Competitions

Competitions are open to all PAID members.

Dues

Dues must be paid in full by October 1. After the September competition, non-paid members cannot compete until their dues have been paid.

Classes

There are three classes or categories: B, for Beginner; A, for Advanced; and AA, for Masters. If you aren't sure which class to enter, read "Which Class to Enter" below. You must finish the season in the same class you first enter. The Competition Chair reserves the right to adjust the number of classes, based on club membership and competition participation.

Which Class to Enter

If you're new to BWPS and don't know which class to enter, just talk to Deborah Guyer, Competition Chair. If she doesn't know you and your work, she may ask to see some of your recent images so she can make sure you are placed in the class that you'll be most comfortable in for the season. You must finish the year in that same class. At the end of the year, the top finisher in each class will move to the next class (B to A, A to AA) for the next competition season. The Competition Chair may also ask members to switch classes if the number of competitors in each class becomes unbalanced.

Number of Images

For the 2006-7 season, members can submit up to FOUR images in each competition.

Mounting

Slides may be in either cardboard, plastic, or glass mounts, but glass over cardboard or plastic is unacceptable. However mounted, the slide must drop in a Universal Carousel tray for projection. Improperly mounted slides will not be allowed in the competition.

Required on Each Slide

The title, name of the maker, and a thumb spot must appear on each slide entry. Place the thumb spot on the lower left corner of the slide as held and viewed normally. Each slide should have a unique title to prevent confusion. Do not repeat the same title in the same year. Here's an example:

Competition Sign-Up Sheets

Competitions begin promptly at 7:45 pm. Prior to that time, each entrant must write the title of each slide and maker's name on the competition sign-up sheets for the correct class. If a member is unable to enter slides prior to the 7:45 cut-off time, they may be allowed make-ups.

Make-ups

When contestants know they cannot attend a competition, they should mail or deliver their slides to another member or to the Competition Chair, Deborah Guyer. In the event a member is unable to get their slides to the competition due to circumstances beyond their control, they may request a make-up from the Competition Chair. Only one make-up (four slides) will be allowed for the competition year. Make-ups will be automatic for any club member asked to judge as well as for any member of the judge's family. Make-ups shall be taken by entering two extra slides in each of the two successive competitions. If there are fewer than two remaining competitions, the competitor will be unable to make up all of the missed entries.

Eligible Images

1. The photograph(s) and all manipulation must be the work of the member submitting the image.
2. You may NOT enter any image that won a ribbon in a BWPS slide competition last year (2005-6).
3. Any image that wins a ribbon in BWPS slide competition can NOT be entered: THIS YEAR in any other BWPS competition; and ANY SUBSEQUENT YEARS in BWPS slide competitions.
4. Ribbon-winning images from previous BWPS digital competitions CAN be converted to slides and submitted in BWPS slide competitions this season.
5. If your image wins a ribbon in a BWPS slide competition, it can NOT be converted to a digital image and entered in a BWPS digital competition this season. (It can be converted and entered as a digital image NEXT season.)
6. If your slide wins a ribbon in a BWPS digital competition, it can NOT be converted to a slide and entered into a BWPS slide competition this season. (It can be converted and entered as a slide NEXT season.)
7. NEAR DUPLICATES. You can NOT enter a near-duplicate of a ribbon-winning image from last year's BWPS slide competitions, OR this season's BWPS slide or digital competitions. What is a near-duplicate image? Basically, near duplicates are images of the same subjects, from the same angle, at the same time of day or same lighting. Vertical and horizontal formats of the same image, same angle, same lighting are also near duplicates. If you submit a near-duplicate image, the image will be disqualified and you will not be allowed to make up that missing image. If you have ANY DOUBT whether an image is a near duplicate, show the images to the Competition Chair.
8. The Competition Chair's judgment is the FINAL WORD regarding image eligibility.

Judging

Slide competitions will be judged by the In/Out system. For each class, the judge will reduce the total number of slides by one half by declaring In or Out after the judge's comments on each slide. Then, the judge will award blue or red ribbons to each of the remaining slides.

Ribbons

Blue ribbons will be awarded to slides that demonstrate manifestly superior work; red ribbons will be awarded to the remainder of the slides that are not eliminated.

Scoring

For the purposes of cumulative season scoring, each slide submitted into a competition will receive 1 point. Additionally, each slide that is awarded a red ribbon will receive 1 additional point, while each slide that is awarded a blue ribbon will receive 2 additional points.

Slide Image of the Year Competition

All ribbon-winning slides from the 2006-7 season are eligible for entry in the Slide of the Year Competition on June 20, 2007.