Rules Common to all NJFCC Inter-Club Competitions

1. All contests are only open to NJFCC member clubs.

2. Images must have been made by the declared individual photographer. Submitting someone else's work is not permitted.

3. All entries must be received by NJFCC Chairperson on or before the competition due date.

4. Individuals having multiple club memberships are permitted to enter only under one club name for any given competition.

5. A club can submit a maximum of 3 entries per individual except for Tops in NJ where only 1 entry per maker is allowed.

6. Submission of virtually the same image in more than one division or print category is not permitted. *An example*: an image is submitted in a nature projection competition. It may not also be submitted in a pictorial competition or a print competition of any kind. Similarly, a monochrome rendition of a color image, and vice versa, may only be submitted in one of the categories.

7. Entries that did not receive an award in any competition are permitted to re-submit their image in a subsequent competition only one time, except as provided in the following rule.

7a. Medal, merit award, or honorable mention winning images from any non-TOPS competition may be resubmitted only one time in a TOP’s in NJ competition.

8. Persons submitting images to the NJFCC competitions must accept that NJFCC shall not be responsible for loss or damage to images or prints.

9. All images submitted for NJFCC competitions can be used for display only on the NJFCC website with full credit given to the maker. A maker can notify the appropriate chairperson if they wish to have their image removed from the website.

Pictorial Competition Rules

1. Images may not be created from scratch by drawing or any other non photographic means.

2. Photographic images may be distorted with software to create interesting looking images with the exception being the Photo Travel Competition. See rules in 3a, 3b, and 3c below.

*An example*: objects within an original photograph may be twisted to create an abstract or surreal image.

3. Special Photo Travel Competition Rules

3a. Photo Travel is defined as: An image that captures the feeling of a time and place, and portrays a land, its people, or a culture in its natural state.

3b. Ultra close-ups, studio type model shots are not acceptable.

3c. Any form of image manipulation that misrepresents the true situation or that alters the content of the image is not permitted.

4. Maximum number of entries per club is 24 except for Tops in NJ where the number or entries per club is unlimited. *Reminder* A total of only 3 entries per maker are allowed with the exception being Tops in NJ where only 1 entry per maker is allowed.

5. Image sizing

5a.Image files must have a JPEG file format and a maximum file size of 1.5 megabytes.

5b.Images must be saved in sRGB color space.

5c.Images must be sized for 768 pixels along the longest edge. Square images, where both height and width are 768 pixels, are acceptable.

5d.The photographer's name, trademarks and/or copyright notices may not appear in an image.

6. Follow the Club Competition Procedures for submission instructions.

Nature Competition Rules

1. All Nature competitions are divided into 4 individual categories: General Nature, Botany, Zoology (includes insects), and Ornithology.

2. Images shall be judged on pictorial quality first. If all elements are judged to be the same, then the story-telling aspect shall take precedence.

3. Human elements shall not be present except on the rare occasion where those elements enhance the nature story.

4. The presence of scientific bands on wild animals is acceptable.

5. Photographs of domesticated animals, mounted specimens and obviously set arrangements are not acceptable. Farm animals are considered to be domesticated. If an animal is an exotic pet, it must be taken in a natural setting - no bars, fences or man-made objects. Examples of exotic pets are chimpanzees, alligators, alpacas, etc.

6. Any form of image manipulation that misrepresents the true situation or that alters the content of the image is not permitted. Minor cloning to remove small incidental distractions in the image are permitted if the cloning operation is undetectable by the judge. A judge may disqualify any image in which he or she detects evidence of cloning or pasting.

7. Any live plant is acceptable as long as it is photographed in a natural setting.

8. Maximum number of entries per club is 24 total divided among the four categories except for Tops in NJ where the number or entries per club is unlimited. *Reminder* A total of 3 images per maker in all categories. The exception is Tops in NJ where only 1 entry makers may only enter one image in any one of the four categories.

9. Image sizing

9a.Image files must have a JPEG file format and a maximum file size of 1.5 megabytes.

9b.Images must be saved in sRGB color space.

9c.Images must be sized for 768 pixels along the longest edge. Square images, where both height and width are 768 pixels, are acceptable.

9d.The photographer's name, trademarks and/or copyright notices may not appear in an image.

10. Follow the Club Competition Procedures for submission instructions.

Print Competition Rules

1. There are four (4) categories in each of these competitions: Color A, Color B, Mono A & Mono B with the exception being the Tops in NJ competition which only has a Color and Mono competition. The member club chairperson designates their members’ class status for each print competition but the print chairperson can make the final determination based on previous year’s competitions and results.

2. Print and Class Definitions:

2a. Mono: The image must be monochromatic. A print having accent colors will be disqualified. An image need not be B&W to qualify—sepia and other like images are allowable as long as they are monochromatic.

2b. Color: Any print not fitting into Mono definition above.

2c. Class A: Designated for more advanced print makers. Class A includes all print makers who wish to compete at this top level as well as makers designated to this level by their club chairperson.

2d. Class B: Includes all print makers considered beginners by their club chairperson. *Reminder* When a print maker has accumulated sufficient promotion points, the NJFCC Print Chairperson will promote the maker to Class A and will notify the club chairperson that he/she should compete in Class A in the following competition year.

3. There is a minimum number of entries requirement in each class, A and B. If a class has less than 5 entries, those entries will be combined with the other class to form a single competition as class A. If such a combining occurs, class B contestants may withdraw their entries. Also, if such a combining occurs, class B contestants will not be automatically promoted to class A, but will acquire promotion points based upon existing promotion rules.

4. Images must fit within a 16 by 20 inch rectangle and have an area that is no smaller than 80 square inches.

5. All prints must be mounted only on a single mat board (single weight) or on foam core. The mount may not be larger than 16 by 20 inches and no smaller than the minimum image size. The mounting for images of size 16 by 20 inches must not extend beyond border of the printed image.

6. No foreign matter is permitted on a print, front of back, which may cause damage to other prints stacked above or below. Frames, glass, wire, staples, masking tape and adhesives are examples of items and materials not allowed on the exterior of any print.

7. NJFCC entry labels must be affixed on the upper right hand corner of the back side of the print. If the print is re-submitted, the first label should be X'd out and the second label should be placed below the first.

8. Maximum number of entries per club is 18 per category except for Tops in NJ where the number or entries per club is unlimited. *Reminder* A total of only 3 entries per maker, per category are allowed with the exception being Tops in NJ where only 1 entry per maker, per category is allowed.

9. Follow the Club Competition Procedures for print submission and return instructions.

Hosting NJFCC Competitions

Clubs Provide: Competition location, Print Viewing Box or Projection Screen depending on which competition is being hosted, members to pass prints through club's viewing box, and additional staff to record or read out scores. Clubs also arrange for, pay for, and introduce the three (3) judges.

NJFCC Provides: Central collection point for all club entries, randomize the order of entries, and bring all entries with score sheets (print comps only) to host club on night of competition. The NJFCC also brings our multiple judge scoring device, the electronic image projector, slide projector (if necessary), as well as the laptop computer (if digital imaging competition). The NJFCC chairperson conducts competition, collects score records, and returns entries (with NJFCC awards-Plaques, Medals, & Ribbons) to the club delegates at the next NJFCC monthly meeting or by mail (if postage has been provided). The NJFCC will also reimburse the hosting club $105 to offset the cost of the judges.