Competition Page with digital upload button
competitions
Throughout the year we run digital and print competitions. This is an important part of the memberships’ creative development.
Monthly Digital Competition
Each month the club runs a Digital only competition, where each member is able to submit up to 3 images for judging, with a maximum of 2 images in any category. The points awarded from the judging of these images are accumulated throughout the calendar year and prizes are awarded at the end of year dinner.
The judging for this competition is carried out by a mixture of local photographers and qualified PSNZ judges.
Image categories:
Open
This section is all yours. Pick your subject, take your best shot. We’re always pleased with the wide variety of images members come up with.
Set Subject
Each month there is a set subject for you to test your skills and creativity against. These subjects are set for the whole year, prior to each years commencement. The main thing to remember is that the photo should clearly have a link to the theme that is evident to the viewer.
SEE SET SUBJECTS BELOW
Creative / Altered Reality
What some would refer to as playtime. This is where you get to try those photography techniques that cause others to ask how did they do that? No hard and fast rules but a slight preference for in-camera experimentation and the software usage enhancing rather than turning the image into something else completely.
Submission criteria:
- A maximum of 3 images per month
- No more than 2 images in any one category
- Only digital files will be accepted.
- All images must be your own photos. Any digital manipulation must have been done by yourself, or on your specific instructions. Professional scanning from film to digital media is allowed.
How to submit your images - file naming, sizing and delivery:
This section is all yours. Pick your subject, take your best shot. We’re always pleased with the wide variety of images members come up with.
Digital file naming/labeling convention:
‘A’ Grade submissions prefix 400: 400-Image title-Your name-Competition Month.jpg eg
- 400-Boat on river-Joe Blogs-July.jpg
- 400-Cat in a hat-Joe Blogs-July.jpg
‘B’ Grade submissions prefix 200: 200-Image title-Your name-Competition Month.jpg eg
- 200-Red post box-Joe Blogs-July.jpg
- 200-Cascading water-Joe Blogs-July.jpg
Important note:
- The competition month is the month when your images are submitted i.e. photos entered for July will be presented back to the group in August. These would be labelled July.
Each month there is a set subject for you to test your skills and creativity against. These subjects are set for the whole year, prior to each years commencement. The main thing to remember is that the photo should clearly have a link to the theme that is evident to the viewer.
Digital file naming/labeling convention:
‘A’ Grade submissions prefix 300: 300-Image title-Your name-Competition Month.jpg eg
- 300-Boat on river-Joe Blogs-July.jpg
- 300-Cat in a hat-Joe Blogs-July.jpg
‘B’ Grade submissions prefix 100: 100-Image title-Your name-Competition Month.jpg eg
- 100-Red post box-Joe Blogs-July.jpg
- 100-Cascading water-Joe Blogs-July.jpg
Important note:
- The competition month is the month when your images are submitted i.e. photos entered for July will be presented back to the group in August. These would be labelled July.
What some would refer to as playtime. This is where you get to try those photography techniques that cause others to ask how did they do that? No hard and fast rules but a slight preference for in-camera experimentation and the software usage enhancing rather than turning the image into something else completely.
Defining the “creative” category:
The distinction between “creative” and “open” photography can be a difficult one to make. In its loosest definition, “creativity” refers to the use of imagination, originality, and inventiveness – attributes that we should be seeking to attain in all of our photographic endeavours.
For the “creative” category, we have ask our members to go a step further, and use some technique, either in-camera, or during post-processing, that gives the resulting photo a sense of alteration of reality. These photos may involve a number of different techniques and components that alter the photographic truth. The result may be surreal or abstract, it may be absurd, or it may display a clearly impossible scenario in a way that appears believable and realistic.
In this regard, the use of HDR or a long shutter speed, on its own and without manipulation of reality, is not sufficient. Nor is an unusual perspective on a subject – unless that perspective serves to alter the apparent reality of the subject.
While the above is a pre-requisite for this category, an outstanding “creative” image will go further, and demonstrate originality, inventiveness, and/or provoke an emotive response in the viewer.
‘A’ & ‘B’ Grade submissions prefix 500: 500-Image title-Your name-Competition Month.jpg eg
- 500-Boat on river-Joe Blogs-July.jpg
- 500-Cat in a hat-Joe Blogs-July.jpg
Important note:
- The competition month is the month when your images are submitted i.e. photos entered for July will be presented back to the group in August. These would be labelled July.
All digital files must comply to the following:
- File format: .jpeg or .jpg
- Resolution: 300 dpi/ppi
- Dimensions: Between 1500 pixels and 4000 pixels on the longest side is considered of a suitable quality for judging. The larger the better for display on high resolution and large monitors
- Maximum file size: 12MB per image
We have spent some time on simplifying the process not only for the committee members responsible for the competitions but also for ease of use by all its members.
- We are providing an online platform for you to be able to upload your files directly to the HBPS Google Drive.
- USB memory stick of your images at Club Meeting. If you intend to bring a USB stick as part of your hand-in then you will be required to complete the online form using our computer. This option is not guaranteed as it relies on a mobile data plan that one of the committee members would be willing to use.
Important note: No extension to the deadline as the committee needs to send all images for external judging.
Submit your competition entries here.
Important note
2025 SET SUBJECTS & SUBMISSION DEADLINES
ABSTRACT
26 January 2021
BLUE
23 February 2021
FORMS IN NATURE
30 March 2021
HANDS
27 April 2021
INDUSTRIAL
25 May 2021
NEGATIVE SPACE
29 June 2021
PAIRS
27 July 2021
PEOPLE AT WORK
31 August 2021
SILHOUETTES
28 September 2021
TWO TONE
26 October 2021
Mid Year Print Competition
This competition is run in conjunction with our mid-year dinner, and is open to all members in either ‘A” or ‘B’ Grades. There are no set themes / subjects for entries, and the images are judged purely on their merits within an ‘open’ type category for ‘A’ and ‘B’ Grades separately.
We normally use a local photographer as the judge and they award a 1st, 2nd and 3rd for the ‘A’ grade and ‘B’ grade sections on the night of the dinner.
Note: For this competition the images do not have to have been submitted to the HBPS monthly competitions previously.
End of Year Print Competition
This competition is held in conjunction with our end of year / Christmas dinner, and is a celebration of the work that our members have undertaken during the year. There are 6 categories for entry and they reflect the categories for our monthly digital competitions. Entry is open to all members however the images submitted must have been entered into a monthly competition at some stage during the year or to the mid-year print competition during that year.
We normally use a local photographer as the judge and they award a 1st, 2nd and 3rd for the categories on the night of the dinner.
Come along as a visitor to our next meeting.
Be part of a generous and giving photography club whose members are not only supportive of each other, but as a group, learn and experience different ways of expressing their individual creativity. We invite you to find out more about our club and meet the members. We have a diversity of members, photographic interests and skill sets from beginners, passionate enthusiasts to semi and professional photographers. All are welcome.