1. There’s no time limit on submissions, although more recent work is to be encouraged.

2. The maximum number of submissions for Competitions shall be decided each year, based upon anticipated numbers of entries/participants. These limits will be confirmed at the start of the season, but may be revised by the Competition Secretary, as and when deemed necessary, depending upon the actual numbers submitted.

3. No entries can be submitted for the Annual Competitions unless the author has already entered into at least two of the respective Monthly Competitions. (Exceptions will be made for new members who have joined part way through the season.)

4. Entries should be submitted by the dates specified in the Syllabus. Acceptance of late entries will be at the discretion of the Competition secretary.

5. Digital Images should be submitted on a CD, clearly marked with the Author’s name, and the relevant Competition title. All entries must be accompanied with a completed entry form.

6. Natural History images may not be entered into the Monthly Open competitions, but they may be entered into the Set Subject competitions if appropriate for the topic.

7. Restrictions on Resubmissions

8. Image Format: (excluding the "One Print Competitions" which will require conventional printed picture. Mounting is optional).

In Order to facilitate digital projection on the presentation night, all entries should be submitted in "Digital Image" format. The file to be JPEG and sRGB, with Maxi Quality (12). (nb The resolution is unimportant, for projection purposes).

As an interim measure, authors unable to provide Digital Files will be able to submit unmounted photographic prints instead, for digitalising by the competition coordinator or another member. These prints should be as near as possible to, but no larger than, 10 x 7.5 inches. When digitalised, any print of a smaller dimension will have a black border digitally added, to make it the same display size as the others. (If possible, authors without appropriate facilities should try to make arrangements with other members to digitalise their prints rather than overload the Competition Secretary.)

Details of the various Competitions, and current entry numbers for each, are shown below:-

Monthly Digital Image Competitions (Over four separate weeks)

Comprise of OPEN, SET SUBJECT and NATURAL HISTORY.

_Accumulator Competition. _ A single image is entered, either separately or in addition to the first monthly competition images, and will go to each monthly judge to be scored from 0 to 10 . The highest score from the accumulated marks wins.

"Panel of Four Colour Images" - "Continental Car Trophy" – on a common theme, excluding Natural History. A summary image showing all four originals should also be provided

Natural History – Trophy

Best Monochrome Image – "Hardy Cup" or "Plaque" (May include Natural History images)

Portraiture (Mono. Or Colour Images) - Boardman Cup" – includes portraits entered into any other of the Annual competitions

Nb: Animal portraits are not eligible for this award (Ref. Appendix 2)

Table Top Image (Mono. Or colour) – "J.L. Alderson Cup"

Using "Pictures to EXE" or any similar program, exactly 12 images should be submitted on a CD, used for each Theme or Story entered. (Introduction and End images, may be added if desired). No Time Line, Music or Commentary should be used, and Images should be programmed to allow progression by the mouse.

The judging criteria should put particular emphasis on Image quality.

This will consist of a programme of up to 12 minutes duration (which is in-line with L&CPU A/V Competition standard), although anything above 5 minutes will be acceptable, using "Pictures to EXE" or any other similar program. It should have one or more of sound/music/narration. It must be submitted on a CD. The presentation should progress and switch off automatically, and the file should be in "exe" format such that it can run without support of any other software. The judging criteria should put particular emphasis on the A/V production, rather than just image quality.

"Colour Digital Image Folio" – for Image with highest total mark.

For this competition there’s no restriction on the images’ previous competition use or placings. Authors are required to submit entries on a CD, in required format. A master disc, containing all these entries, will then be produced by the co-ordinator and distributed to just the participants, for commenting on and marking each image out of ten (with the exception of their own). This will take place over a four week period. The individual marks for each image will then be added together to establish the winner.

"Monochrome Digital Image Folio" – as for above "Colour Folio"

"One Open Colour Print Competition" [excludes Natural History] Each author may submit a previously unshown print which must have been taken within the last 12 months. The print size would be a minimum of 10" x 7" and a maximum of A3+. . All members present on the night will be eligible for judging all the prints (except their own), and allocating 1st, 2^nd and 3rd places.

"One Monochrome Print Competition"[ including natural history] – As for the above "One Open Coloured Print" competition.

"One Natural History Print" – As for the above "One Open Coloured Print" competition (nb The above three "One Print Competitions" will be run on the same evening)

Photographer of the Year Award (for combined Image Competitions)

Awarded for maximum a cumulative points from all Monthly and Annual competitions, excluding the following – Folio Comp {Colour & Mono}, 1 Colour Print, 1 Mono Print, 1 Natural History

Print, 12 Image Theme / Story.

1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places to be allocated 5, 4 and 3 points respectively

If desired, the judge may also award up to two ‘Highly Commended’ and any number of ‘Commended’ in each category, which will be allocated 2 points and 1 point respectively.

Open – Max 4 images

Set Subject – Max 4 images

Natural History – Max 4 images

Annual Image Competitions:-

Table Top – Max 2 images

Portraiture – Max. Individual entries 2 images (plus other portraits entries in Annual Comps)

Natural History – Max 2 Images

Panel of Four Images – One Set of 4 images, plus a Summary image showing all four originals

Monochrome Images – Max 2 images (plus other Monochrome entries in Annual Comps)

Colour Digital Image of the Year – Max. Individual entry 1 image (plus other Colour entries in Annual Competitions)

Colour Image Folio – Max 5 images

Mono. Image Folio – Max 2 images

One Colour Print – 1 print

One Monochrome Print – 1 print

One Natural History Print – 1 print

Twelve Image Story/Theme – 1 set

A portrait may consist of a photograph of an individual, or a group of individuals, for the purpose of reproducing characteristic likeness.

NB Animal portraits may not be entered into the Boardman Cup.

Nature photography covers images of birds, plants, animals, fungi etc. Provided that they are not domesticated or cultivated.

It also covers subjects such as weather and geology provided they are titled to show their significance in the natural world.

Any manipulation of the image is limited to minor retouching of blemishes, exposure, sharpening etc. and must not alter the content of the original image.

Titles must be specific and correct. Latin titles are not essential if the species can be accurately titled in English.