E-mail addresses of Competition Secretaries are :-

Internal Competition Secretary - wdcccompsec1@gmail.com

External Competition Secretary - wdcccompsec1@gmail.com

1. AUTHENTICITY OF WORK

All elements in the entered image must have been produced by the author. Artificial Intelligence (AI) features that ‘Generate’ content using other people’s imagery or text prompts aren’t allowed.

NOTE: AI used within post-processing software is acceptable. Generative AI that is within post-processing software, or sourced by other means that uses pixels which do not originate from the photographer’s image may not be used in any way, including, but not limited to, replacing elements or introducing content in an extended canvas.

Specifically, the author must have:

a) Taken the photograph/s used in the image

b) Been the author of any post production manipulation in the darkroom or computer

2. COPYRIGHT

3. PORTRAITS

Where the image is a portrait, (and in particular where the subject is a minor) it is the author’s responsibility to indemnify Workington & District Camera Club (WDCC) by obtaining signed waivers and permissions, where necessary.

4. USE OF IMAGES

Entry into competition implicitly authorises WDCC to use the specific image: -

a) To represent the WDCC in external competitions (including subsequent catalogues, selections etc. when successful), unless specifically stated by the member on joining WDCC.

b) To illustrate the WDCC competition results / members’ work on the internet.

c) in displays and literature to promote WDCC and canvas for new members.

5. ENTRY TO COMPETITIONS

Only paid up and honorary members of WDCC can enter WDCC competitions. To facilitate this each member will be given a Competition Number when they pay their subscription.

6. CLUB COMPETITIONS

Each season there will be 6 competitions, plus the Chairperson’s Challenge and the Image of the Year Competitions. All competitions are judged by impartial judges, typically members of other clubs. (Note: All judges names proposed by the Competition Secretary are to be submitted for approval before they are invited to judge).

Four competitions will be OPEN competitions. These competitions allow for all genres and aspects of photography, including creative and composite works. There will also be 2 THEMED competitions, the subjects for which will be chosen at the end of the previous season.

The Chairperson’s Challenge will also be themed and the theme will be chosen by the Chairperson at the beginning of the season.

7.1 The Four Open Competitions will comprise 3 PDI only and 1 PRINT only competitions.

7.2 The themed competitions will be 1 PDI only competition and 1 PRINT only competition. The themes for the print competition will be decided by the committee, and the theme for the PDI competition will be chosen by the winner of the Presidents’ Trophy from the previous season.

7.3 Each competitor may enter up to THREE PDIs or THREE Prints into a competition, but one of these images is to be nominated for withdrawal by all competitors. If the total number of images in the competition exceeds 80 (as per NCPF judges’ guidelines), then the nominated image will be withdrawn. The withdrawn image may be entered into the next competition. If an image is entered into a PDI competition and then withdrawn, it may be re-entered as either a PDI or a PRINT into another competition and vice versa.

Only 2 entries are allowed into the Chairperson’s Challenge.

Entries to the Chairperson’s Challenge competition can be 2 PDIs OR 2 prints OR 1 print and 1 PDI.

1st place 6 points, 2nd place 5 points, 3rd place 4 points, Highly Commended 3 points, Commended 2 points and for Entry 1 point.

7.3 The judge may award as many 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, Highly Commended and Commended as they feel appropriate.

7.4 There will be two sections in each competition; the Club section for the less experienced members and the Open section for the more experienced/qualified members. Members may only take part in one section in any one year. (Members may choose which section they wish to enter but the final decision as to their eligibility will be made by the committee).

At the end of each year the member(s) with the highest overall points total, in either Club PDI or Club Print competitions may move up to the Advanced section. Any member with the highest overall total points in the Club section for two years will be automatically promoted to the Advanced section.

7.5 All entries to OPEN and Themed competitions must be new work to WDCC competitions in either format. An image, which is sufficiently similar to another previously entered by the same Photographer, may be ruled as effectively not new work. Examples may include: -

Monochrome and Colour versions from one original are effectively the same image, unless the artistic treatment is significantly different.
Where important elements are repeated in different composite images
Where a principal element is repeated on a different background

7.6 PDIs entered into an OPEN or THEMED PDI competition during a season may not be entered into an OPEN or THEMED Print competition during the season, and vice versa for print entries.

7.7 Any image entered into an OPEN Competition cannot be entered into a THEMED Competition.

7.7 Competitions which are PRINT only will be judged by local judges ‘in house’. PDI ONLY competitions may be judged via Zoom or ‘in house’

8. IMAGE OF THE YEAR

The Image of the Year (IOY) competition is the final competition to decide the individual Print and Projected Digital Image (PDI) of the year. All members will be allowed to choose TWO images from their PDI entries and TWO images from their Print entries to enter in the IOY competition. These must have been entered in a WDCC competition during the season. Minor alterations e.g. removal of dust spots, removal of minor distractions etc. are acceptable. Significant changes such as cropping the image to change the composition, blurring backgrounds to remove distractions etc are unacceptable.

9. EXTERNAL COMPETITIONS

There are a number of external competitions that WDCC participates in either by entering a ‘Club entry’ or where individual members can enter representing themselves and WDCC. Where practical, the External Competition Secretary will co-ordinate and collect the entries. It remains the individual member’s responsibility to prepare images in accordance with the rules of the particular competition.

The competitions currently are:

a) Western Area Battle – Where a selection of prints and PDI’s are judged in competition against all the clubs in the Northern Counties Photographic Federation’s ‘Western Area’. The event is hosted by each of the clubs in rotation.

b) Three Way Club Battle – Where a selection of Prints and PDI’s are judged in competition with our neighbouring clubs Carlisle and Dalston. The event is hosted by each of the clubs in rotation.

c) NCPF Annual Competition – Club and individual entries

- and any other competitions at the discretion of the Committee (see Club Programme, and PAGB and NCPF websites for dates).

10. THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD

In addition to the ‘Competed for’ awards, the Club President may make an award, solely at their discretion, to mark any achievement, contribution or commitment to WDCC.

11. RULES OF COMPETITION

It is the members’ responsibility to ensure that entries arrive in the possession of the appropriate Competition Secretary or their deputy in good time, and in compliance with all of the specific competition rules.

11.1 Print format

The intention is to give the judges as little clue as possible as to who is the author. To this end we look to make the entry format as uniform as possible.

ALL PRINTS MUST:

a) Contain the member’s Competition Number and the Title in the top left-hand corner on the reverse side of the mount.

b) Be mounted on card, preferably backed but not using masking tape.

c) The size of the mount must be 500mm x 400mm (± 2mm). Mountboards should be lightweight and never exceed 4mm thickness or carry any fixings or other material likely to damage other prints when stacked.

d) The minimum size of the actual print must be not less than 190mm along one of its sides.

All prints that have been entered for a competition should be collected within a reasonable time after the competition.

11.2 Projected Digital Images (PDI’s) format

There is a separate ‘How to’ guide for producing these images on the WDCC website. To summarise, the requirements for the images are:

a) Must be ‘Jpeg’ format, in sRGB colour space and with a title not exceeding 35 characters (excluding competition number, but including spaces).

b) The maximum overall size is 1600 pixels (wide) by 1200 pixels (high) and the image file size must be less than 2MB.

c) Named in the form - Competition Number _ Image Number - TITLE IN CAPITALS –

e.g. 15_1 CRUMMOCK WATER.

15_2 SUNFLOWER

15_3 IN THE SHADE

The member shall also enter the following data into the File Properties:

Select the Detail tab:

In the Description section Title Field add the Image Title (no members Competition Number)

In the Description section Subject Field add the Competition Title

In the Origin section Author field add the Members Competition number

Some DPI tips

a) Jpegs are a ‘Lossy’ format which means that every time you do something to the file it loses some of its data. So, consider:

i) Work in another format before saving the final PDI as a jpeg

ii) Don’t use ‘Send as email attachment’ or ZIP files – Both of them will degrade the data in your image.

b) Save the image and in your email, package use the attach command (usually a paper clip to put the image in the email.

11.3 Preferred Method of Entry

By midnight on the day before the hand-in deadline. Send an email to the appropriate Competition Secretary, (see top of rules document or website for Competition Secretaries email address) attaching your PDI entries OR digital copies of your print entries. The email should contain your competition number and titles of your PDI or Print entries, and should also clearly identify the image to be withdrawn if the total entry exceeds 80. This image should ALWAYS be clearly marked as Number 3.

Digital print entries should be titled in the same way as PDI entries

Competition number _ Image Number –TITLE

e.g. 15 _1 DERWENT WATER

15 _ 2 THE HAYFIELD

15_ 3 ON THE BEACH

The member shall also enter the following data into the File Properties

Select the Details tab

In the Description section Title Field add the Image Title

In the Description section Subject field add the Competition Title

In the Origin section Author field add the Members Competition Number

On the following Monday night hand in the prints to the Competition Secretary.

12. LATE ENTRIES

Late entries are not accepted. In the case of an emergency contact the Competition Secretary for guidance.

13. DISCLAIMER AND EXCEPTIONS

13.1 WDCC and/or its officers cannot accept responsibility for loss of or damage to entries.

13.2 WDCC aims to give equal opportunities to all members. Should you have any difficulty accessing information or resources speak to the Competition Secretary or a Committee member and we will do all we can to help you.

13.3 In all competitions the Judges decisions with regards to placements and commendations are final.

13.4 The Competition Secretary, or their deputy, may reject any entry from competition if in their opinion: -

a) A print is presented in a condition which may damage other members’ work.

b) A PDI is not submitted in the correct format.

13.5 Submission of an entry implies acceptance of all the competition rules.

14. DISPUTES

14.1 WDCC Committee is the final arbiter of any disputes with regards to competition rules and reserves the right to alter the rules and conditions of competition without notice.

14.2 The Competition Secretary, or their deputy, will arbitrate any competition disputes and their decision is final. A significant point of fact or order may be referred to the WDCC Committee to define future club interpretation of the issue.

15. AWARDS

Medals will be awarded as follows:

In the Open Section:

For the highest total points in ALL PDI only Competitions – Open PDI Medal.

For the highest total points in ALL Print only competitions – Open Print Medal

For the winning themed PRINT entry – Open Theme Print Medal

For the winning themed PDI entry – Open Theme PDI Medal

In the Club Section

For the highest total points in ALL PDI only Competitions – Club PDI Medal.

For the highest total points in ALL Print only competitions – Club Print Medal

For the winning themed PRINT entry – Club Theme Print Medal

For the winning themed PDI entry – Club Theme PDI Medal

Advanced/Club Sections - Joint Awards

For the Chairperson’s Challenge:

For the winning PDI in Chairperson’s Challenge – Chairperson’s Challenge PDI Competition Medal

For the winning PRINT in Chairperson’s Challenge – Chairperson’s Challenge PRINT Competition Medal

For the winning Print ‘Image of the Year’ - Print of the Year Medal

For the winning PDI ‘Image of the Year’ - PDI of the Year Medal

Modified July 2026