ZOOM MEETING
Round Four of this season’s POTY competition is for DIGITAL images.
Members are allowed to enter a MAXIMUM of TWO (2) images. ONE (1) in the themed class and ONE (1) in the free-choice class. Members attention is drawn to the new rules for this round which have been introduced to comply with the guidelines of the ongoing National Lockdown.
Themed image - the defined theme is WOW…! (images may be colour or monochrome).
For this challenge Wow is defined to mean - To have a strong, usually pleasurable effect on the viewer. The theme is deliberately broad so as to encourage members to be creative
No limits are set to the amount of manipulation employed on an image. Such manipulation may not always be apparent to the viewer – or may be extreme and readily apparent (Altered Reality). The choice rests with the author provided all elements in the finished image originate from the author’s own image(s) taken in accordance with the rules for this round
Free-choice image - There is no constraint on the subject matter of the ‘free choice’ image and all genres of photography may be entered in colour or monochrome. In addition, there is no restriction on the level of manipulation allowed during processing post-capture of images for these images provided the finished image originates from the author’s own image(s) taken in accordance with the rules for this round.
NEW RULES FOR THIS ROUND - Currently during the National Lockdown imposed by the UK Government due to the ongoing covid pandemic we are all being asked to not to leave our homes unless absolutely necessary. It has therefore, been decided in order comply with the spirit of the published guidelines (LINK) and to create a level playing field that does not encourage anyone to break the ‘rules’ BOTH images submitted for this round must have been taken after midnight on 12th January without leaving ‘home’.
We hope to be able to revert to the normal rules for Round 5 but a final decision will be made nearer the time when the situation is clearer.
DEADLINE - for submitting images is TUESDAY 9th February (Midnight). The reference to be added at the end of the file name is POTY 4T for the themed or defined image and POTY 4F for the photographers’ free-choice image Members are also reminded that images submitted for NDPS competitions MUST contain the minimum metadata specified in the Society’s competition rules
The Judge for Round 4 is David Kissman CPAGB BPE2*, North & East Midlands Photographic Federation
Norwich & District Photographic Society (NDPS) prides itself on being a friendly group of people all with a common interest in capturing and creating photographic images. NDPS’s overall aim is that with the support of the more experienced photographers within the Society all members are able to become the best photographer they can be.
NDPS holds regular competitions throughout the year to give members an opportunity to put their skills into practice, and these are a great way to improve and get feedback on your own photography. Currently the ‘Photographer of the Year’ (POTY) is the most prestigious competition that NDPS members are able to enter.
A maximum of TWO (2) images, per photographer, are permitted to be entered in each round, that are correctly sized, formatted, titled, and submitted via the Members’ Area of the NDPS website before the stated deadline as follows:
ONE (1) image the theme for which has been ‘defined’. Any restriction regarding the level of manipulation allowed during processing post-capture of the image will be also be including in the definition for the round.
ONE (1) image the theme of which is the photographers ‘free choice’. There will be no restriction on the level of manipulation allowed during processing post-capture of images for these images.
Overview of POTY Structure
The POTY competition consists of TWO (2) parts.
In the first part of the competition there are FIVE (5) rounds with members competing in TWO (2) leagues
In the second part of the competition the THREE (3) photographers in each league with the highest score at the end of the first five rounds will compete in a SIXTH (6th) and ‘Final’ round to be elected the ‘Photographer of the Year’ by the members of the Society.
The Leagues
To encourage more members to enter images and allow them to improve their photography at their own pace over time there will be TWO (2) leagues
f2.8 league - those members who have, passed photographic qualifications (minimum A Level, or NVQ Level 3), awarded photographic distinctions (for example RPS, PAGB etc.), have in the past FIVE (5) years won previous POTY rounds, and/or awards in previous NDPS exhibitions (or their equivalent), and/or are generally accepted to be accomplished ‘club’ photographers.
f5.6 league - those members who are less accomplished photographers, and/or are new to photography.
At start of the 2020/2021 season (and before the start of each subsequent season) members will choose which league they wish to join, and they will remain in that league throughout the season. There will be no automatic promotion or relegation between the leagues at the end of each season, but members who have excelled in the f5.6 league will be encouraged to move up to the f2.8 league. A member who wins the f5.6 league in each of TWO (2) consecutive seasons will be expected to move into the f2.8 league at the start of the next season
A member of the f2.8 group whose work throughout TWO (2) consecutive seasons has consistently been amongst the weakest may also be encouraged to move down to the f5.6 group. New members of the Society will normally be placed in the f5.6 league unless following discussion with the Competition Secretary it is decided that the current standard of their photography merits inclusion in the f2.8 group.
A full st of the rules for all NDPS competitions can be dowloaded from the Members’ Area of the website. If a member has any doubt about the rules or the eligability of an image they are planning to submit they should seek clarification from the Competition Secretary before entering the competition.