Competitions are held to encourage club members to improve their photographic skills by learning to take good (or better) pictures; optimizing them, if needed, in editing programs; and showing them along-side other competitors. Such competitions provides a unique challenge for each photographer to put forth his/her best effort.   Most competitors find this a positive learning experience and enjoy sharing their photos with an audience composed of others who share their love of photography.

Return to top of Page  

This document provides general guidelines (rules) and specific requirements applicable to all Grand Photos Competitions.  Individual competitions may have additional or different guidelines.  Following each competition, a ceremony is held at which all images are viewed, results announced and awards are presented. 

• Competitions are open only to paid-up members of Grand Photos.
• Some members have clear photographic interests.  Therefore, each member may enter up to four (4) digital images in any category however, the member is limited to twelve (12) images total.  Print rules will be announced at a later date.
• The fee of entries will be $1.25 per image. 
  

• Every effort will be made to safeguard member entries; however, Grand Photos assumes no responsibility for any misuse of copyright, and will not accept liability for lost or damaged entries.
  

Return to top of Page 

A member may not submit two or more entries bearing marked similarity in the same competition, even if entered in different categories (example: Open and Nature). Please note that markedly similar images remain so even after cropping, color change, or creative alteration.  Additionally, if your photograph (or any image bearing marked similarity) has previously won a Grand Photos competition Place award (first, second, or third), it may not be entered into any subsequent Grand Photos competition regardless of media (digital or print) or category. Otherwise, an image may be submitted up to three different times.

An entry may not be a photograph of a painting or another photograph by another artist or photographer.  3D objects like buildings or statues or sculptures are permitted.  The final decision regarding the suitability of an image lies with the competition chairperson. (Note: prior to some competitions there may be insufficient time for the chairperson to carefully review all of the images or prints, therefore the Chairperson may, at times, miss problems that should have lead to an image's disqualification. Issues that are identified after the judging are difficult to handle and may, or may not, be fixed.  The final decision will be made by the Chairperson on a case by case basis. PLEASE READ THE RULES CAREFULLY AND IF YOUR REALIZE AN ENTRY MAY PRESENT A PROBLEM INFORM THE CHAIRPERSON BEFORE THE JUDGING. We depend on the integrity and awareness of the competitor to know whether an image meets the requirements and limitations of a specific category.

By virtue of entry, the entrant certifies the work as his/her own, both the photography and any post-processing, and certifies that it is in compliance with the posted Grand Photos competition category definitions and guidelines.  If composite images, such as sky replacement or combining elements from multiple photographs, are allowed by the category definition, all of the elements must be taken from the photographer’s own images.  All entries must be images that the competitor captured with a digital or film camera or related device such as a smartphone. The process may include scanning of prints, negatives, or slides provided the original image was taken by the entrant.  However, to ensure against any unfair bias in the judging process, identification of the image maker (photographer) in any way on an image is prohibited.  Identification includes, but is not limited to, the photographer’s name, initials or identifying watermark.  Violation of the competition guidelines and rules may result in the disqualification of the image or print. Final judgment about entries meeting Grand Photos Competition guidelines or rules, and any penalties, shall be made by the Competition Chairpersons.

Return to top of Page 

Category definitions may vary from one competition to the next.  The Grand Photos Category Definitions may not always be the same as those used by other organizations such as ACCC or PSA or even those used in past Grand Photos competitions. 

Return to top of Page   

Grand Photos strives to provide opportunities for members to compete in a peer group with those of similar experience in photography and competition. 

Division B - Those with less than 110 points from past Grand Photos competitions.

Division A  - Those with 110 points or higher from past Grand Photos competitions.

Anyone new to competition at Grand Photos, even those having experience in photography and/or competitions elsewhere, will initially be listed in Division B with a score of zero (0). 

However, anyone listed in Division B has the option to enter all of their images in Division A. You must declare this intention on the submittal form

Click here for a table of each member's current point total and Division.  Members who have never competed, or who have not competed in the last three years, will not be listed in this table.

Return to top of Page    

Once anyone competes in a Grand Photos competition their points are listed on the "Grand Photos Competition Points and Division" spreadsheet. If they become "Inactive" by not maintaining Grand Photos membership or not entering a GP competition for a period of time (presently 3 years) their name and points are kept on an "inactive" list and restored to the main list with their previous points should they reenter a competition. 

Return to top of Page   

1. Awards will be given based on a minimum number of entries in a category as follows:

A. There must be a minimum of 4 entries to have a first place.
B. There must be a minimum of 6 entries to have a second place.
C. There must be a minimum of 8 entries to have a third place.

If there are less than 4 entries in a specific Category and Division, those entries will be combined for judging and awards with the other Division entries in that Category. The 1st place winner of such combined categories will be entered in the Best-of- Show competition for the Division in which it was judged (e.g. the winner of a category combined from the B and A  Divisions entries will compete for Best-of- Show with the winners of the Division A categories, even if that winning entry is from a Division B member.

2. Ties will be broken for First, Second, and Third places by the judges.

3.Digital entries will have a Best of Show for each Division which will be determined by judging the first place winners from each category. 

4. Ribbons: Best of Show receives a ribbon. First, Second and Third places receive ribbons (Ties for these awards will be broken during the judging).  Honorable Mention (HM) ribbons will be given to entries that were originally tied for Third place, or, if there are less than 8 entries, to ties for the lowest place ribbon awarded. If there are 8 or more entries but no ties for Third place then entries with the next lower score will receive Honorable Mention ribbons.

In the event that these guidelines result in an award distribution that seems inappropriate, the Competition Chairmen and/or Coordinators may use their best judgment and make an adjustments as they deem necessary. 

5. Points in Grand Photos competitions are awarded as follows: BOS = 2, 1st Place = 5, 2nd Place = 4, 3rd Place = 3, HM = 2, Acceptance = 1.

6. Certificates will be awarded to members for the following achievements in Grand Photos competitions:

• Moving from Division B to Division A (currently requires 110 points); 
  
• Entering competitions for the first time; Receiving the greatest total number of points in  any given competition, regardless of Division.

Return to top of Page   

Entries will be judged by a minimum of three non-member qualified judges unless a judge fails to be present.  In this case, only two judges will be used (a third judge may be selected from attendees for part or all of the judging if no conflict of interest is seen).

1. Judges will be asked not to discuss the entries unless a tie cannot be broken after several attempts.
2. Each tie breaker print will be placed in the light box.
3. Judges will use a five to nine scoring scale where a score of six is considered average, and seven would indicate that judge believes the image should get an Acceptance or better award.
4. Prints will be judged at a distance of 6 to 7 feet from the judges to the light box. The judge(s) may approach the print for closer observation; however, the print will remain in the light box. Digital images will be projected on a screen and viewed at an appropriate distance.
5. The print competition and digital competition judges may be different judges and the judging sessions may be done in different place or at different times.
6. The print and digital competition judging will be open or closed to Grand Photos members or competitors at the discretion of the Chairman or Coordinator in charge of the session.
7. There should be no audible comments from anyone during the judging that might influence or distract the judges.

Return to top of Page