Rules

1. Financial Member. Monthly Challenge of images is open to financial members only.
2. Original Work Entries must be the original work of the club member and may be in the form of monochrome or colour prints or digital images. Copies of other people’s works will not be eligible
3. Digital manipulation Images that have been digitally altered are acceptable for the Monthly Challenge  but all the material used must be from photographs taken by the member.
4. Re-entry of images An image that has obtained a score (Acceptance, Merit, Highly Commended or Honours) in a past Monthly Challenge night may NOT be entered again in future Monthly Challenge nights but may be entered in annual competitions. However, any image may be re-entered in accordance with suggestions of the Guest Reviewer or where in the opinion of the exhibitor such reprinting or remounting and digital adjustment presents a much improved or different exhibit, provided that a period of six months have elapsed between the original showing and re-submission.
5. Ownership and use of Images The author will retain ownership of all images submitted to the club. Permission will be sought to use any images in advertising or interclub events.  Entry into the Monthly Challenge  automatically grants the club permission to display low-resolution copies of the work in this website.
6. Maximum number
of entries and deadline for entries

2 images per month whether it be a mixture of one digital and one print, or two digitals, or two prints.

You can have a combination of ONE SET AND ONE OPEN IMAGE OR TWO SET IMAGES OR TWO OPEN IMAGES FOR PRINTS ONLY.  

ALL entries (Prints and Digitals) must be submitted before MIDNIGHT the Sunday AFTER the Workshop night.  This is to give the Guest Reviewer more time to look at your images.  Once submissions have been closed, no further entries will be permitted.
A good way to remember is that you have four days to submit your images after Workshop evening.
    PRINTS
7. Entry via website

If you intend to enter prints, you must register them via the web site in the same way as digital images are registered. 

All prints will be given a number (it will be sent to you via email) which is to be written on the back of the print along with your name, title and grade.

You are also required to submit a Digital Image of your print for our Guest Reviewer to look at your image before the night.  Please see Digital Images below for instructions on how to do this.
8. Print Size May be of any size up to 507mm (20in) by 405mm (16in) including mount and mat. Prints need to be mounted at least sufficiently to self-support being stood vertically.
9. Frame Prints may be framed but without glass.
10. Mount Mount on backing board made of cardboard or 3mm foam core. The surrounding matt improves the presentation.
11. Printing Prints may be trade or home printed.
12. Labelling The back of the print must be clearly labelled with the member’s name and grade, whether open or set subject, the title if any and the Print Registration Number which will be communicated by email before club night. PLEASE PUT THE TITLE IN CLEAR PRINTING AS THE PRINT HANDLER CANNOT SEE SMALL LETTER IN THE DARK.
    DIGITAL IMAGES
13. File type Images must be saved in jpeg format (.jpg).  File naming and Titles should not have any special characters!
14.
Image size for digital entries

Landscape format
Images should be sized to a maximum dimension of 3840 horizontal pixels by 2160 vertical pixels.  Please note:  Smaller pixel sizes potentially may not be up-sampled, but displayed as presented.  Jpeg files of this maximum size may be safely saved at maximum quality.

Portrait format
Images should be a maximum dimension of 2160 vertical pixels.
15. No entry by email Entries must be uploaded via the web site.
Failure to comply with the above may result in images not being accepted.
16, Entry via website Entries made via this web site are automatically formatted correctly, and the web site will take care of any downsizing necessary,  Images will not be upsized.
    AWARDS AND POINTS
17.

The images are reviewed by the Guest Reviewer and awards are made as shown.

Progression from grade to grade is by the achievement of honours plus points
Image of the Night 10 points. An extra point is awarded for Set Subject images
Honours 8 points. An extra point is awarded for Set Subject images
Highly Commended 6 points. An extra point is awarded for Set Subject images
Merit 4 points. An extra point is awarded for Set Subject images
Acceptance 2 points. An extra point is awarded for Set Subject images
Pass 0 points. An image 'passed in' may be submitted for review again
    Miscellaneous Rules
    Images are reviewed in groups according to grade - all grade C, all grade B, all grade A, and all Salon grade will be reviewed together.
18. Upgrading of members

Members will be automatically upgraded when they qualify for the next grade.

Grade C Bronze requires 30 points at C grade

Grade C Silver requires 60 points at C grade

Grade C Gold requires 90 points at C grade


Grade B requires 90 points plus 5 honours at C grade

Grade B Bronze requires 30 points at B grade

Grade B Silver requires 60 points at B grade

Grade B Gold requires 90 points at B grade


Grade A requires 90 points plus 8 honours at B grade

Grade S Bronze requires 132 points and 12 honours at A grade

Grade S Silver requires 220 points at S Bronze, plus 20 honours

Grade S Gold requires 330 points at S Silver, plus 30 honours
19. Discretionary Grading
  • New members start at C Grade.
  • A person who rejoins the NSPS and whose membership has lapsed for over one year will be considered a new member. Any historic points previously accumulated will be set to zero.
  • If a member believes they should be graded higher than their current grade (this includes new members) there are two alternative processes to move to a higher grade.
    • Submit a portfolio of 12 images to the committee for consideration
    • Have provided sufficient evidence to the committee to support a move to a higher grade.
    • In both processes the decision of the committee will be final
20. Images from Club Workshops

To provide some clarification, it is indeed allowed to submit an image taken at the recent workshop. The committee has thoroughly discussed this matter and found no rule prohibiting such entries at the Club level.

The primary objective of the workshops is to offer members unique learning opportunities that may not be readily accessible under normal circumstances. As long as you, as the photographer, had full control over your camera during the workshop, the resulting image is considered your own.

It is worth noting that even if someone was standing beside you and captured a shot at the exact same moment, they would likely have different equipment, such as a different camera, lens, and camera settings. Additionally, each photographer may employ distinct post-editing techniques. These factors contribute to the individuality and uniqueness of each photographer's work.

Other competitions such as the North Shore Salon  rules are:

  • Photographs taken during photo-tours and other workshops are permitted except that
    • Photographs taken under the direct guidance of a tutor are not allowed
    • Photographs , where lighting, props , models and sets are not specifically controlled by the entrant, are not allowed.

Important words to note are “Direct Guidance” and “not specifically controlled by the entrant are not allowed.”

During workshops held on North Shore Photographic Soc club nights, members are strongly encouraged to exercise control over their images and settings, thus enabling them to create their own distinct works.

This statement further emphasizes that the member participates in a workshop facilitated by a professional tour guide or workshop convenor. As long as the photographer retains complete control over their camera and settings during the workshop, they are eligible to submit the resulting image for the NSPS Monthly Challenge.
21. Final Authority In all matters, pertaining to the Club’s competitions, the Committee of the North Shore Photographic Society will be the final authority