Competition Rules

Note – for print entries, see below

DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS

SIZE FOR DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS
Your file MUST NOT exceed 2 MB per photo entered.

FORMAT FOR DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS
Your file must be in the JPG Format. No other formats will be accepted for entry.

SIZING DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS:

HELPFUL HINT – To double-check the size of a photo (or anything else), right click on the start button, and choose “Explore.”  This gives you a “tree” of everything in your computer.  Find the photo, right click on it, and choose properties.

Using Elements or Photoshop:

With the photo open, click on Image (top of window) and choose resize > resize image (or Image Size).  Set the widest/longest part of your photo (either width or height) to a width/length of 2000 pixels in pixel dimension.  Click OK.

Using Lightroom:

With the photo open, click on File > Export and export the photo to the folder you choose. (Be sure to name your file according to the LPS naming convention discussed here.)

Follow the steps shown in the screenshot below:

1. From within the Export dialog box, under the File Settings dropdown menu, select JPG or JPEG for the Image Format.
2. Under the Image Sizing dropdown menu, check the box next to “Resize to Fit” and make sure “Long Edge” is selected.
3. Enter “2000 pixels” for the size.
4. Click “Export” when finished and you’re done.

Using something else?  Click on “Help” at the top of the window and search for (or type in the “Index”) the word  resize.

FILE NAMES

Note:  Winning PRINT photos must be submitted digitally within 2 weeks after the meeting in which their points were won.  Submit winners to: LPSPrintWinners @ gmail.com  (Be sure to remove the spaces in the email address.)

Your Submissions must be named as follows. No other names or variations will be accepted.

• FOR DIGITAL ENTRIES (not prints that have been digitized) your file name should start with “Dig-“
• First, indicate whether you are entering as “Amateur” (M) or “Advanced” (A). Put either an A or an M as the first letter of your file name. Follow it with a dash. Then, use a three digit number signifying whether it is your first or second submission for the competition. For Color Prints, this should be 001 or 002. For Monochromes, this should be 003 or 004. For Digitals, this should be 005 or 006.
• Then use a dash (same as a hyphen or a minus sign.)
• Next insert a six digit number that corresponds to your first, middle and last initials, where A = 01 and Z = 26. For example, Betty Ann Palmer’s initials are BAP so her number would be 020116, where 02 = B, 01 = A, and 16 = P.  If you do not have a middle name, use the numbers 00.
• Then use another dash (same as a hyphen or a minus sign.)
• Next insert a four digit number indication the month and year of the competition (mmyy). For example, Sept. of 2006 would be 0906.
• Then use another dash (same as a hyphen or a minus sign.)
• Finally, add the SHORT name of the photo with no spaces in the name.

EXAMPLE OF A FILE NAME:

Amos Bertrum Colvin is in Advanced.  His first monochrome photo for the Jan. 2021, which he names “In Flight” would be named:

     A-003-010203-0121-In Flight

           A = competing in the Advanced Division
          003=first MONOCHROME entry
          010203=the person’s initials, in this instance A B C
          0121=the 1st month (January) of  2021
          In Flight = The name of the photo

Betty Ann Palmer is an Amateur. Her first digital photo for the Sept. 2020 competition, which she names “Pretty Photo” would be named:

Dig-M-005-020116-0920-PrettyPhoto   (Note – if this is a digital entry and not a digitalized print entry, it should start with “Dig-“

       M = an amateur  (or “Dig-M-”  if it is a digital entry)
       005 = first DIGITAL entry
       020116 = the person’s initials, in this instance B A P
       0920 = the 9th month (September) of 2020
       Pretty Photo = the name of the photo

Digital submissions must be received at least two weeks before the meeting when they are to be judged. They may be brought to the meeting the month before. Entries not received by the deadline (two weeks before the meeting at midnight) will not be accepted.

Note: Early submission applies to digital entries only. Prints are brought to the meetings and entered at that time. Be sure to fill out the Entry Form at the meeting with the names of all your entries. 

PRINTS –

All prints plus matting (if used) (i.e. – the total entry) must measure 16″ x 20″.  All colored mats are acceptable, but white of black mats are usually favored. Prints may be either horizontal or vertical.  Prints are submitted before the beginning of the meeting.  

RULES FOR COMPETITIONS IN GENERAL, and AWARDING OF POINTS

You must be a member of LPS to enter any LPS competition. Membership applications can be found through the link on the home page. You may also join at any club meeting. See the home page for more information on when and where the club meets.

• Competitions are for members only, but membership is open to everyone.  Competitions are held monthly at the LPS meetings (second Wed. of the month, 7:00 PM.  See home page for directions to meeting location.)  Print entries should be placed on the tables by 7:00 PM.
• The categories for the competitions for the year are decided upon by the membership in the fall.  Suggestions for categories should be submitted to the Board of Directors at or before the October meeting.
• The three divisions for competition are:  Color Prints, Monochrome Prints, and Digital Submissions.  No more than a total of 6 entries may be submitted for each meeting, with no more than a total of 2 entries in each group.
• All prints (color and monochrome,) should be mounted so that the entry is 16″ X 20″, either horizontally or vertically.  Mats may be used to enhance the print, and there is no restriction on the color of the mat, though some judges show a preference for white.  Click here for restrictions for print entries or how to mount your own photos.
• The same photo may not be entered in more than one category on the day of a competition (i.e., if you enter a color print, you may not also enter it as a monochrome print, and/or a digital print on the same night.) “Same photo” means an identical shot, – one having the same content and composition. An enlarged or reduced copy may also not be entered on the same day.
• Different photos taken of the same subject at different angles, and photos involving movement of the subject or the passing of time are permissible, both as multiple entries on the same day, and as variations on a photo that has previously won points.  Crops of winning entries are not allowed to be entered, nor are any other photos made by adjustments to winning entries.  Once a photograph has won points, no part of the negative, print, slide or digital file may be entered again in an LPS competition, except for the year-end competition in the year in which it received it points.
• Adjustments to photos such as those done in the dark room, developing process or with computer “photo manipulation” programs are permissible. This would include adjusting contrast or color, burning, dodging, sharpening, blurring, etc. However, adding items supplied by computer programs (such as a flower, the moon, etc.) is not permitted.
• All prints should have the name of the exhibitor and the title of the print on the back of the print in the upper left corner.  This is opposite of the way tags are affixed for the KY State Fair.  No identification should appear on the front of the print. In the event that a slide competition is offered (which it currently is not,) all slides should be identified with the slide UPSIDE DOWN and the non-emulsion (smooth) side showing.  The name of the exhibitor should be on the top of the mount, and the title of the slide should be on the bottom.  Additionally, there should be a dot ( . ) on the upper right corner of the non-emulsion side of the slide.  This is to insure that the slide is inserted properly into the slide projector.

Points for the competitions are awarded as follows:
First = 12 points
Second = 8 points
Third = 5 points
Honorable Mention = 2 points

All entries that have received 2 or more points during the year are eligible to be entered in the End of The Year Competition, but only exactly as they were presented when winning their points. A digital copy of the point-winning print must be submitted to the designated board member within a month after winning its points. The winner is the “Best Of The Best.”  The winners from the Year End Competition are announced at the LPS Banquet held every February.

Entries winning points in the category of Novice Division (not the same as Amateur Division, and no longer offered) may be entered again in the Advanced Division, at which time they are subject to the same rules for entry as in the Advanced entries.