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HUPS Photo Contest Awards and RulesThese Rules become effective on January 1, 2010 Monthly Photo Contest RulesDecember Meeting "Best of HUPS" Photo Contest RulesPhotographer of the YearMonthly Contest and General RulesAll monthly photo contest entries will be judged on an equal basis. Images are judged on the following:
Categories of PhotographersInitially for 2010, photographers will be assigned to the Novice and Intermediate Categories based on their accumulated point totals for 2008 and 2009. The allocation will be done by the Photo Contest Coordinator. Any person may, at any time, appeal their category assignment to the Photo Contest Coordinator. NoviceThe Novice category is for those that meet the following criteria
IntermediateThe Intermediate category is for those that meet the following criteria:
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AdvancedThe Advanced category is for those that meet the following criteria:
Entering ImagesEach HUPS member will be allowed to enter three (3) images per contest in the category for which they are eligible. However, from time to time it may be necessary, at the discretion of the Photo Contest Coordinator, to reduce the number of entries from three to two or even one per photographer in one or more of the entry categories. Images should be submitted as JPEG or JPG files. Contest entries must be e-mailed to PhotoContest@hups.org at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Photos submitted after this deadline may be accepted by the contest Chairperson, at his or her discretion and availability.
Types of Images / EditingImages must be captured underwater using a digital or film camera. Only digital files are allowed. Images will be projected via a digital projector. In the event no projector is available, judging will take place via a laptop monitor. The original content of the image captured may not be changed or augmented. Removal or addition of subjects or objects is not permitted. Extreme computer manipulation is not permitted. The following minor computer adjustments are allowed:
Image Naming StructureImages should be named as follows:
The contest codes are:
For example, if John Doe (a Novice contestant) entered three images for the contest his files should be named:
Spaces, dashes, or underscores may be used to separate file name parts. If images do not meet the above criteria, or if they are not consistent with the category description, they will not be considered for judging. Photographers who submit a photograph that is rejected may be notified and permitted to resubmit a conforming photograph (time permitting), which must be received before the contest deadline. Image SizeImages should not be greater than 1024 x 768 pixels and a file size of not more than 500 kb each. Other RestrictionsNo aquarium or pool shots; unless a monthly contest topic specifies such. Photographs with divers stressing marine life will not be judged. Entries that have won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, in previous HUPS contests, or any major competition are ineligible. The only exceptions are permitted during the Best of HUPS night at the December meeting. Images may not display copyright or any other identifying markings (except for the December contest). Images will be disqualified if in the opinion of the Photo Contest Chairperson and monthly judges, the images do not meet the monthly subject matter, or do not meet one of the aforementioned rules. JudgesAll contest judging will be performed by a panel of three judges selected by the HUPS Photo Contest Coordinator, except on nights when it is announced that the general membership will judge – such as the Best of HUPS contest in December. Judges will be directed to use the Judging Criteria as stated above. The Photo Contest Chairperson (or his assistant) will tabulate all ballots and announce the winners to the members in attendance (time permitting). ScoringEach of the three judges scores each image from 1 to 9 points. The total points for each image (between 3 and 27) will be recorded.
Ties will be awarded for photos having the same number of points. In addition to the points awarded for each image, extra points will be awarded for the first, second, and third place images as follows:
A running total of all points earned will be maintained for the months of January through November. December is not included, as it is a separate contest. The "active" HUPS member in each category accumulating the most points from January through November will be the HUPS Photographer of the Year in that category. Contesting ResultsIf a member wishes to question the results of a contest, they must submit their complaint in writing to the Photo Contest Coordinator or any club officer. The complaint must include: complainant's name, questionable image, nature of complaint (indicating rule broken), and the proof behind complaint. The Executive Committee will review the complaint, and if they find merit, they may disqualify the image. Use of ImagesPersons entering a contest, including those with winning digital images, agree to allow HUPS to retain and use the images in the newsletter and on the web page or for other club-sponsored activities. HUPS agrees, in return, to not abuse this privilege by marketing the image in any form, and will use it in promotional literature only with the advance consent of the photographer owning the image and with full recognition of said ownership of image(s). December Meeting "Best of HUPS" Photo Contest RulesCategoriesThere are four categories:
The first three categories are the same as the monthly contest (including the limitations on image size, image manipulation, submission to PhotoContest@hups.org 48 hours prior to the meeting, etc.) with some clarifications:
Anyone can enter the fourth "creative" category.
Judging and ScoringJudging will be done by everyone at the December meeting using paper ballots. Each person participating as a judge will award 3 points for the best photo, 2 points for the next, and 1 point for their third choice in each of the four categories. The points will be totaled after the meeting, and the results will be announced on the website, in the January newsletter, and at the January meeting following the contest. Points in the December contest DO NOT count toward Photographer of the Year. Restriction on Future UseBest of HUPS winning images are no longer eligible for any other HUPS contest. Photographer of the YearA Photographer of the Year is recognized in each of the Photo Contest entry categories: Novice, Intermediate and Advanced. The winner of this award is determined by an accumulation of points as stipulated in section 1.9 Scoring. To qualify for a Photographer of the Year, one must be a member in good standing and "active" in the club by participating in three (3) meetings or workshops or a combination of both in the year of the contest, or has participated in an annual HUPS trip within the current or previous year of the contest. Once a member has qualified, they will be grandfathered in for any subsequent year if they move away from the area and cannot attend the meetings or participate in the trips. Members in good standing who do not meet this standard may enter monthly contests, but they will not qualify for Photographer of Year. If during the year, a member does fulfill the standard, they will be able to compete for the current year’s award. |