Ethics of Competition

Images entered in PCC Competitions are to be original artwork, conceived and exposed only by the photographer.  Images made using another person’s posed or arranged subject, or another person’s flash or studio lighting arrangement are ineligible.  

General Rules 2023 - 2024 Competition Year

1.       Members in good standing are eligible to compete.  Associate members are not eligible.

2.       Two entries per category are permitted, up to a total of twelve entries per month.

3.       You may choose to compete in either the A or B class.  You do not need to compete in the same class in prints and digital.  Once chosen, you may not switch during the competition year. 

4.       Authorship:  All entries in all categories must originate as a photographic image (film or digital) exposed by the entrant.  Direct copies of 2-Dimensional artwork such as paintings, drawings, or another photographer’s work by themselves are ineligible but may be a minor part of a composition. 

5.       No computer generated graphics or drawings are allowed in any category including Creative.  This includes all AI generated images.  Narrow single-color borders generated by extending canvas are allowed.  

6.       Re-submission:  Any entry that receives an award in a PCC competition may not be re-submitted in any category.   A monochrome version of a color image is considered the same image for purposes of this rule.  No entry may be submitted more than 2 times in any one category.  If you enter the same image in 2 categories in the same month, and it takes an honor in the first category judged, it will be disqualified and not judged in the second category, so don’t do it!  Any image which is substantially the same as an award winner is also ineligible to be submitted in the same category

7.       Manipulation rule for Color, Black & White and Pano:   Adding any element or object to an image that was not in the original capture is not allowed, by any technique (whether in post production or in camera). Skies may not be replaced and backgrounds can not be digitally added or heavily altered. This includes significantly darkening, adding black, white or any color, blur, pattern or artistic filters such as motion blurs, liquify, water color effects and the like.  

a.       Allowed:  Multiple exposures of the same scene may be stacked for purposes of HDR, increasing depth-of-field, or stitching together a panoramic.  You may clone out minor distracting objects. The goal should be to keep the scene as true to how you saw it as possible.

b.       Theme, Nature, Photo Travel and Creative:  Please refer to the Category descriptions.