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Digital Image Specifications can be downloaded here

IMPORTANT! ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE 96 HOURS PRIOR TO THE IMAGE COMPETITION DATE.

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES BY USING THE FOLLOWING LINK:
IMAGE COMPETITION ENTRY FEE PAYMENT

ONCE YOU HAVE PAID USE THE FOLLOWING LINK  "IMAGE COMPETITION ENTRY UPLOAD FORM" OR THE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE TO SUBMIT YOUR IMAGES. YOU WILL NEED TO FILL OUT A FORM FOR EACH IMAGE YOU ARE SENDING.

Images submitted must meet the following guidlines or they will not be accepted!!!
1.File naming must be followed exactly as follows:
Category_Title_Lastname-Firstname
2. Image size for non-masters: 16”x20” at 200 ppi Format: JPEG quality 10
3. You must use the online form to upload your images. E-mailed images will not be accepted.

PPOC Digital Image Competition Entry Rules and Specifications

Image Categories

Portrait: Images captured of an individual or a group in a studio environment or an outdoor setting.

Commercial:  Industrial, table-top, advertising, stock, architectural, and aerial images.  If there is a tear-sheet of the image please you may submit it in an envelope the night of Image competition or use the digital Tear Sheet entry form at the bottom of this page.

Landscape/Nature:  Landscapes are defined as images of landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, nightscapes being the dominant subject; people can appear in the image.  Nature is defined as images where the flora and/or fauna are the dominant subject and no man-made objects are visible.

Wedding: An image captured for a wedding event.

Electronic Imaging: An electronically manipulated photographic image.  For further definition see below.*

Album: a compilation of the creator’s images.

Open:  any image which does not fit in one of the above categories.

Electronic Imaging: An electronically manipulated photographic image.

*Electronic Imaging definitions:

1. The addition of any compositional elements to the image in post production that was not present in the scene at the time of capture.  This refers to the adding of objects or people to an image that was not naturally in the image.  This does not include the use of the clone tool to remove unwanted objects and replacing the space with what would have naturally appeared had the object being removed not been there.  It also does not apply to swapping out heads or other parts with similar heads or parts from a like image.

2. The final image is created from a composite of 2 or more images used to create a scene that never existed in reality.

3. The use of any digital filters that do not function as or mimic a traditional photographic process or filter, either in camera or in the darkroom.

The same rules regarding maker and image apply as set forth in image competition rules posted on our site www.PPOC.org. Follow all file specifications listed below or your entry will not be accepted for the upcoming competition.

There is a $10 fee required for each image entered album entries are $10. You must pay your fee to submit your images through our online form.Go here to pay your entry fees and submit your images.
You may mail a CD of your album entry along with your check to PPOC 26861 Trabuco Rd. Suite E#340, Mission Viejo, CA 92691 or you can e-mail your album files to printcomp@ppoc.org
CD’s and $10 entry fee must be received the Saturday prior to the image competition you are entering. E-mailed files must be received the friday before Image Competition.
Digital File Specifications for Competition Image Uploads.
Non-Masters: Files  submitted for competition using the following specifications:
File Size: 16”x20” at 200 ppi
Format: JPEG quality 10 (file size must not exceed 3.5 mb)
Imbedded Color Profile: sRGB
Master Photographers: Files submitted for competition using the following specifications:
File Size: Longest dimension 20” at 200 ppi
Format: JPEG quality 10 (file size must not exceed 3.5 mb)
Imbedded Color Profile: sRGB
File naming must be followed exactly as follows or your entry will be rejected:
Category_Title_Lastname-Firstname
Album Competition:

CD Format Album Entry: 
See TUTORIAL at http://www.ppa.com/competitions/international/cd-album-tutorial.php, but please follow our naming request below.
1. Non-rewritable CDs are required for CD album entries, mail to 26861 Trabuco Rd., Suite E #340, Mission Viejo, CA 92691.
2. All Image files MUST be a horizontal canvas size of 2560 x 1600 pixels color space sRGB, JPEG at Quality setting 12 (That doesn’t mean you can’t have vertical images. See tutorial)
3. Each canvas/file may be a single album side or a spread with as many images as you desire.
4. An entry may contain up to 36 “Canvases/files”
5. Identify Canvas/files in the order to be viewed using two digits i.e. 01 jpg, 02 jpg, 03 jpg, etc.)
6. Canvas/file 01jpg MUST be blank - filled with BLACK
All Canvas/files for one entry Must be in one folder named with the following naming format: AlbumCategory_ Title of Entry-LastnameFirstname, in that order. i.e. AlbumWedding_Endless Love_JaneDoe.
Limit (1) album entry per CD.
Entrant’s Name/s  and Title MUST be written directly on the CD for identification. NOTE: In order to prevent jamming, NO labels can be affixed to the CD! 
Studio identification or entrant’s name cannot appear on any file within the album entry.
NOTE: In the case of any Multi-Maker album entries:
Each entrant must pay the appropriate entry fee.
Images in the album must be the work of the entrants, with a minimum of 20 images per entrant.
Multi-maker albums will be judged as one entry.
All entries are due 96 hours prior to the image competition date you are entering.

Professional Photographers of Orange County

Image Critique – Rules of Entry

The best learning experience occurs when you submit images into competition.  The PPOC Image rules are based on the International rules presented by the Professional Photographers of America.  While our guidelines are not as strict as PPA, the guidelines are in place to prepare our members for the degree of Master of Photography.  They are also in place so that we can encourage our members to participate and learn from their peers.

1.     SCHEDULE– Image critiques are held every quarter, beginning in February.  To participate,you must be a current PPOC member. 

2.     ENTRIES ALLOWED - You may enter up to four entries per critique.  Of the four entries, one can be an album.  The album may be an event or non-event entry.  An event would be considered to be a wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, anniversary party etc.  A non-event album would be considered to be a record of a commercial project, sporting or any record of project.  All entries must be titled.

3.     CATEGORIES – There are 7 categories.  They are Portrait, Wedding, Commercial, Open, Landscape/Nature, Electronic Imaging and Album.  Special categories may be added for special competitions as decided by the image committee and the PPOC Board.   Members are responsible for filling out the entry forms.  If you need help in deciding what category to enter, see a member of the image committee.  Images entered must be named in the format listed above.

4.     IMAGE DIMENSIONS – File Size: Longest dimension 20” at 200 ppi Format: JPEG quality 10 (file size must not exceed 3.5 mb)

Imbedded Color Profile: sRGB

5.     SCORING – Judges will score each image using a 100 to 0 scoring range.  All images receiving a score of 80 or higher will be considered a Merit image.  Any image receiving a score of 78 or 79 will be reviewed by the judging panel to further determine if the image is of merit quality.  Using thumbs up/down method, 4 out of 5 judges must approve to move the image into the merit category.

6.   JUDGES – The image chairman will invite judges to participate in the image critique. A maximum of 5 judges can judge at any given time. The make up of the panel should include at least 2 masters of photography. No one serving as a judge can enter image in that competition.

7.  PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR/OVERALL - Photographer of the Year-Overall will be awarded to member who maintains the highest average score of any 5 images from any of the above categories. Each entry must have scored a score of 80 or higher and from at least 3 categories.  

8.   PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR/CATEGORY – There can be up to 7 category winners. The winner will be determined by the member who maintains the highest average score of 5 entries from that category. Only those images receiving a merit score of 80 or above are eligible for determining the average score. Wedding albums will be included in the wedding category. Other albums will be included in the appropriate category.

9. IMAGE ELIGIBILITY – Any photograph that has previously received a PPC/PPA merit is not eligible for entry in the PPOC image competition. All entries must have been created by the entrant. For each entry, the member states that the image was made by him/her or under their direction. 

10. SPECIAL AWARDS - Special awards can be determined by the PPOC Board and the image committee. This competition will be announced in advanced and will have a special award. 

Any issue that is not covered by these rules will be determined by referring to the PPA print competition rules.  The PPOC print competition is the first level of a four level competition that covers PPOC, PPC, Western States and the PPA International.  Each of these competitions occurs annually leading up to the top photographs displayed at the annual PPA Imaging USA convention. 

The degree of Master of Photography is one of the most highly sought degrees in professional photography.  The members of PPOC strive for photographic excellence each and everyday.  It is through these competitions that the road to the Masters degree begins.


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