering structures such as bridges, communications towers and motorways will not be accepted.

Australia (Iconic)
A widely recognised, well-established symbol of Australia.

AV (Audio Visual)

Audio Visual is defined as a sequence of still images where the storyline or theme, sound, transitions and images are interdependent. An effective sequence will have unity of its three parts: the conception, the visuals and the sound. Generally, these three elements should reinforce each other such that any one without the other two would be unsatisfactory. Adequate conception involves an idea with a suitable introduction, an interesting development of the idea and an appropriate close. Narrative or text may be employed but is not mandatory. The medium is very flexible and artistic expression within it can take many forms. There is no restriction on subject matter.

Acknowledgement of the work of other artists (e.g. music, text, poetry) must be included at the end of the sequence. Author's name MUST NOT be displayed on any part of the AV. All imagery in the AV must be the work of the photographer.

The entire AV is to run for exactly one minute (60 seconds) from start to finish.
Final output must be as an .
exe or .AVI or .MOV and or saved to USB drive or Cloud host.
Name the file with
- The title of the AV,
- Your club competition grade and your member number.
e.g. AV_AB_999.exe

Book
Produce a Printed Book. Book can be of

Contemporary
Contemporary photographs include those that include modern fashions in photography
and exclude those that show a traditional pictorial approach.  An innovative, imaginative approach is required, leading to a novel or interesting result.  Documentary and experimental photographs that comply with these requirements are also eligible.

Creative / Experimental - Creative or experimental photographs display a novel effect because of an unusual combination of objects and / or unusual view point.  Photographs in which the images have been modified during or after exposure by using an experimental technique are also eligible in Creative / Experimental sections.  The photograph must always have a basic photographic image.  Digital manipulation processes may be employed providing the original photograph was exposed by the entrant and Digital manipulation
was performed by the entrant.

Environment
Your Images will symbolise 'Think Green' : renewable and alternate energy sources, scientific research, recycling, planting trees, caring for the environment, cleaning up our waters and air, protecting our wildlife, saving money by conserving on energy and food costs, buying/growing organic, etc.
May contain people, This topic is Looking for the positive side of 'thinking green',
not negative aspects (eg. not pollution, devastation etc).

Film or Song Title
The image must bring to mind the title of a song or film which is in the public domain, either recent or historical. This can be achieved either by word association or scene association with elements of the image providing clear clues as to the title of a valid song or film.

Your Image title will be read out when your image is dispalyed on screen on the night so that the connection between the title and the subject matter can be understood.

Industrial
An Image depicting any form of industry eg. machines, buildings, by-products of industry
eg smoke/steam. The object is to portray the functional side rather than the human side
of industry. Document an aspect of the production process.


Lines
Lines come in many flavours and just as many ways to create them.
Lines can be thick, thin, plain, single, contour, broken, continuous, curved or straight. Consider the composition when compiling the image.

Looking Down
The image must be taken so as to show a scene which lies below the photographer. The height from which the image is taken is immaterial.

Macro
A picture of a small subject/object at close range.

A good macro picture reveals details and textures in the subject that can't normally be observed with normal photography or observation.

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/macro-photography-intro.htm

Monochrome - Any photograph containing shades of only one colour.  If toning is carried out, it must be over the total photograph - partial toning and/or the addition of one extra colour is not acceptable in a monochrome section.

Movement - Panning, In camera Movement, Shutter Dragging.
Freezing movement is not accepted.

Music
A picture showing a person(s) using a musical instrument, a piece of music as a major part of the image.

Nature
June 2020 APS / FIAP / PSA / RPS
Please download the pdf for the comprehensive requirements of submission into a Nature competition topic.

Night Scene out of Doors

Any Photograph taken out of doors at night, providing that flash is not used.

Occupations 
A picture showing a person or people engaged in an occupation which cannot be classed as a hobby, pastime, recreation , sport or play. It is thought that Judges will be more favourably impressed if the subject(s) is/are intent  on the work they are doing rather than smiling at the camera. 
 

Open / Pictorial / General
Any subject that is treated pictorially, embodying the elements of good design, arrangement or composition, which reflects the personal interpretation of the photographer.

Photo Travel (PT)
PSA Photo Travel Definition > from 1st January 2016

A Photo Travel image expresses the characteristic features or culture of a land as
they are found naturally. There are no geographic limitations.
Images from events or activities arranged specifically for photography, or of subjects directed or hired for photography are not appropriate.
Close up pictures of people or objects must include features that provide information
about the environment.
Techniques that add, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image,
except by cropping, are not permitted.
The only allowable adjustments are removal of dust or digital noise, restoration of the appearance of the original scene, and complete conversion to greyscale monochrome.
Other derivations, including infrared, are not permitted.
All allowed adjustments must appear natural.

Places of Worship
A place that is set aside where people gather to worship/celebrate a religious view.
Can include buildings or sites, anicient or modern, interior or exterior.

Portrait
A close up picture of a person or persons in which the face, facial features as well as facial expressions are predominant. DO NOT include any part of the body below the chest.
This topic may include candid photographs and formal portraits.
Must be a live human being (manikins, statues, ornaments will not be accepted).

People
A photograph of a person or people that is strictly not a close-up or portrait.
The person/s in the photograph must be the focal subject however the image could also depict their environment or a broader scene. Can be candid or posed.
Must be a live human being (manikins, statues, ornaments will not be accepted).

In addition, the People topic must adhere to the Qld Interclub definition.

Qld Interclub Definition

A photograph of a person or people that must show all of the person/s from head to foot.
[no head to waist close-ups].
The person/s in the photograph must be the focal subject however the image could also
depict their environment or a broader scene. Can be posed or candid.
Must be a live human being (manikins, statues, ornaments will not be accepted).

The Portait definition remains unaltered. The People and Portrait topics alternate each
year with Portrait included in the 2020 competition.

Portrait / People (When definition is combined)
A photograph of a person or persons that may range from a head study to a full body length.  This section includes candid photographs and formal portraits. Ensure the person/s is the focal point in the picture.
Must be a live human being (manikins, statues, ornaments will not be accepted).

Portfolio of 10 themed Images
10 Themed Images, the images should be connected by a common story/thread/idea.
Tips:
Keep Portfolio images consistent;
- Orientation and Sizing
- Look and Feel
- All colour / All BW
- Tell a story
- Colour of Matting (Prints)

PREVIOUS CLUB COMPETITION IMAGES
A maximum of TWO Previous club competition images may be used in the topic - Portfolio of 10 themed images.

NAMING
- Use the existing naming convention.
- Title the images in numerical sequence in the order you want them to be viewed.
Portfolio 1-AB (grade)-Theme Title-Member Name-Member Number.jpg
Portfolio 2-AB (grade)-Theme Title-Member Name-Member Number.jpg
Portfolio 3-AB (grade)-Theme Title-Member Name-Member Number.jpg
Portfolio 4-AB (grade)-Theme Title-Member Name-Member Number.jpg
… and so on.

e.g.
Portfolio 1-A-Back to the Future-Joe Blogs-999.jpg
Portfolio 2-A-Back to the Future-Joe Blogs-999.jpg
Portfolio 3-A-Back to the Future-Joe Blogs-999.jpg
etc..

SUBMITTING IMAGES
Digital and Print images - Same as usual.
You may send a dropbox/Cloud link to Noel if you prefer.

You may submit one Portfolio in the Print Section and one Portfolio in the Digital Section.

POINTS
This topic theme will attract TRIPLE points.
Entry – 3
Acceptance – 6
Credit – 9
Merit – 12
Highly Commended – 15

* Please note
- NO added text or graphics on the front of any image.
eg. watermarks, logo, theme title etc
- 10 Images only, no extra images or introductory Screen titles.

Railways
A picture which may feature an engine, carriages, trucks, rolling stock, signals and/or rails on the permanent way or combination of such, provided it is easily recognisable as belonging to a railway.

Reflections
A Picture in which the reflection/s of a subject provide the centre of interest.
They may be produced by water, windows, metal etc.
Mirror reflections are excluded. Reflection must be a real reflection, not created in post processing or any other artificial means.

Repeating Shapes
An image where a series of the same or similar element are repeated in such a way as to add strength to the overall image.

Self Portrait
A picture that the photographer produces of themselves.
A self-portrait should be a personal expression of yourself, not simply a copy of something you've seen elsewhere. Think about how you want to say who you are.
The picture could be a close up or it could be an environmental portrait.

(An Environmental portrait is a portrait which is executed in the subject's usual environment and typically illuminates the subject's life and surroundings).

Scapes (Landscape/Seascape/Urban=City or other) 
An image featuring an expansive view without any subject dominating the scene.

Landscape
A landscape is a picture of natural inland scenery. It may include houses, other evidence of man, people, animals and even part of the sea provided that none of these dominate the picture.
Seascape
A seascape is a photograph of natural costal scenery, a wave study or a picture of the open sea. People, boats and items related to these may be present as incidental items in the picture.
Urban/City/Other
The choice of subject matter can vary to offer a variety of "scapes" but it will be up to the maker to ensure that the end result is apparent to the viewer - i.e. the impact of the image will come from the subject matter chosen. A "cityscape" or "urban landscape" subject will be identifiable to the viewer.

Generally a scape could be defined as a 'vista' or a 'broad view' of the subject. There are all sorts of scapes available and can only be limited by the authors imagination!

Shadow/s
A picture in which the shadow(s) is featured. The cause of the shadow(s) may be included but must not be dominant.

Signs of the Zodiac
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces - take your best images representing any of these signs.

Social Documentary/Photojournalism (PJ) - Story telling photographs such as are seen in the news media and periodicals, which may include documentary, contemporary life, illustrative, spot news or human interest.  In the interest of credibility, contrived situations or photographic manipulations which alter the truth are not acceptable.  The story telling value of the photograph shall be weighed more than the pictorial quality.

Solitary
The state of being alone or in solitude. Whilst it is acceptable to photograph solitary or singular objects, images which depict greater emotional depth will be favoured when selections are made for honours.

Sport
A picture of a person/people participating in a sporting activity.

Street Photography
The image will reflect the personal interpretation of the photographer.
Google Street Photography and make up your own mind as to what it is.
Here's a link to get you started.
http://www.in-public.com/information/what_is

Textures
A picture that shows surface detail and shadow. Texture detail can be revealed by the creative use of directional lighting on the subject/s (can be natural or artificial light).
The use of artistic filters in post-processing or in-camera to simulate texture will not be accepted.

Tip: Don't just photograph something simply because it has a texture (ie .. tree bark - look harder!). Follow these links for examples and tips, then go out and experiment!!

1. How to Photograph Textures

2. How to Photograph Textures

3. YouTube Movie - How to light and shoot Texture


Timelapse
via Photography (not iphone or any automatic process)

The entire timelapse is to run for a miminum of half a minute (30 seconds)
to one minute (60 seconds) from start to finish.


Final output must be as an MP4 or .AVI or .MOV
Submit via a Cloud host (Dropbox/Google Photos etc) or USB drive.

Name the file with the topic, your club competition grade, the Image title, your name
and your member number.
e.g. Timelapse_AB_Image Title_Your Name_999.mp4

1. The Authors name or ANY text must not appear on any part of the Timelapse sequence.
2. All images in the Timelapse must be solely authored by the member submitting the file.
3. All parts of the Timelapse must be made up by individual images captured by camera.
4. This means members may not submit any timelapse made by any automatic process other than using an intervalometer and processing the individual images into a Timelapse sequence.


Members may submit ONE Timelapse each, DOUBLE POINTS will be given.
Example
Entry Submitted = 2 Points, Acceptance = 2 points, Merit = 4 Points,
Highly Commended = 6 Points

Transportation
The image must show the action of transporting someone or something or the process of being transported.

Triptych
A Triptych is a set of three associated works intended to be appreciated together.
The only restriction on the arrangement of the triptych’s three images is that they
must not meet or overlap.

For the purpose of this topic, a triptych is a presentation made up of three
distinctly separated photographic images displayed on one common background
(one single image).

Tip: The subject of a triptych is an important defining characteristic.
The pictures should have a common theme. This could be a story, similar compositional elements, colours, similar subject matter – anything that draws the pictures together
as a group.

Tip: The background should complement the presentation of the three images but
must not become a significant 'fourth image'.

Water
A picture in which water is the main feature.


Weather
A picture depicting some aspect of the weather, the weather must be the central subject. e.g. Storm (actual or impending), rain, hail, fog or wind. Normal sunny conditions or the aftermath is not acceptable.
The image will embody the elements of good design and composition, which reflects the personal interpretation of the photographer.

Yellow
Any photograph in which the pre-dominant / Focal interest of the image is the colour Yellow.

 

   
   
   
 


 

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