Banner photo by Byron Butler – “Lake in the Clouds”
IMPORTANT Details
The AMATEUR LEVEL is intended for those interested in competing at the Novice or Intermediate Level. People who are experienced photographers should not compete as Amateur.
The ADVANCED LEVEL is intended for Professional Photographers (who earn more than 50% of their income from photography) and for photographers who have had gallery showings. However, anyone who wishes may compete at this level.
REMEMBER – Once an entry’s (or any part of the entry’s) negative, slide or digital file has received points at a regular LPS meeting, it may not be entered again in any of the LPS competitions except for the year-end competition of the year in which it won the points. Crops of an entry that has previously won LPS points are not allowed.
Digital Submissions
Size
MUST NOT EXCEED 2000 PIXELS ON LONGEST SIDE AND 2MB IN FILE SIZE
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.
Follow these steps:
- From within the Export dialog box, under the File Settings dropdown menu, select JPEG for the Image Format.
- Under the Image Sizing dropdown menu, check the box next to “Resize to Fit” and make sure “Long Edge” is selected.
- Enter “2000 pixels” for the size.
- Click “Export” when finished and you’re done.
Using Something Else
Click on “Help” at the top of the window in Photoshop, etc. and search for the word “resize”.
Format
Your file MUST be in the JPG Format. No other formats will be accepted for entry.
File Name
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-“
- 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 “-” (same as a hyphen or a minus sign.)
- Then, use a three digit number signifying whether it is your first or second submission for the competition. For Digitals, this should be 005 or 006.
- Follow it with 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. - Follow it with a 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. - Follow it with a 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
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
“Dig-“ = Digital Entry
M = an amateur
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.
Entries not received by the deadline (two weeks before the meeting at midnight) will not be accepted. Early submission applies to digital entries only.
Prints are brought to the meetings and entered at that time. Be sure to fill out and turn in the Monthly Competition Form, mentioned above, with the names of all your entries.
Print Submissions
All prints plus matting (if used) (i.e. – the total entry) must measure 16″ x 20″. All colored mats are acceptable, but white or black mats are usually favored. Prints may be either horizontal or vertical. The size of the actual photograph should be no smaller than 8″ x 10″. Prints are submitted before the beginning of the meeting.
Rules for Competitions
You must be a member of LPS to enter any LPS competition. Membership applications can be found through the link on the Membership Information page. You may also join at any club meeting. See the Meeting Info & Directions page for more information on when and where the club meets.
Members Only
Competitions are for members only, but membership is open to everyone. Competitions are held monthly at the LPS meetings (second Wed. of the month). Print entries should be placed on the tables by 7:00 PM.
Categories
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.
Divisions
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.
Print Entries
All prints (color and monochrome,) should be mounted so that the entry is 16″ X 20″ (including the mat), either horizontally or vertically. There is no restriction on the color of the mat, though some judges show a preference for white. For more information on preparing your prints for competitions, go to our Preparing Your Photos for Competition page.
One Version Per Entry
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.
Winning Entries
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 of 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
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.
Labels
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.
Awarding of Points
Points for the competitions are awared as follows:
First Place
12 Points
Second Place
8 Points
Third Place
5 Points
Hon. 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.
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