Members can submit up to 10 images . . 2 in each category

At each monthly meeting, members can submit up to 6 digital images: 2 in the Subject category, 2 in the Open category, and 2 in the Creative category. Additionally, members can submit up to 4 printed and matted images: 2 in the Subject category, and 2 in the Open category.

Images are judged and awarded points from 1-10. Ten percent of the entries in each category will be given Awards, and ten percent will be given Honorable Mention.

What are the advantages of an expert assessment?

We strive to be a group of thoughtful observers, ready learners, and patient teachers, creating monthly situations where all of us benefit and come away from meetings challenged and eager to go out and be creative with our cameras. We are a community of learners and teachers. Entering images for our monthly competitions is like submitting our creative writing to an audience of peers. Certainly, by doing so, we open ourselves up to comments from judges, with whom we don’t always agree. But, every submission is an opportunity to learn specific things about how to become a better photographer.

• The subject guidelines encourage us to create images in a subject area we might not otherwise consider. Diversity is the source of creativity.
• Constructive critiques from judges and peers enhances our progress towards becoming better photographers.
• Judging helps us realize that each image must have a reason for everything in the photo, and why less is more.
• Photography is subjective, and is a unique platform for self-expression, but objective observation by experts helps us create photographs that have high impact and speak for themselves.
• Judges help us put our emotions aside and focus on composition, technical quality, flow, texture, and light.