OCUPS Photo Contest 2008

OCUPS MONTHLY PHOTO CONTEST
2008 CONTEST THEMES
 
Month Subject
January Shrimp
February Three of a Kind
March Eels
April Mollusks: Opisthobranchs, Snails, Octos, Squid, Clams, etc.
May Gobies & Blennies
June Plants & Algae
July Ambient Wide Angle
August Fish with Spots
September Diagonal Composition
October UW Reptiles: Turtles, Snakes, Alligators, Iguana, etc
November The Color Purple
December Annual Awards Banquet - no contest
 

CONTEST RULES

General:
1. This competition is open to OCUPS Members ONLY
 
2. The entry fee is $2 per submission or $5 for three submissions maximum.
 
3. Captured frames from streaming video are not allowed as single image contest entries. Digital images should be emailed, not later than Sunday evening preceding the meeting, to: ocups1@gmail.com
 
4. Digital Submission Guidelines:

Please name your files in the following format:

Category Abbreviation, a dash, First Name Initial, Last Name, image number.
For example: if your name is Babe Nemo and you are submitting 3 photos, in the Amateur category, the file names should be: AMA-BNemo1, AMA-BNemo2, and AMA-BNemo3
Category Abbreviation Key: OPE=Open, ADV=Advanced, AMA=Amateur
File Format & Size: Please use JPEG sized at 1024 x 768 (or 1024 maximum, on the longest side).
Submission Deadline: Photos should be submitted by Sunday evening, prior to the club meeting.

The Club is not responsible if the digital images will not project.
 
5. Only global (full-frame) modification of images is allowed for Novice and Amateur categories.
Global modifications are those that affect the entire image, such as cropping, saturation, white balance, levels, sharpening, and contrast.
Prohibited modifications include the use of layers or tools that are applied to specific areas i.e. brushes, healing, cloning, etc.
 
6. In the event of a challenge, the original image file or slide must be made available to the Club officers at the next meeting.
 
7. The entrant must have exposed all images underwater unless specified as a topside contest. Aquarium, pool and tank shots are not permitted.
 
8. No entry or copy of image that has previously won in an OCUPS competition may be re-entered in a subsequent contest.
 
9. The contest theme or subject must be the focal area of the image.
 
10. The Contest Director may disqualify any entry for rule stretching, marine conservation issues, out of theme or level entries.
 
11. Video Contest Rules:
a. Videos can be up to 30 seconds, unedited, continuous clip. As in stills, global changes are allowed.
b. Themes will be the same as for the still contest for the month but only one level, everyone in one category
c. Videos may be taken on a video camera or the video function of a digital still camera. A series of still shots is not permitted.
d. Up to two entries per month per person.
e. Members may enter in both the video and the still competition each month.
f. Do NOT include your name in the video file name; rather, choose a neutral name so that the owner cannot be identified, when video clips are shown for judging.
g. Do not email video files, as they are too large. Instead, video should be brought as an AVI file (or Mac equivalent) on a jump drive (preferred method), CD, DVD, or on a tape with your camera and cables for connection to the projector.
 
12. Permission to reproduce any entry, only for purposes of CUPS publicity, is assumed unless otherwise specified. All ownership and rights remain with the photographer.
 
13. Attendance Required to Place: Entrants must be present at the meeting to place in the photo contest. However, if you leave prior to the contest conclusion, you still qualify to place, as long as you were present sometime during the meeting. If you do not plan on attending the meeting, please do not enter photos.
 

Contest Points:
1. First, second, and third place entries are all considered winning entries.
 
2. Points are awarded as follows: 1st = 3 points;  2nd = 2 points; 3rd = 1 point.
 
3. There will be only three entry winners per division unless a tie occurs in third place, each tying entry receives 1 point.
 
4. In case of a tie for first or second place, the next lower place or places will be eliminated. Each tying entry receives full position points.
 
5. There must be a minimum of three entrants to award three places, per level of competition. If only two members enter, only a first place will be awarded. No contest if only one member enters.
 
6. For monthly photo contests where there is only one entrant in a particular category (Amateur or Advanced), the entrant is allowed to compete in the next higher category, only for that month. And, if the entrant places in the higher category, points for the placement will be awarded but be applied to their original category e.g. if a sole Amateur entrant participates in the Advanced contest and wins 2nd place, the entrant would receive 2 points in their original Amateur category.
 

Contestant Levels and Advancement:
1. Amateur: Only global changes* are allowed. This category includes members shooting an SLR camera system, with one year or less of underwater photography experience, or shooting with a point and shoot (PAS) camera. At the end of the year the first place winner/s or any member attaining 18 points shall advance to Advanced. PAS camera users who have advanced to the Advanced category and have entered images for at least 6 months, but have not accrued more than 6 points, may choose to return to the Amateur category the following year.
 
2. Advanced: Only global changes* are allowed. This category includes members having at least one year experience in underwater photography or who no longer qualify for the Amateur category. PAS camera shooters may choose, or be required, to be in this category. At the end of the first year, the first place winner/s or any member attaining at least 18 points (board confirmed) shall advance to the Open category. Members who have advanced to the Open category and have entered images for at least 6 months but have not accrued more than 6 points, may choose to return to the Advanced category the following year.
 
3. Open: Digital manipulation is allowed except for composite imaging (adding to an image). This category includes members who are considered professional or advanced underwater photographers by the OCUPS board or any member wishing to manipulate their images beyond basic global changes*. Open category members who have entered images for at least 6 months but have not accrued more than 6 points may choose to return to the Advanced category the following year.

*Definition of Global Modification: Changes that affect the entire images, such as cropping, saturation, white balance, levels, sharpening, and contrast. Prohibited modifications would include the use of layers or other tools that are applied to a specific area i.e. brushes, healing, cloning, etc.

Contestants may enter images for only one still category in a given year. However, the video category is separate and may be entered independent of the still category. Member eligibility for a category will be determined at the first of the year of when joining the club. Members may choose to move up a category, but not down, during the year, forfeiting all previous points accumulated.

Photographers taking photos with both PAS and SLR cameras will be classified as an SLR photographer. PAS photographers are not restricted to the Amateur category.
   
  The OCUPS board may review eligibility qualifications and request a member to change their category.
 

Image Definitions:
1. Macro A subject to image ratio of 1:3 or smaller.
 
2. Close Up A subject to image ratio of 1:4 or larger up to 12" on the diagonal.
 
3. Standard and Portrait Images taken in the 28-35 mm film lens range.
 
4. Wide Angle Images taken wider than the 28 mm film lens range.
 
 
 
 
 
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