(Click title to expand more info)

All of our club members are allowed and encouraged to submit photos for our competition entries. For more information, just click one of the following titles to see the details.

Image Requirements:

Photographs must be entered as JPEG images with the .jpg extension via e-mail to NECCC@optonline.net. The subject line of the e-mail should be “Photos for NECCC Interclub Competition” so that it isn’t mistaken for junk e-mail. Images will not be accepted on CDs or other media. Before submitting the e-mail carefully proof read the titles as mistakes will appear in the competition reports or on the labels attached to the ribbons awarded to winning photographs.
It is strongly suggested that all photographs be converted to the sRGB color space. That color space most closely approximates the capability of monitors and projectors to display color and usually results in the best presentation of your image.
Photographs will be projected using a projector having 1024 pixels in the horizontal direction and 768 pixels in the vertical direction. Photographs must fit within those dimensions. Unless your photograph’s proportions are in the exact ratio of 4 to 3, one of these dimensions will be less than the maximum. For example, if you have a vertical photograph, the height will be 768 pixels, but the width will be significantly less than 1024 pixels. A square photograph will be 768 pixels by 768 pixels under these rules. Smaller photographs are acceptable.
It is suggested (though not a requirement) that entries be saved with the proper amount of compression so that the file size does not exceed 350 KB. If saving from Photoshop, a quality setting of between 7 and 9 is usually sufficient to produce a high quality file. Keeping the file size below 350 KB makes e-mailing and handling easier. Note that for many PSA competitions this is a requirement.
In order to provide all of the information needed to identify and track the photographs, and to allow the use of automated tools, image files must be named using four information fields separated by pound signs (#): category, title (as in the "file naming information" section below), makers name, and club ID number.

File naming information:

CATEGORY#Title##FirstName LastName###ClubID.jpg
CATEGORY = NC for Nature Category, GC for General Category
Title = The title of your image (*required. use proper capitalization with spaces between words)
FirstName = Your first name (use proper capitalization)
LastName = Your last name (use proper capitalization)
ClubID = 142
Examples:
General:
GC#Empty Street At Night##John Smith###142.jpg
Nature:
NC#Red Wing Blackbird##John Smith###142.jpg

General Category Restrictions:

Keep in mind that NECCC-sponsored general competitions are intended for photographers, not Photoshop (or other editing program) illustrators. We recognize, however, that part of the attraction and fun of digital photography is the ability to alter the pictures captured by the camera, but the emphasis should be on displaying your photographs to best advantage either naturally or after manipulation (even extensive manipulation) for creative effects.
The General category is open. That means that all subject types as well as a variety of different techniques (both in camera and computer manipulation) may be entered. However, remember that we have a diverse membership so please be sure that all photographs are in good taste.
The major part of each image must have been captured by light sensitivity, either digitally or on film. Slides or negatives may be scanned (by the photographer or commercially) for entry into the competition. Once captured or scanned, photographs may be modified using digital image editing programs. A scanner may also be used as a camera to capture photographs of objects placed on the scanner glass.
Entries may display a realistic rendition of the subject(s) or be creative, having been manipulated using in camera techniques before scanning or using a digital image editing program. The judges will be asked to judge the photographs for overall photographic quality and interest, not the amount of manipulation required to achieve the effect
Composite photographs are acceptable in the general category as long as all elements included are the entering photographer’s own work. Commercial clip art, parts of commercial photographic collections, or the work of another photographer may not be included. Artwork or computer graphics created by the photographer may be incorporated as long as the photographic content predominates.
Keep in mind that adding elements such as clouds, moons, frames, or fractals generated by image editing programs, plug-ins, or other software is considered the same as using commercial clip art and, thus, is not allowed. However clouds, frames, or moons photographed or drawn by the photographer may be combined with other photographs.
We recognize that the line between your own digital art and clip art is a gray one in many cases. A good rule to follow is that anything that changes an element you drew or photographed is allowed, but any action that adds an element other than from of one of your own photographs, drawings, or digital art probably is not. Note that adding a mat or frame using the image editors drawing capabilities will normally be considered digital art by the maker and, thus, is allowed.

Nature Category Restrictions:

All photographs must have been captured by light sensitivity, either digitally or on film. Slides or negatives may be scanned (by the photographer or commercially) for entry into the competition.
"Nature photography 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 material and to certify as to its honest presentation. The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining a high technical quality. Human elements shall not be present, except where those human elements enhance the nature story. The presence of scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals is permissible. Photographs of artificially produced hybrid plants or animals, mounted specimens, or obviously set arrangements, are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement. No techniques that add to, relocate, replace, or remove pictorial elements except by cropping are permitted. Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or the pictorial content are permitted. All adjustments must appear natural."
This definition means we have new freedom to use digital techniques to enhance our nature images. For most people, this means that the various HDR techniques are now allowed and it means blurring the background is now allowed, provided the results look natural. All images must be exhibit Digital Realism, where a photographer may perform any enhancements and modifications that improve the presentation of the image to make it more closely represent the original scene photographed, but that does not change the truth of the original nature story. Cropping and horizontal flipping (equivalent to reversing a slide) are acceptable modifications. Removing spots due to dust on your sensors is allowed. Removing rounded slide mount corners on scanned images is allowed. Adding elements to your images, removing pictorial elements from your image other than by cropping, combining separate images or rearranging and/or cloning and/or copying elements in your image are still not acceptable and can lead to disqualification of your image in the competition. Since HDR techniques and Helicon Focus techniques are techniques that enhance the presentation without changing the pictorial content, they are now considered allowable techniques. Please note that all adjustments must still look natural. Just because a technique is legitimate does not guarantee the image it was used on will get a good score.

Awards:

Approximately 20-25% of the entries in each class of each category will receive first, second, third, or HM ribbons. The exact percentage will be determined by break points in the scoring.
Clubs will receive first, second, or third place ribbons in each class of each category based on the sum of their 4 scores. Four trophies will be awarded at the end of the year to the clubs having the highest cumulative scores in the two classes of each category for the three competitions at the end of the season.
First, second, and third place photographs in each class of both categories will be eligible to compete for an award in the “Electronic Pictorial Photograph of the Year” or “Electronic Nature Photograph of the Year” competition. Eligible entries will be sent to a judge outside of New England for judging.
Note that if there is a 2-way tie for first place there will be no second place. In the case of a 3-way tie for first place there will be no second or third place. Likewise, if there is a 2-way tie for second place, there will be no third place. This applies to both individual and club standings.