1. Who can participate in the online digit competition?
Answer: This competition is open to photographers of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals. Both members and non-members of the Churchville Photography Club are welcome to enter.
2. What are the categories?
Answer: There are five categories to choose from as follows:
Landscape - Includes Landscapes, Seascapes, Treescapes
Wildlife - Animals, birds, fish that are undomesticated (sorry pet people.). Macro images of bees, butterflies, and other insects are also accepted.
Architecture - Buildings (exterior or interior), building details, cityscapes, abandoned buildings.
Open - Any image that does not fit into one of the above categories. Etc: Animals within zoos, non-wildlife Macro (flowers), Street, Portrait, Abstract.
Student - Anyone from pre-K through 12th grade. Anyone above 12th grade is not allowed to enter in this category. Conversely, anyone student entering may only enter into this category. This category is meant to be Open, so any genre of photography will be accepted.
3. How many photos can I submit?
Answer: Each non-student participant is allowed to submit a maximum of four images across any category besides Student. If a student enters the Student category, they are allowed to only enter that category. Each photograph must be entered into a specific category and cannot be duplicated across multiple categories.
4. What are the entry fees for the competition?
Answer: Entry fees vary based on membership status. Members of the Churchville Photography Club can enter for a discounted rate. Maximum to four images per the below fee.
Churchville Photography Club Members: $20
Non-Members: $25
Students: $10
5. What are the technical requirements for photo submissions?
Answer: Photographs should be in JPEG format. The file size should not exceed 2 MB per image. Please ensure no watermarks or identifying marks are present on the image.
6. Can I edit or post-process my photos before submitting?
Answer: Human controlled post processing to any degree is allowed, but the original image capture must have been by the entrant (who holds its rights), & captured by some optical device, the exception being generic frames & textures are also allowed. The use of AI (generative AI) is not allowed! If an image is flagged by the judge(s) as potentially in conflict with the rules, the original, unedited RAW/JPEG image will be requested.
7. How will my photographs be judged?
Answer: Three judges will independently review & score all entries within each category. First place for each category will be based on the total score of all judges; Best of Show will be the single image with the highest score. Second & third places & honorable mentions will also be designated per category.
8. When will the winners be announced?
Answer: Winners will be announced during our live Zoom ceremony on June 01, 2024, which we’ll also report honorable mentions in each category. Shortly after, announcements will be made on our official website and social media channels. Winners will also receive a personal notification via email.
9. What prizes can I expect if I win?
Answer: The Best of Show will receive $150 (includes 1st place for its category plus best of show). The 1st place for each of the remaining four categories will receive $50. Winning pictures (Best of Show, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mentions) will be featured at the online exhibition.
10. Do I retain copyright to my photos?
Answer: Yes, photographers retain full copyright to their images. However, by entering the competition, participants grant the Churchville Photography Club limited rights to use their photographs for promotional purposes for the competition, with appropriate credit given to the photographer.
11. I'm facing technical difficulties while uploading or navigating the website. What should I do?
Answer: If you encounter any technical issues, please reach out to our support team at info@churchvillephotoclubcontest.com for assistance.
12. How many times can I enter the contest?
Answer: As many times as you want! However, the entry fee remains the same per 4 images. For example: first 4 images for a CPC member is $20; second 4 images on a separate submission will be an additional $20. There is no limit on the amount of times you submit to a specific category.
13. What is the processing fee?
Answer: The 4.25% credit card processing fee is to account for our online purchasing platform costs.