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SECTION C – PRINT COMPETITION RULES & REGULATIONS

There will be (4) four print competitions per year: February, May, August and November (or as adjusted by the Board of Directors). Category winners from the November competition will be awarded the CIPPA Photographer of the Year award for that category at the January Awards Dinner Gala.

1. ELIGIBILTY – Any member in good standing. All Active, Associate, Aspiring and Student members may enter prints in competition.

2. ENTIRES ALLOWED- The total number of entries allowed at one competition shall be four. More than one photograph of the same subject must be created in such a way as to produce entirely different photographs.

3. ENTRY FEE and CD-ROM - An entry fee of $8.00 shall be charged for each print submitted for competition. ALL print competition entrants must submit an 8x10 or 5x7 high-resolution image at 300 dpi on CD-ROM of each print submitted on the evening of competition. The makers name must be on the disk and the image file name must the title of the image as it is entered in the print competition.  This includes the annual November print competition regardless whether or not a CD was submitted for earlier quarterly competitions. In the event that CD is not submitted the evening of competition, the maker will be responsible to deliver a CD to the print comp chairman within 48 hours; otherwise the image will not be displayed on the CIPPA website nor will it be included in the CIPPA annual.

4. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS and INDENTIFICATION- All entries must arrive between 6:15 – 6:45 p.m. Once a category has been selected, images MAY NOT be moved to different category. All entries must be titled. The title, classification and name of maker must appear on the entry form and taped to the back of the print. Important: titles, ribbons, seals, studio name or name of maker must be removed or covered if they appear on the face of the print. The print competition chairperson in conjunction with the president can make exceptions to the above rules in extenuating circumstances.

5. SIZE and MOUNTING - Prints shall be not less that 80 square inches but not larger than 16 x 20 inches. All prints shall be permanently mounted on 16 x 20 mat board or gatorboard. Foam board will also be accepted, however, please be advised that foam board is easily damaged. Combined thickness of print and mount may not exceed one-quarter inch.

6. CERTIFICATION of RESPONSIBILTY- Entrants agree that they have created, composed and made the original within the last 24 months and that the processing, printing and any special effects were made by the person submitting the print or under their direction. Photographs made under the supervision of an instructor are ineligible for print competition.

7. CLASSIFICATION OF ENTRIES
Color, black and white, hand-colored or any photographically derived, print is eligible. Because CIPPA’s print competition is often times used to prepare for State and National competitions, CIPPA has adopted PPA/PPC’s classifications. The classifications are as follows:

Photographic Categories (16)

Portrait (Studio) – Images captured in a studio environment.

Portrait (Environmental) – Images captured in an outdoor setting.

Portrait (High School Senior) – Images of High School Seniors captured in a studio or outdoor setting.

Children – Images of a child or children.

Family – Images of a family group of two or more people.

Fashion/Editorial – Any image of a person or persons that would be considered fashion, high-fashion or glamour in nature.

Illustrative – Images representing an alternative type of creativity, photography, and/or not meeting the requirements of any other category.

Commercial/Industrial – Tabletop, advertising, stock, aerial, architecture or industrial images. If there is a "tear sheet" of the image, please include it in a 9x12 envelope attached to the rear of the image.

Wedding – Images captured for a wedding.

Wedding Photojournalism – Images captured at a wedding of a candid moment that reflects the storytelling. No posed images, studio produced images or digitally manipulated subject matter will be allowed in this category.

Non-Wedding Photojournalism – Images captured of a candid moment that reflects the storytelling. No posed images, studio produced images or digitally manipulated subject matter will be allowed in this category.

Landscape – Images of landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, nightscapes being the dominant subject. People may appear as a very small part of the image.

Nature – Images where the flora and/or fauna are the dominant subjects and no manmade objects visible.

New Artist – First-time entries in competition may be entered in this category.

Album - Album entries in 5x5 and larger sizes.  All photographs must be from the same social function, individual, family group or non-wedding event.

Electronic Imaging (E.I.) Categories

The Classification of categories is now being offered for those who excel in the creation of electronically enhanced images in order to award them for their expertise.

Criteria: Images that fit the following descriptions must be entered in the above 4 Electronic Imaging categories and do not qualify for Photographic Categories.

For more information on E.I. images, please see PPA’s State Print Competition Category Clarification.

The maker of the photograph shall designate the classification in which the print is to compete.

8. JUDGING PROCEDURES

The point system is used with scores from 100 to 0			Images are judged utilizing the 12 Elements of a PPA merit image.
Exceptional	100-95		1. Impact	7. Center of Interest
Superior	94-90		2. Creativity	8. Print Presentation
Excellent	89-85		3. Style	9. Subject Matter
Deserving of a Merit	84-80		4. Composition	10. Technique
Above Average	79-76		5. Lighting	11. Story Telling
Average	75-74		6. Color Harmony	12. Technical Excellence/Print Quality
Acceptable	73-70
Unacceptable	69-0

All prints that receive an average score 10 points higher or lower than any judge’s score will automatically be challenged. A judge or judges may discuss or critique prints only after all scores have been recorded. Judges may challenge another judge's score decision. All photographs receiving initial scores of 78 and 79 shall be automatically reviewed. On the re-judging, a change of a score shall be by a two-thirds vote. Approved prints shall receive a score of 80. The judges’ decision on the re-judged score shall be final.

Judges Comments – It will be up to the print competition monitor to either limit the time allotted per judges comments or the number of judges allowed to comment at each print competition.

Print Competition Monitor – the Print Competition Chairperson or designee.

Selection of Judges –  The Print Competition Chairperson shall select at least three, but not more than five judges.

Final Decision –  The print jury shall decide any questions not covered in these rules and their decision will be final.

Notification of judging results  –  The award winners shall be published in the following issue of the association newsletter and/or website. The number of points awarded each print by the jury shall be written on the back of each entry.

9. AWARDS

Images receiving a score of 80 or above shall be awarded an "Award of Merit" corner. The top print in each class shall be awarded "Best of Class" corner. In case of tie scores, the judges shall decide by a process of elimination the Best of Class. The prints from Best of Class, scoring 80 or above will then be judged by a process of elimination, for Best of Show.

Eligibility- To be eligible, you must have entered at least two (2) of the four (4) print competitions through out the current competition year. 

Category Awards and Criteria-

Best of Studio Portrait

Best of Environmental Portrait

Best of Children

Best of Family

Best of Fashion/Editorial

Best of Illustrative

Best of Commercial/Industrial

Best of Wedding

Best of Landscape

Best of Photojournalism

Best of Nature

Best of New Artist

Best of Album

Best of High School Senior Portrait

Best of Electronic Imaging (E.I.O

The above awards require a minimum of four (4) entries in a specific category in at least two (2) separate competitions. (with the exception of album category, where only two (2) entries are required in at least two (2) competitions). The award is given based on the highest aggregate score of an individuals four (4) entries in a single category .  Only the four (4) highest scores are totaled if more than four (4) entries were submitted. If there is a tie between two or more photographers in any category the photographer with the highest scoring print will be the winner of that category. 

The award is given only if there are four (4) or more images entries competing in that particular category through out the year with at least one image scoring 80 or above.  If any image scores 79 or below it can be re-entered again in a following competition in the same competition year. 

Photographer of the Year- Awarded to the individual with the highest aggregate score of their four (4) best scores in three different categories.  An individual must have entered at least six (6) entries  in print competition to be eligible for this award.  The first tie breaker will be the next highest score in any category. The next tie breaker will be the next highest score in a non-duplicated (twice scored) category. 

Top Three Images (per Competition). The top three entries at each print competition will receive a ribbon and will be recognized as the Best of Show, plus 2 Judges’ Choice awards (New!). All such images will also be recognized at the end-of-year Gala, and will be eligible for a completely new award described below…

Image of the Year Award. The top 12 three images of the year (top 3 x 4 print comps) will be sent to independent judges for outside review to determine the Image of the Year award. This award will also be recognized at the end of year Gala with a traveling trophy (to be circulated each year to the next winner), and a plaque for its maker to keep. This award is completely separate from, and in addition to, the coveted Photographer of the Year award.