Definition
A triptych in photography can be three images arranged in one frame with clear borders between them so that the separateness of the images is apparent. The three images might be slices of one original image, or they might be three separate images that are somehow related. Triptychs can be a powerful story-telling tool.
CAPA links two resources on their Triptych Competition web page. (See the link below.) One is a "Triptych Photography Examples and Ideas" web page. The other is a page of instructions designed for Photoshop and Lightroom users which includes not only theme planning advice, but suggestions for keeping your triptych within the specifications of this competition. Both are viewable and downloadable by the public.
CAPA seems to be serious about triptychs this year: note that in addition to this competition that "requires" triptychs, the following competitions also allow triptychs this year: Pacific Zone, Fine Art, Monochrome, Inspiration Colour and Canada My Country.
Themes
There are four themes:
Differences in Building Structures - the character of urban, rural and industrial architecture can differ dramatically and afford the opportunity to create a unique visual narrative.
Human Connection - domestic, public and work spaces can have their own unique structure and flavours, varying from stillness to extreme action, all to accommodate the various actions of humankind.
Nature Scene - drama, patterns, details and transformations abound in nature. Reveal the unexpected in your triptych story.
Abstract Transformation - reveal the unexpected patterns and perspectives of everyday objects, transforming them into interesting abstracts.
Editing
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, captured by you, and must be free of "generative" AI content. Every CAPA competition web page contains a link to their "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 pages.
The basic editing rules for this competition are that open editing is allowed, including in-camera and post-capture techniques, including sky replacement, and excluding AI generative techniques and frames, borders, pin-lines and mats.
All submitted photographs should contain complete, unaltered original metadata. The CAPA Director of Competitions will request un-retourched JPEG or RAW files of winning images for verification of compliance with eligibility criteria. Failure to provide all original files when requested will result in withdrawal of a winning image.
Colour, Black and White, Colour converted to Black and White, and Infrared images are allowed.
Submissions
VCC members may enter two images as Club images. The Club may enter only 6 images from 6 different photographers.
The DEADLINE for submission of images to VCC in the Club category is March 15, 2026, midnight PDT.
Individual CAPA members may enter a maximum of 3 images, in one or more themes. The CAPA deadline for individual submissions is April 15, 2026, at midnight, Ontario ST.
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