I. ELIGIBILITY

Section 1.01 Any member in good standing and not on leave-of-absence may enter the monthly contests.

Section 1.02 In accordance with Article VI, Section 1 of the Membership Rules, no entry shall be accepted from any member who has payables to the Club in excess of one month in arrears.

II. ENTRIES

Section 2.01 Competition Formats for shall consist of the following unless otherwise officially modified and announced by the Board in the course of the year:

(a) Single Shot Color Print (SSCP): Color Print, produced conventionally with an enlarger or printed digitally, with an image created from a single shot or frame with a film or digital camera. Post processing is RESTRICTED (Please refer to definitions under Section 4). Images out of camera or scanned negatives in Black and White or monochrome equivalents shall disallowed.

(b) Color Print (CP): Color Print, produced conventionally or digitally. Post processing is UNRESTRICTED in this format (Please refer to definitions under Section 4). The image shall contain at least one more color other than black and white or monochrome equivalent. This is to differentiate the Color Print from the Black and White Print category.

(c) Black and White Print (BW): Monochrome or Black and White Print, produced conventionally or digitally. Post-processing is UNRESTRICTED (Please refer to definitions under Section 4).

Section 2.02 A print is an image (see definition and rules under Section 3) that has been reproduced on photographic print material, whether chemically, electronically or otherwise. Print entries must be on photographic or double-weight paper measuring 11″ by 14″. Use of textured fine art paper or watercolor paper such as Sommerset, Arches or similar brands/types is not allowed.

Section 2.03 Print entries may be with or without borders, and borders may be of any size or shape. Nothing may be pasted on the surface of the photograph.

(a) For SSCP and OTS entries, borders should not contain any design, regardless whether the design is part of or coming from the same photograph. Border color should be any solid color.

Section 2.04 All print entries must be labeled on the back with entrant’s full name, format (SS/CP/BW), theme, date, with an arrow pointing upwards to indicate the entrant’s intended orientation for his entry. Titles and other information, if any, may be placed on the back. The entrant’s name or any identifying mark should in no case appear on the surface of the photograph.

Section 2.05 A maximum of two (2) entries per member are allowed in each contest unless otherwise specified by the Contest Committee.

III. IMAGES

Section 3.01 Any image, as well as all components of an image, must originate as a photograph (image-capture of objects via light sensitivity) captured with a camera by the entrant on photographic emulsion (i.e. film) or acquired digitally.

Section 3.02 An image or any component of an image, whether digital or otherwise, must not have originated otherwise than from a photograph; for example, a digital file acquired by use of a scanner, a digital file created solely by way of software or a downloaded digital file cannot be used as a component of an image.

Section 3.03 All images and components of an image must be entirely the work of the entrant. A component of an image that is the work of someone other than the entrant is permissible provided that it is obvious that such component is not being presented as the work of the entrant (e.g. a picture of a sculpture or a billboard). There should be no uncertainty as to what work is that of the entrant and what work might be that of someone else. For example, a photograph of an Ansel Adams photograph would not be permissible but a photograph of someone looking at an Ansel Adams photograph hanging on the wall would be permissible.

Section 3.04 No photograph that has previously been entered in any competition within and outside the CCP, or which has been publicly exhibited or published, the internet included, shall be allowed to be entered in any Club contest in any format, even in a format different from the one in which it was previously entered. This lockout shall be effective until after the annual competitions.

Section 3.05 Entries that are the same may not be submitted by the same entrant in two simultaneous competitions, or simultaneously in one competition. To discourage repetition, the prohibition in this section shall apply to entries that are merely cropped differently, edited, converted from color to black and white, reused in a newly composed image, or any portion thereof.

IV. POST-PROCESSING

Section 4.01 UNRESTRICTED post-processing of images includes post-production manipulation, such as adjustment of sharpness, colors, compositing, super-imposing, layering, “spotting,” “clean-ups,” prior to printing. Addition of images are allowed subject to rules in Section 3 on images.

Section 4.02 RESTRICTED post-processing is similar to unrestricted post-processing BUT the ADDITION of additional images in the photograph other than the original single shot/frame of the photographer IS DISALLOWED. Layering and compositing of multiple images taken by the photographer in order to arrive at a single image is not allowed. Reproduction of sandwiched slides or negatives previously captured to compose a single image will not be accepted as well. Deleting and/or cloning of parts of the original single shot are allowed. Multiple exposures via film or digital camera will be allowed, so long as the camera or image capture device is capable of doing so. The resulting single shot shall come from a single frame, be it film or digital.

Section 4.03 Verification of restricted post-processed photographs will be done vis-à-vis the submitted original file of the entrant at the discretion of the Contest Committee.

V. SUBMISSION

Section 5.01 Unless otherwise specified by the Contest Committee, entries may be submitted to the club secretariat during office hours or to any member of the Contest Committee on any day before the day of the competition judging, or not later than 6:30 P.M. of the scheduled day of judging at the designated site of the meeting. Submissions made beyond the set deadline cannot be accepted as entries to the particular competition.

Section 5.02 .

For all entries, the processed file which was used for printing must be submitted together with the print. Resolution and size shall be 300 ppi/dpi, 11×14 inches, respectively. Each file must be named in the following file nomenclature LASTNAME (space) FIRSTNAME (space) FORMAT-SS/BW/CP (space) THEME (space) DATEIN MMYY (space) PROCESSED for checking and archival purposes of the Club.

For SSCP and OTS entries, the original scanned negative, slide, or unedited jpg/tiff/raw file on CD and the post-processed file must be presented together with the print for verification. Resolution and size shall be 300 ppi/dpi, 11×14 inches, respectively. Each file must be named in the following file nomenclature LASTNAME (space) FIRSTNAME (space) FORMAT-SS/BW/CP (space) THEME (space) DATEIN MMYY (space) ORIGINAL for checking and archival purposes of the Club.

Example: Emil Davocol’s submitted entry in January 2009:

DAVOCOL EMIL BW LANDSCAPE 0107 PROCESSED

Emil Davocol’s original of the submitted entry in January 2009:

DAVOCOL EMIL BW LANDSCAPE 0107 ORIGINAL

Section 5.03 Submission of entries assumes accompanying permission by the photographer for the Club to store files, digital or otherwise, of them and/or to use such entries in publications and exhibits and other public presentations. All entries that have qualified as defined in the section on Scoring and Awards below, shall remain in the custody of the Club for at least two years unless returned earlier by specific decision of the Board.

VI. DISQUALIFICATIONS AND COMPLAINTS

Section 6.01 The Contest Committee Chairman, and only the Chairman, may disqualify any entry which does not comply with any of the rules contained herein and/or any rules published specifically for any particular contest .

Section 6.02 Any complaint by any member regarding a particular contest must be in writing addressed to the Board , and mailed, hand-carried to the Club’s office or faxed or e-mailed to any Director or Contest Committee Member by an identified member not later than 5 days immediately following the contest date. After said deadline, no complaint of any kind shall be entertained, unless initiated by any Director at the Board meeting immediately following the contest concerned. The decision of the Board shall be final.

VII. ON THE SPOT COMPETITIONS

Section 7.01 The On-The-Spot Competition (OTS) venues and schedules will be published together with the themes for the coming year. Should weather conditions or incapacity of the CCP to travel to these published venues be apparent, the Contest Committee is permitted to suggest alternative dates and locactions for consideration of the Board.

Section 7.02 Particulars for each specific On-the-Spot competition will be published and distributed at least a week prior to the event and upon registration of the entrant. Information to be disseminated will explain the location, time and date, format of entry as well as restrictions or theme if any.

Section 7.03 The format for submission will be Modified SSCP. No post editing will be allowed especially out of the camera. All edits may be done through presets prior to the picture being taken but not after. Cropping is not allowed even if done in camera. Modifiers such as filters and the like may be used during the shoot. Multiple exposures will be allowed as long as the camera is capable of shooting them, submitted entry should still come from one file source. Pictures will not be printed but instead will be projected using an LCD projector. If shot in raw, submissions should be accompanied by its corresponding converted JPEG format, processed with default settings (no enhancements of settings).

VIII. THE CONTEST COMMITTEE

Section 8.01 The Contest Committee chaired by a member of the Board of Directors. The Chairman together with a minimum of two regular members of the CCP shall form the Contest Committee. The Chairman of the Contest Committee may nominate any regular member of the CCP to the Board of Directors and their inclusion will be subject to the Board’s approval.

Section 8.02 The Master Photographer Cup competition shall be under the full responsibility of the Contest Committee. Tendering of the entries will be through the secretariat or any member of the Committee on or before the prescribed date and place of submission. The submission will not be limited to the date of the actual monthly meeting and can be submitted to the committee through the secretariat during regular office hours.

Section 8.03 Aside from the regular monthly competitions, the OTS’s will be organized by the Contest Committee. This will include publication of rules and guidelines, registration, collecting of fees and acceptance of entries.

IX. SCORING AND AWARDS

Section 9.01 Prior to any competition, the judges will be briefed by a member of the contest committee in order to clarify both the scoring method and the theme, if any, as well as the submission format.

Section 9.02 At any time before and during the judging of any contest, all members must refrain from any action or comment which may reveal to any judge the identity of the entrant of any particular entry or which may tend to bias in any way or unduly influence the decision of any judge.

Section 9.03 Each entry will be judged on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1.00 as the lowest and 5.00 as the highest.

Section 9.04 The score of each entry shall be the average of the scores given by all the judges and only those garnering average scores of 3.0 and above will have the exact numerical value of the score. Ex: 3.1415 = 3.1415. Scores below 3 (2.999 and below) shall be equivalent to a score of one (1) and is considered a failing score or a non-qualifying score for that particular competition. Ex 2.999 = 1. On the other hand, this score shall be considered for the Conference Awards and other cumulative awards including the Photographer of the Year Award, the 100% Qualifier Award, the format and category finals, and other contests that the board may create.

Section 9.05 Tiebreak Protocol: In case of ties for monthly and annual competitions, these will be broken by re-judging the entries. This shall be applicable only to the top positions qualifying for awards. Should the judges not be complete to do a secondary round of arbitration on the tied positions, the tiebreak protocol shall be by using the highest individual scores from each judge. Among or between ties, the entry or entrant with the highest individual score shall prevail over the others. Should there be a tie among the highest individual scores from the judges, the second highest score shall be used and so on.

Section 9.06 For competition for Photo of the Year in all the categories, SSCP, Color Print, B&W, OTS, only the Top 20 qualifiers and ties of each monthly and OTS competitions will be included in the finals.

Section 9.07 The top three placers in the Photo of the Year award in all formats or categories (Single Shot Color Print, BW Print, Color Print, OTS) shall receive the following bonus points:

Photo of the Year – 1.0 Pt

Second Place – 0.6 Pt

Third Place – 0.3 Pt

Section 9.08 All regular monthly entries that have qualified shall be accumulated together with the two best OTS scores and bonus points (section 8.06) from yearend finals. The highest score from these various competitions shall be the basis for the Master Photographer Cup as well as the Top Ten Photographers of the Year.

Section 9.09 The following is the list of awards for the year. In all monthly and OTS competitions, First Place will be awarded with a medal, 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded with certificates:

(1) Photo of the Month: for the entry with the highest score for each regular monthly contest; 2nd, 3rd Places for the next highest total points for the monthly contests

(2) Photographer of the Month: for highest total scores of entrants for each regular monthly contest; 2nd, 3rd Places for the next highest total scores of entrants for the monthly contests

(3) OTS Best Photo: for the entry with the highest score for each OTS event; 2nd, 3rd Places for the next highest total points for the OTS contest

(4) OTS Best Photographer: for highest total scores of entrants for each OTS event; 2nd, 3rd Places for the next highest total scores of entrants for the OTS contest

(5) 2009 1st Conference Best Photographer: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place for highest total points for regular monthly contests of January, February, March

(6) 2009 2nd Conference Best Photographer: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place for highest total points for regular monthly contests of April, May, June

(7) 2009 3rd Conference Best Photographer: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place for highest total points for regular monthly contests of July, August, September

(8) 100% Qualifier Award: for any member who submits and earns passing scores for two entries for all regular monthly contests and two entries to at least two OTS events, all of which, without exception, earn qualifying points. “Failure” in other additional OTS events does not disqualify the member from this award.

(9) OTS 100% Qualifier Award: for any member who submits and earns passing scores for two entries in 4 out of 5 official OTS events.

(10) Single Shot Color Print Photographer of the Year: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for the member with the highest total of points earned in all regular monthly contests in the SSCP format.

(11) Color Print Photographer of the Year: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for the member with the highest total of points earned in all regular monthly contests in the CP format.

(12) Black & White Print Photographer of the Year: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for the member with the highest total of points earned in all regular monthly contests in the BW Print format.

(13) On-the-Spot Photographer of the Year: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for the member with the highest total of points earned in 4 out of 5 official OTS events

(14) Single Shot Color Print Photo of the Year: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for the winners of the finals among all qualified entries in all regular monthly contests in this format

(15) Color Print Photo of the Year: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for the winners of the finals among all qualified entries in all regular monthly contests in this format

(16) BW Print Photo of the Year: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for the winners of the finals among all qualified entries in all regular monthly contests in this format

(17) On-the-Spot Photo of the Year: 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for winners of the finals among all qualified OTS entries of the year

(18) Photographer of the Year: 2nd to 10th place for highest cumulative totals including all nine regular monthly contests and the two OTS contests in which the photographer did best for himself, plus bonus points earned in the Photo of the Year Awards.

(19) Master Photographer of the Year: 1st place for single highest cumulative total including all nine regular monthly contests and the two OTS contests in which the photographer did best for himself, plus bonus points earned in the Photo of the Year Awards.