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 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 other 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.

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. NEW for 2012-2013!! Images shall be judged on the story-telling aspect first. If all elements are judged to be the same, then pictorial quality 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, cultivated plants (see Rule 7), 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. NEW for 2012-2013!! Cultivated plants are not acceptable. If in doubt, check a wildflower guide or ask the Nature chairperson.

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.

Hosting NJFCC Competitions

Clubs Provide: Competition location and projection screens. 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 to host club on night of competition. The NJFCC also brings our multiple judge scoring device, the electronic image projector, as well as the laptop computer. 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.