Definition
The idea in this competition is for photographers to use colour as a vibrant medium, pushing the boundaries of creativity, to create stunning, thoughtful and thought-provoking images. Monochrome, black and white, and infrared images are not permitted.
Themes
There are five themes into which images should fit, and note that hand of man is permitted in all five:
- Man-made Environments: images that highlight colour in constructed spaces, including urban and rural structures, and even rural farmland with rich colour palettes.
- Seasonal Transitions: seasonal transformation brings a shifting palette of natural colour. (Triptychs ARE allowed.)
- Action and Motion: convey excitement, speed and movement through colour. Panning, slow shutter speeds and fast shutter speeds all have possibilities for showing aspects of movement not normally seen by the naked eye. Subjects are limitless: animals, birds, dance, sports, traffic, etc.
- Cultural Events: vibrant traditions, festivities and ceremonies can be a rich and colourful expression of human existence.
- Close-up: hidden textures, patterns and colours abound when you get really close to things to which we often pay little attention.
Open Editing
All different in-camera, on-camera and post-processing techniques can be used except those using AI generative technology. All elements contained in the submitted images including replacement skies, textures and added elements must have been taken by the submitting photographer. Elements contained in an image can be removed. No digital frames or mats are permitted.
By submitting your images to a CAPA Competition you are asserting that your images meet their requirements. In simple terms, your photos must be "photographic" in origin, capture by you, and must be free of "generative" AI content. Every CAPA Competition web page contains a link to the "ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA" page, as well as their current "STANCE ON AI-GENERATED IMAGES", both of which are accessible by the public. Every VCC member entering external competitions should read both papers.
All submitted photographs should contain complete, unaltered original metadata. The CAPA Director of Competitions will request un-retouched JPEG or RAW files for verification of compliance with eligibility criteria. Failure to provide all original files will result in withdrawal of a winning image.
Images must be in colour: black and white, monochrome and infrared images are not accepted. Triptychs are permitted.
Submissions
Club members may submit up to two photos by January 28, 2026 for consideration for the VC Club entry of 6 images by different members. Individual CAPA members may submit up to 3 images to CAPA for the Individual portion of this competition, which closes February 28, 2026.
Results
2025
Results are in on CAPA Colour Inspiration 2025. VCC won the Silver Medal in Colour, scoring 148 points. 51 clubs entered. Congratulations to Christy Grinton (Martin) for "Rufous Hummingbird in Blooms", 27 points, PLUS 3rd Merit - Nature award, Lori Moilanen for "Blaze Spark Smolder", 25 points, PLUS 3rd Merit - Dramatic, Peter Kolbleitner for "Painted Stork Grooming", 25 points, Lynn Page, "Glorious Light, Sagrada Familia", 24 points, Normand Marcotte, "Spiralling in Colour", 24 points, and Jim Fowler, "Fireworks Cat with Blur", 23 points. See Gallery to the Right.
2024
VCC won an Honour Award in the CAPA Colour 2024 Club Competition, with pictures by Christy Grinton (Martin), "The Colours of Costa Rica" (25.5 points), Bob Ianson, "Aztec Warrior Warcry" (24.0 points), Alec Lee, "In Search of Nectar - Hewitson's Longwing Butterfly" (24.0 points), Heather Thompson, "The Incense Shop" (23.5 points), Jerome Rozitis, "Blue Domes Over Rooftops" (23.5 points), and finally Jim Fowler, "Cat in the Doorway" (21 points), for a Club total of 141.5. Congratulations to VCC, but wait, there's more.
Kathryn Delany won the Gold Medal in the Individual Competition, scoring two images at 26.5 and a third at 23.5. Kathryn also won 2nd and 3rd Merit for those 2 images in a run-off with another 26.5 nature image. Wow, Kathryn, Gold Medal and 2 Merits! In addition, Christy Grinton (Martin) won the Bronze medal with scores of 25.5, 25.0 and 23.0 points for her three images. 183 contestants entered 541 images in this Canada-wide competition, so this is a fabulous achievement, Gold and Bronze.
See the gallery.
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Specifications
- Images should be in JPEG format, maximum 1400 pixels on the horizontal x 1050 on the vertical in size.
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Note: One of the dimensions must be exactly the maximum allowed size (either 1400 or 1050 pixels).
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For example, a portrait image would have a vertical dimension of 1050 pixels, the maximum allowed for the vertical dimension. A square image would be 1050 x 1050 pixels so as not to exceed the vertical maximum.
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sRGB colour space is recommended, with a maximum file size of 1.8 MB
- Maximum number of submissions per VCC member is two.
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Please preserve your image’s original RAW or JPEG formatted files, should CAPA request them.
See 2026 Inspiration Open Colour Competition for More Information
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