Photochrome Camera Club

General Rules

All images must be properly marked, titled and contain the name of the maker with the appropriate division designation, club name, and group in which they are being entered in order to be eligible for entry in club competitions. This is the responsibility of the maker and not that of the committee chairperson. See “Preparation of Images for Competition” for details.

Any image that has placed previously in a competition (1s, 2nd, 3rd, or honorable mention), in either regular monthly competitions or year-end special contests, must be retired from club competition and may not be entered again. This includes images taken so near in time and place, and so similar in subject matter and composition, so as to be virtually identical to the member’s image(s) previously entered in compeition. There is no time limit as to when the image was made. The only exception to this rule: an image that has won a regular monthly competition may be entered in a year-end special contest, or in the image-of-the-year contest for which it is eligible, but only in the year in which it has placed.

No image may be entered into Photochrome competitions which has previously placed in competition in N4C.

A Photochrome Club member who judges for Photochrome in any competition, and the judge’s spouse, when applicable, shall receive six (6) points each in lieu of entering the competition.

Up to two (2) images may be entered by each member in all regular club competitions. In all divisions, contest points shall be awarded as follows:

• 1st place: 5 points
• 2nd place: 4 points
• 3rd place: 3 points
• Honorable mention: 2 points
• Grand award: 1 point
• Each image entered

Example: a member who enters two (2) images in a contest and receives 1st place, an HM and the grand award earns ten (10) points.

Members’ images that place first and second (and in some cases first, second and third) in the monthly competitions, except for Special or Assigned Subject categories, will have their images entered into N4C competition by the Photochrome N4C delegate. Slides and prints will be returned to the maker after the N4C judging takes place.

Persons who do not wish to have their images placed into any N4C competitions must submit notice in writing to that effect to the Board of Directors prior to the date of the next club competition. In such cases, the member not competing in N4C competition shall receive the club points, if earned, and the next eligible image or images shall be submitted to N4C, when applicable, in exact order of qualification.

In such cases, honorable mentions shall be classified as first, second, third, et seq. in all club competitions. In situations where the number of allowable honorable mentions may be of insufficient number to achieve this purpose, the committee person shall have the judge rate the next eligible images in order as Alternates number 1, 2, 3 etc. with Alternate #1 being the highest rated. Alternate images receive no club points.

Only the judge may speak during any competition, and members should be especially cautious to refrain from making any comments or signs that might be interpreted by anyone as an attempt to call attention to any particular image that is being viewed.

Competition Categories

[From N4C category definitions 2008]

The Northern California Council of Camera Clubs subscribes to the Ethics Statement of the Photographic Society of America. Consistent with that Ethics Statement, all images submitted for competition in both print and projected image format and in all competition divisions shall originate as photographs by the entrant on photographic emulsion or acquired digitally.

By virtue of submitting an entry, the photographer certifies the work as his/her own. No clip art, digital art or photographs other than those made by the entrant may be used in whole or in part in any portion of the image. Images may only be manipulated as noted in individual Division definitions. When graphic elements other than photographs created by the entrant are used in an image, photographic content must still predominate.

Pictorial (P)

Pictorial photography is the use of the photographic medium as an art form. The emphasis is on interest, visual impact, composition, and technical excellence. Images in the Pictorial Division are not confined to any particular subject, type, or style of photography. Pictorial images may be manipulated in the darkroom, on the computer or in the camera in a manner consistent with the standards stated in the preamble to these definitions.

Travel (T)

A Travel picture must express the feeling of a time and place, portray a land, its people or a culture in its natural state, and has no geographic limitations. Ultra close-ups which lose their identity, studio-type model shots, or photographic manipulations which misrepresent the true situation or alter the content of the image are unacceptable in Travel competition No manipulation or modification is permitted except resizing, cropping, selective lightening or darkening, and restoration of original color of the scene. No special effect filters can be applied. Any sharpening must appear natural. No elements may be moved, cloned, added, deleted, rearranged or combined. . In Travel competition the title is read when showing the image. The title should give the location and complement the travel story. All Travel images must be consistent with the standards stated in the preamble to these definitions.

Creative (C)

Creative photography is producing an image through the use of imaginative skill or originality of thought including the altering of reality. No image should be eliminated from competition simply because it looks realistic, provided it shows originality of concept. Creative images may include modifications in the darkroom, on the computer, or in the camera, as well as unusual points of view, imaginative use of subject matter or lighting, or any other presentation that begins with the maker’s photograph or a collection of photographs. Creative images must be consistent with the standards stated in the preamble to these definitions. In Creative image competition the title is read when showing the image.

Journalism (J)

Journalism entries shall consist of pictures with informative content and emotional impact, including human interest, documentary and spot news. Sequences of not more than four (4) images are permitted in the Journalism category in projected image competition only. The journalistic value of the photograph shall be considered over pictorial quality. In the interest of credibility, photographs which misrepresent the truth, such as manipulation of the image, or situations which are set up for the purpose of photography, are unacceptable in Journalism competition. The primary concern is to make story-telling and/or newsworthy photographs. In competition the title is read when showing the image. Good titles are important and should add to the photo-story. No manipulation or modification of Journalism images is permitted except resizing, cropping, selective lightening or darkening, and restoration of original color of the scene. No special effect filters can be applied. Any sharpening must appear natural. No elements may be moved, cloned, added, deleted, rearranged or combined. All Journalism images must be consistent with the standards stated in the preamble to these definitions.

Nature (N)

The Nature Photography Division is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict observations from all branches of natural history except anthropology and archeology in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject matter and certify as to its honest presentation. The story-telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality. Sequences of not more than four (4) images are permitted in the Nature category in projected image competition only.

Human elements shall not be present except on the rare occasion where those human elements enhance the nature story. The presence of scientific bands on wild animals is acceptable. Photographs of artificially produced hybrid plants or animals (any plant or animal that has its appearance changed by breeding and selection by man), mounted specimens, or obviously set arrangements, are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.

In Nature competition the title is read when showing the image. The title should be factual and descriptive and will be read as shown. Scientific names are encouraged but are not to be used as a basis for judging.

No manipulation or modification of Nature images is permitted except resizing, cropping, selective lightening or darkening, and restoration of original color of the scene. No special effect filters can be applied. Any sharpening must appear natural. No elements may be moved, cloned, added, deleted, rearranged or combined. Horizontal flipping (equi9valent to reversing the image) is an acceptable modification. All Nature images must be consistent with the standards stated in the preamble to these definitions.

Procedures

Regular Competitions

Members are allowed to submit up to two (2) images in each of the competitions (pictorial, travel, nature, photojournalism, creative).

In each contest the judge shall select first, second, and third place slides. In addition, 20% of the total number of slides entered in each group shall be awarded honorable mentions, up to a maximum of six honorable mentions in any one group. Exception: when fewer than seven slides are entered in any group, the judge shall have the option as to whether to award any HMs.

Advancements

Advancements from each group to the next will be determined at the end of the year by the current Board of Directors. Advancement will be based primarily on individual point scores.

Score sheets for each competition, listing the names of the members in each group and the number of points earned, shall be kep by each competition chair person. These score sheets are the property of the Photochrome Club and may be reviewed for accuracy or for any legitimate reason upon demand from a member with the approval of the President. The totaled copies of said score sheets shall be turned in to the President at the end of the last regular competition of the year.

All advacements are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Care will be exercised to keep the groups as equal in numbers as possible. Should any group, due to attrition or lack of competing members, shrink to a size where true compeition is deemed to be no longer possible, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to make interim advancements or other suitable adjustments to remedy the situation. All interim advancements other than those made at the end of the year shall require the consent of the member being advanced.

The highest scoring member in the AAA group shall be automatically rotated into the Masters group, and the lowest scoring member in the Masters group may be returned to the AAA group. More than one advancement or return may be made at the discretion of the Board, if deemed necessary.

Annual Group Awards

First, second, and third place medal awards will be presented to members accumulating the greatest number of points during the calendar year in their respective groups in pictorial, nature, travel, photojournalism, and creative.

Image of the Year Contests

The image-of-the-year judging in November will be conducted by a chairperson appointed by the President, and assisted by the Contest Committee chairpersons. This committee will obtain the judges, set up the voting machine, and record the scores, as well as collect, record, separate, and return all images submitted.

Medals will be awarded for the five best images of the year in each of the following divisions: pictorial, nature, travle, photojournalism, and creative.

The first place slide in creative also receives the Alan Rosenblum Memorial Award.

The Alan Rosenblum Memorial Creative Slide of the Year Award (Donated by Bill and Charlene Rosenblum 1993)

The purpose of this fund is to provide a cash prize of no less than $50.00 to the winner of the end-of-the-year creative competition. This is not a perpetual award and will cease when the fund is exhausted.

The Albert P. Bekker Memorial Award for Slide of the Year (Donated by Marie Bekker, revised April 28, 1994)

This award shall from hereon be a cash award not to exceed $50.00. It is suggested that this prize be used by the recipient toward printing and framing a slide of their choice. It is not a perpetual award and will cease when the corpus of the fund is exhausted. This award will be accompanied by a document indicating that it is the Club’s highest competition award along with a brief description of Mr. Bekker’s personal and photographic background. Notice of the award shall be placed in the Annual Banquet program in the year in which it is presented.

The winning image of this award shall be selected from among the first place winning slides in the pictorial, nature, creative, journalism and travel divisions at the end-of-the-year judging. The selection of the Image of the Year shall be performed by the year-end judges.

This prize shall be awarded in addition to any other award that may be in effect at the time it is selected.

Special Awards

Each person may enter up to four images in each of the following six contests: the Jack Cannon, the Walter F. Sullivan, the Jules H. Strauss, the Dr. J. Humberto Arrieta, the Roy Humphries Memorial Award, and the Margot Segal Award.

An image that is eligible is

1. Any image that has never been entered in any club competition ever,
2. Any image that has been entered in any regular club competition in any year and has never placed,
3. Any image that has placed in regular competition in the current year may be entered in one of these competitions instead of in the regular image-of-the-year contest.

An image that is not eligible is

1. Any image that has been entered in this competition before, or
2. Any image that has placed in any club competition in any previous year.

An image has placed if it has come in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or received an honorable mention in any club competition.

The Jack Cannon Perpetual Trophy (Donated by Jack Cannon)

This award shall be presented for the best image of a recognizable San Francisco subject. Four images may be entered by each member. If any image has received a place in the year’s competition, the member may choose to enter it in either the Jack Cannon contest or the slide-of-the-year contest, but not in both. Selection will take place at the annual judging in November. This is a perpetual trophy.

The Walter F. Sullivan Memorial Award

This award shall be presented each year for the best image of a landscape or seascape. Four images may be entered by each member. If any image has received a place in the year’s competition, the member may choose to enter it in either the Walter F. Sullivan contest or the slide-of-the-year contest, but not in both. Selection will take place at the annual judging in November. This is a monetary award.

The Jules H. Strauss Memorial Award (donated by Stanley Adams)

This award shall be presented each year for the best image of a floral subject. Four images may be entered by each member. If any image has received a place in the year’s competition, the member may choose to enter it in either the Jules H. Strauss contest or the slide-of-the-year contest, but not in both. Selection will take place at the annual judging in November. This is a monetary award to be used to purchase something floral in character and may be accompanied by a plaque to identify it as the Jules H. Strauss Award for the Best Flower Image of the Year.

The Dr. Jose Humberto Arrieta Memorial Award (Donated by Frances Arrieta)

This award shall be presented each year for the best image of a human subject. Four images may be entered by each member. If any image has received a place in the year’s competition, the member may choose to enter it in either the Dr. Jose Humberto Arrieta contest or the slide-of-the-year contest, but not in both. Selection will take place at the annual judging in November. This is a monetary award.

The Roy Humphreys Memorial Award (Donated by Vera Humphreys)

This award shall be presented each year for the best image of a rose. It may be a single rose, a bouquet or a garden. Four images may be entered by each member. If any image has received a place in the year’s competition, the member may choose to enter it in either the Roy Humphreys contest or the slide-of-the-year contest, but not in both. Selection will take place at the annual judging in November. This is a monetary award.

The Margot and Jacques Segal Award (Donated by Margot Segal 1994)

This award shall be presented each year for the best image taken in one of America’s national parks or national monuments (such as but not limited to Joshua Tree or Death Valley National Monuments, which are part of the national park system). This includes national parks of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. The image should be depict a characteristic site, rather than obscure though lovely scenic, that would leave no doubt as to where it was taken. No manipulation is allowed; the use of polarizers and neutral density filters is not considered manipulation. Four images may be entered by each member. If any image has received a place in the year’s competition, the member may choose to enter it in either the Margot and Jacques Segal contest or the slide-of-the-year contest, but not in both. Selection will take place at the annual judging in November. This is a monetary award.

Photochrome Club Awards

The Leo M. Kerkhof Memorial Award (Donated by Evelyn Kerkhof)

This award shall be presented each year to the “B” group competitor who has accumulated the most points overall during the calendar year. This is a monetary award and will be presented at the annual banquet in December. No one shall receive the award more than once.

The Photochrome Club Perpetual Trophy

The member earning the highest combined score from all regular club competitions during the current calendar year shall be awarded the Photochrome Perpetual Trophy.

Regarding Money Awards and Perpetual Trophies

The amount of the money awards shall be determined solely by the Board of Directors, based upon the terms of the specific endowments and the amount of interest earned on the specific bequest during the current year. Perpetual trophies will be accompanied by a Photochrome medal. Perpetual trophies will be returned by the holder of the award prior to the end of the year in sufficient time toallow for the engraving of the name of the next recipient.

July 24, 1997 Addendum to Contest Rules

Effective January 1, 1998, the AAA groups in travel and nature will be limited to ten active members. The pictorial masters group will remain with eight active members.

As in the pictorial masters group, the members in the AAA group with the lowest point scores will be placed in the AA group starting with the point compilations at the end of the 1998 year. At this time the ten members with the highest point to6tals in the AAA group will remain in the AAA group. The remaining members in the AAA group will move to the AA group. In subsequent years the highest scoring member in the AA group shall be automatically rotated into the AAA group and the lowest scoring member in the AAA group may be returned to the AA group. More than once advancement or return may be made at the discretion of the Board, if deemed necessary.

Failure to compete in all or any of these divisions will not act as a bar to set aside this rule.

It is hoped that this procedure will result in having more members in the lower divisions and therefore result in a fairer distribution of members competing. Should this not produce the intended results, the Board of Directors has reserved the right to reconsider this rule.

November 19, 1998 Addendum to Rules Re: Unfunded Trophy Awards

1. Proposals for awards must be submitted to the Board of Directors not less than 90 days prior to the final board meeting in any given year and will not take effect until the year following approval thereof.
2. New awards require a minimum funding of $1,000 and may be retired after ten years or upon the disbursement of the fund, whichever comes first. At the end of ten years any sums not disbursed would revert to the general fund.
3. Proposals for “one-time” funded awards to be distributed at the end of any given year will be entertained by the Board of Directors provided they have been submitted in a timely fashion and have a minimum funding of $100.
4. These provisions are to take effect on January 1, 2000.
5. The five unfunded awards will be returned to the respective donors in December 1999 or will be given to the final recipient at the donor’s discretion.

November 2000 Addendum to the Rules Re: Clarification of the November 19, 1998 Addendum

The board in 1998 voted to discontinue the following trophy awards:

• The Elbridge Merrill Memorial Award (Donated by Dorothy Merrill Burke), presented to the best pictorial slide of the year.
• The Ruth Steffens Memorial Award, presented to the best nature slide of the year.
• The James H. Barbour Memorial Award (donated by Alice Barbour), presented to the best travel slide of the year.
• The Photojournalism Award (donated by Jo Ann Ordano), presented to the best photojournalism slide of the year.

On October 26, 2000 and November 16, 2000, the Board of Directors voted to preserve the Jack Cannon Perpetual Trophy (donated by Jack Cannon) for the best image of a recognizable San Francisco subject, and the Photochrome Club perpetual trophy, given to the member earning the highest combined score from all regular club competitions during the calendar year.