EPS Competitions
Tips & General Information
The 5 x competition dates and themes for each are aligned to the Northern Ireland Photographic Association (NIPA) calendar. Our winning entries are sent to them for inclusion in their all NI clubs judging.
Our participation in competitions is designed to encourage members to:
- print your images
- view different work and ideas on a theme
- receive constructive ideas for image and technique improvement
- jump the hurdle/nervousness of publicly displaying work
- and for the club to be active in the NI photographic scene
Themes
The themes this year are:
Sept 25th – ‘Open’ (ie. any subject)
Oct 23rd – ‘Macro’
Dec 4th – ‘Open’
Jan 22nd – ‘Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)’
Feb 19th – ‘Open’
Enniskillen Photographic Society Competition Rules
The five competition dates and Themes/Genres for each are aligned to the Northern Ireland Photographic Association (NIPA) calendar.
• Changes to competition rules shall be made at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
MONTHLY COMPETITION RULES
- Each member may enter up to two colour prints, two Mono prints and two digital images in each section.
- Prints must be mounted. Maximum size of mount is 40cm x 30cm. Mount colour can be white, cream or black only. The print can be any size withinthe mount.
- The name of the author must not appear on the front of any submission.
- Title of the image must be written on the back along with your name and class (i.e. Advanced or Novice).
- The points awarded to any novice will be totalled over the monthly competitions throughout the year and a ‘novice of the year’ trophy awarded ineach section.
- At the end of the season, trophies will be awarded to members scoring the highest number of points in each section.
- Points in each section will be awarded as follows:1st – 3 points 2nd – 2 points 3rd – 1 point
- Four winning images in each section will be forwarded to the Northern Ireland Photographic Association (NIPA) inter club competition. The selection process is at the discretion of the competition secretary or committee.
- ‘Starred’ prints both mono and colour will be retained by NIPA to form a portfolio which will be available on loan to club members. (Starred prints are entries which receive 13 points or more in the NIPA inter club competitions).
- Entries which have been exhibited in previous Annual Exhibitions or Monthly Competitions are not eligible for entry in the Monthly Competition.
NOVICE
A novice is someone who does not meet the criteria set out below.
- Achieved two first placed images in any section in up to two previous Annual Exhibitions.
- Won the ‘novice of the year trophy’.
- Achieved success in the relevant section of any open exhibition or competition organised by a recognised photographic society.
- Produced work in the relevant section which is obviously of an advanced standard.
- Obtained two ‘Starred’ images in any NIPA Competition.
- Obtained a 3rd level academic photographic qualification.
- Obtained a distinction from a National or International photographic body.
- Obtained two acceptances in Salons, Open Exhibitions or the PAGB Inter-Federation Annual Print and PDI Competition.
- Offer their photographic services, training or skills development for remuneration.
The Committee reserve the right to review the status of any member whose work is considered by the committee to be clearly of an advanced standard. E.P.S. novice definition is not aligned to NIPA/any other organisation.
• Images must be entirely the work of the Photographer. In composite images, all component images must meet this requirement. For the avoidance of doubt, use of images from any other source including, but not limited to, royalty free image banks and clipart are not permitted. This includes the use of AI to generate backgrounds, elements, or enhancements that were not originally captured by the photographer
• In the case of portraiture or any photograph featuring identifiable individuals, it is the photographer’s responsibility to obtain a signed model release form from each subject. The release must grant permission for the use, publication, and distribution of the image(s) for the intended purpose(s).
Advanced members who were moved from novice status as a result of winning one first in a previous annual exhibition may be eligible to return to novice status.
If this applies to you, please let us know.
Each request will be considered individually by the Committee.
Speak to anyone of the committee in person, by WhatsApp or email:
enniskillenphotosociety@gmail.com enniskillenps.secretary@gmail.com
DPI (Digital Projected Image) Mono and/or Colour
- you may enter a maximum of 2 images into this category
- There is a maximum size for digital images and some other criteria to meet according to NIPA rules:
(a) Be in jpeg format and sRGB colour space
(b) Be sized to a maximum of 1600 pixels wide and a maximum of 1200 pixels high.
If your image is portrait orientation (vertical) then you are limited to 1200pixels for height. If your image is landscape orientation (horizontal) then you are limited to 1600 pixels for width.
- Give a title to each image along with your name and class.
- Upload your images to PhotoEntry (details given at Club)
Resizing images – software
PhotoscapeX
GIMP – editing software, free – https://www.gimp.org
Canva – very basic editing software, free – https://www.canva.com/photo-editor/
IrfanView – editing software, free – https://www.irfanview.com
ResizeImage – only for resizing, free – https://resizeimage.net
PicResize – only for resizing, free – https://picresize.com
Photoshop, Lightroom, Affinity – not free, all editing software.
Presentation – Prints:
- Prints must be placed into a card mount.
The mount outside dimensions must be maximum 400 x 300mm and be white/off-white or black only. Square images are acceptable as long as the maximum mount does not exceed the 300mm dimension above (eg. 400 x 400mm is not acceptable).
- The print can be any size within the mount.
It’s always a good idea to place a backing board onto the rear of your photos before attaching them to the mounts, a piece of cereal box or other light cardboard is more than suitable for this.
Specialist photo tape is available for sticking photos to the backing board or mount, but if you don’t a have any, white masking tape is an ok alternative as it can be removed and repositioned without too much drama. Try to avoid brown packing tape as once it’s on it’s pretty impossible to move or remove.
Mounts aren’t that costly when you consider you can re-use them over and over again throughout each (and subsequent) years if you’re careful with them.
- Clearly write the title of the picture, your name and the class on the back of the mounted print.
Resources:
Image printing and the sale of mounts (please give them sufficient notice!)
Justin
Enniskillen PhotoShop, 5 Regal Pass, Enniskillen – https://enniskillenphotoshop.com
Ph: 028 6632 5687
Order online for cheaper prints. Mounts (made by Marcus) in store with white, off-white and black available, 8×12 inch and 8×10 inch print size openings. £4-5 each
Photo Mounts
Marcus McCurry
MJM Picture Framing, Kesh
Ph: 07841 514155
Mounts by Marcus can be made to any size. Call him to discuss further. The mounts can be delivered to Enniskillen PhotoShop.
Victoria’s Picture Framing, Enniskillen
Ph: 07400 85 15 14
@Victoriaspictureframing