How to enter an image in an External Competition
Overview
This note describes how to enter an image as part of the Club’s entry in an external competition.
What types of competition are there?
There are two basic types of club competition:
Most of the above are Projected Digital Images (PDI), there are also a number of print competitions which the Club normally enter.
Details of all the competitions that the Club enter can be found in the External Competitions section on the website along with details of how they work.
- Open competitions where any genre of photography is acceptable and any editing is allowed.
- Nature competitions where nature rules (as per our internal competitions) apply.
Most of the above are Projected Digital Images (PDI), there are also a number of print competitions which the Club normally enter.
Details of all the competitions that the Club enter can be found in the External Competitions section on the website along with details of how they work.
Which images are eligible?
Images typically cannot be submitted more than once to the same competition, for example if your image was used in last year’s Melbourne Cup then it is ineligible for all future iterations of the Melbourne Cup but it is eligible for any other external competitions.
The exception to this is the L&CPU Knockout which is more restrictive in that only images that have not been used in any L&CPU competition are eligible.
For the avoidance of doubt, the entry of an image in our internal competitions has no effect whatsoever on this.
There is normally no time limit on when the image was taken so you may wish to use an image that did well in a previous season or you may wish to use a new image. Obviously the older the image the greater the likelihood that it has been used previously.
The exception to this is the L&CPU Knockout which is more restrictive in that only images that have not been used in any L&CPU competition are eligible.
For the avoidance of doubt, the entry of an image in our internal competitions has no effect whatsoever on this.
There is normally no time limit on when the image was taken so you may wish to use an image that did well in a previous season or you may wish to use a new image. Obviously the older the image the greater the likelihood that it has been used previously.
What images should I consider sending in?
The selected images will represent Preston Photographic Society (PPS) against other clubs some of whom have had success at the international competition level, for example Wigan 10 and Chorley.
To get in our entry they need to be as good a standard as possible. If you’re not sure, ask for feedback.
PPS operate critique evenings which are really useful for getting a view from some of our more experienced photographers.
To get in our entry they need to be as good a standard as possible. If you’re not sure, ask for feedback.
PPS operate critique evenings which are really useful for getting a view from some of our more experienced photographers.
What format should the image be in?
Same as our internal competition i.e.:
- Projected Digital Images (PDIs) - no more than 1600 pixels on the horizontal and no more than 1200 pixels on the vertical.
- Prints - mounted on 500 x 400 frames
How do I send images in?
All entries can be sent to the External Competition Secretary at contactppsexternalcompsec@gmail.com.
You can also upload images using Photo Entry.
You can also upload images using Photo Entry.
How does an image get selected?
From the beginning of 2021-22 season we are operating an external competition selection bank.
Up to 5 open and 5 nature prints can be put forward to be part of this. You can replace images in this at any time if you change your mind.
Each image sent in will be scored by each member of the Selection Committee. We are looking to assess the image’s chance of doing well in a competition that generally will have quite high standards and where the judges usually have a few seconds to make a determination.
The top scoring images will be selected for entry to each competition based on a number of factors including:
Additionally, we aim to make our entry as inclusive as possible so a ‘better’ image from a photographer who has already had one selected may be excluded in favour of an image from a member who has no other entry provided that image is of a suitable standard.
Up to 5 open and 5 nature prints can be put forward to be part of this. You can replace images in this at any time if you change your mind.
Each image sent in will be scored by each member of the Selection Committee. We are looking to assess the image’s chance of doing well in a competition that generally will have quite high standards and where the judges usually have a few seconds to make a determination.
The top scoring images will be selected for entry to each competition based on a number of factors including:
- Competition requirements, for example number of images required, number of different photographers
- Their eligibility for that competition, for example previous use, nature specific
- Overall balance of our entry, for example, landscapes, portraits, sport etc.
Additionally, we aim to make our entry as inclusive as possible so a ‘better’ image from a photographer who has already had one selected may be excluded in favour of an image from a member who has no other entry provided that image is of a suitable standard.
How will I know if one of my images has been selected and how it fared?
A report is produced after each competition detailing how we did as a Club and how each image fared.
Can I get feedback on my images?
Yes, but you need to ask the External Competition Secretary as we will not feedback unless requested as some people do not want this.
What is the Selection Committee?
This is chaired by the External Competitions Secretary and will typically number 3 - 5 including the chair.
The members of the Committee have been chosen to represent as wide a skill set as we reasonably can. In addition to myself, the other members currently (November 2021) are:
The aim of the Selection Committee is to ensure that our selection is as fair and balanced as we can achieve and to have as wide a representation as possible commensurate with a good club entry.
The members of the Committee have been chosen to represent as wide a skill set as we reasonably can. In addition to myself, the other members currently (November 2021) are:
- Alf Myers
- Iain Jack
- Andy Philips
- Nancy Philips.
The aim of the Selection Committee is to ensure that our selection is as fair and balanced as we can achieve and to have as wide a representation as possible commensurate with a good club entry.
How do I take part?
That depends on which type of competition / exhibition it is that you are interested in.
- For Club competitions, our governance and selection process is described below, and a separate note describing the process in more detail is available on the website.
- For exhibitions and qualifications, more details can be found in the relevant section on the website or ask the External Competitions Secretary.
Governance
Overall responsibility rests with the PPS Committee who delegate the operation and overseeing to the External Competition Secretary who is a member of the PPS Committee.
The Club enter the same competitions each year and any variation from this is agreed by the Committee.
Image selection is the overall responsibility of the External Competition Secretary who will normally discharge this through a Selection Committee.
Entries can be accepted from any current members of the Club, within the constraints of the rules for any individual competition, and the membership will be notified of the competitions within a timely manner to allow this to happen.
The Selection Committee has the right to restrict entries e.g. to podium images from our internal competitions where practicality and timescales dictate this to be necessary. However there is a general principle of inclusiveness which allows any image by any member to be considered.
Members do need to be aware of the following key points:
The Club enter the same competitions each year and any variation from this is agreed by the Committee.
Image selection is the overall responsibility of the External Competition Secretary who will normally discharge this through a Selection Committee.
Entries can be accepted from any current members of the Club, within the constraints of the rules for any individual competition, and the membership will be notified of the competitions within a timely manner to allow this to happen.
The Selection Committee has the right to restrict entries e.g. to podium images from our internal competitions where practicality and timescales dictate this to be necessary. However there is a general principle of inclusiveness which allows any image by any member to be considered.
Members do need to be aware of the following key points:
- Entering images in our internal competitions automatically gives PPS permission to select these as part of our entry in any external competition unless you explicitly opt out. Normally we will only select from images that have been submitted for selection.
- Under L&CPU (etc) rules you can only enter images as the representative of one club. Any member who is a member of another club should declare this and decide which Club they are representing. You should tell PPS and the other club which club you intend to represent as failure to do so can lead to one or both clubs being disqualified.
For more information please contact the PPS External Competition Secretary on contactppsexternalcompsec@gmail.com.
Tim Gilbert - 7 November 2021
Tim Gilbert - 7 November 2021