Club Competitions – Oshawa Camera Club

OCC 2024/25 OCC Competitions

Club Members can participate in several competitions throughout the season.

The Club holds 4 General Competitions plus the Annual Club Competition (ACC).
General Competition:

3 main categories: Nature, Pictorial and Assigned Topic
5 entries per Competition with a maximum of 3 entries per category
Can request comments on any 3 images per competition
Results will be presented at a meeting night.

Annual Club Competition:

9 categories including 2 Assigned Topic
18 entries in total with a maximum of 2 entries per category
No comments, just scores only
Results will be presented at the Annual Photo Exhibition.

Terms for Submissions:

Maker retains full copyright of all submitted content (entries, photo essays, prints and files). Images, Prints & Photo essays submitted to the Club gives the Club express approval for publication, education purposes, presentation and/or use in promotional material for the Club. By submitting content, you acknowledge and agree to the terms.

File type: Jpeg (.jpg) File size: Within 1920×1080 pixels. Max of 1920 wide or 1080 high.

Colour profile = sRGB.

Maximum file size is maximum 4MB.

File Name = Image title.jpg

Also ensure that your files conform to the category rules follow the specific naming convention as outlined in the Member’s Handbook.

For the 4 General Competitions, aside from the Pictorial and Nature category, there will also be an additional Assigned Topic. The Assigned Topic is indicated below beside the Competition name and Deadline.

Categories: Please see the OCC Handbook for detailed definitions and guidelines. NOTE: There have been significant changes to the definition as of the 2022/23 season. See video below.

Pictorial (Any Subject other than those defined as Nature)
Nature (Nature Zoology: Non-Captive or domesticated animals, birds, invertebrates or Nature General: Non-Cultivated plants, geology or natural phenomena. Hand-of-Man is not allowed for Nature General Images. Hand-of-Man is allowed for Nature Zoology if kept to a minimum and follows the rule for natural adaptation.
Assigned Topic: (This will be an assigned topic per each competition. Any subject matter as long as it follows the theme requirement. See below)

Assigned Topic Definitions for General Comps 1-4:

General Comp 1: “Geometric Shapes”: Due Oct 1, 2024

This topic is open to any man-made subject matter if it meets the criteria of Geometric Shapes. The main elements in the image should be geometric shapes, including circles, squares/rectangles, polygons and/or triangles.
Geometry helps to create interesting compositions and adds a sense of balance to images. Triangles direct attention to a specific point. Circular shapes draw a viewer’s eye inwards. Squares and rectangles create order.
Composite images are allowed, but not Altered Reality. All elements must be created by the maker.

General Comp 2: “Framed within the Frame”: Due Nov 5, 2024

This topic is open to any subject matter if it meets the criteria of Framed Within the Frame. Images must make use of the compositional technique of a frame within the frame (the camera’s frame). This technique leads the viewer’s eye to the main element in the image.
Examples could be using frames provided in nature or the environment such as trees, pillars, posts.
This technique can add interest, depth and give an image context.
Composite images are allowed, but not Altered Reality. All elements must be created by the maker.

General Comp 3: “Urban Wildlife”: Due Jan 7, 2025

The intent of this category is to capture images of wild animals, birds, reptiles or fish in a visible urban environment OR with a clearly identifiable hand of man component. Images must depict both wildlife and an urban OR hand of man element.
Urban/hand of man elements would include, but are not limited to plants in a garden (domestic flowers), cut cultivated grasses, patio stones, buildings, fences, railway tracks, etc.
Key to this category is that the wildlife should be clearly tied to or living with the hand of man.
The more significant the hand of man is the more the image will comply with the category definition. Domestic animals are not allowed.
In keeping with our regular Nature category, wildlife and background must look natural as our eyes would see it.
Composites are allowed, but not Altered Reality. All elements must be created by the maker.

General Comp 4: “Patterns”: Due Feb 4, 2025

This topic is open to any subject matter if it meets the criteria of Patterns. There must be elements in the image which repeat themselves in a predictable way. Patterns in photography can draw the viewer’s eye into the image and be the most prominent part of it. A pattern can elevate an otherwise uninspiring scene.
The pattern does not have to be continuous. A more dynamic image may be a “pattern that is broken” in some way. Broken repetition could include adding a contrasting object or removing one of the repeating objects. Placement in the frame of the break in the pattern can create tension and strengthen composition by directing attention to the main subject.
Composites are allowed, but not Altered Reality. All elements must be created by the maker.

ACC Assigned Topics: Due March 4, 2025

Assigned Topic #1 : Long Exposure with Motion

This topic is open to any subject matter if it meets the criteria of Long Exposure with Motion.
Long exposure involves capturing a single image over an extended period of time.
There is no specific exposure time defined, since different lighting conditions will influence what is required to get a long exposure effect.
The objective is to show a sense of motion in the image. Examples include moving clouds or water in landscape images, or streaks of light due to moving cars in a streetscape. Long exposures of the night sky will produce star trails, makers may include stationary objects in the image to provide context.
Caution: an image that is a long exposure like a 30 sec shot of a lake that results in smooth water would not be accepted in this category.
Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) images are allowed.
Composites are allowed but not Altered Reality. All elements must be created by the maker.

Assigned Topic #2 : Night Photography

This topic is open to any subject matter if it meets the criteria of Night Photography, where images are taken between sunset and sunrise.
Images could include well-lit buildings, fountains and bridges at night; city skylines; night sky or astrophotography (including star trails); or light trails from vehicles.
The image must be taken outdoors. Eg., you can’t have an indoor image and say it was taken at night unless there is an obvious outdoor component so we can see it was taken at night.
For purpose of clarity regarding Sunrise and Sunset the following definition will apply to this category:
- Definition Sunrise is the moment when the upper edge of the Sun first becomes visible above the horizon.
- Definition Sunset is the moment when the upper edge of the Sun disappears below the horizon.
ICM and Multiple Exposure as well as Composites are allowed in this category but not Altered Reality. All elements must be created by the image maker.

2024-25 Competitions Handbook

Please read and understand before submitting entries as there have been some changes for the new season
2024-25 OCC Competitions Handbook (Updated Feb 8, 2025. V2425b)

1 file(s) 3.61 MB

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Just ensure you’re submitting in the right category via the dropdown menu.

The only item that you will have to fill out will the Image Title box which will be picked up to create the final gallery for results. Eg. Toronto Skyline . This must match your filename exactly. Eg. (Title) Toronto Skyline = (File Name) Toronto Skyline.jpg. If there is a difference, your entry will be disqualified.

If you want a comment on entries, you are limited to any 3 images of your choosing.

Results for these competitions will be posted following the presentations at our club meetings.

A ZOOM meeting was held to review some of the major changes effecting Club Competitions for the 2022/23 Season.

Recording: (Click bottom right during Play for Full Screen)