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Definition
CAPA is looking for images that express a unique vision. They encourage creativity in composition and execution. In their Judging manual they say that the difference between "fine art" and other photographic genres comes from the "intent" of the photographer. A survey of 13 winning images from last year found that 6 of 13 had simplified or plain backgrounds. In every case, the image was created to express a unique vision. The "uniqueness" arose from many things: social commentary, pure visual splendour in nature, abstract form and colour, mood or emotion, and so on. Accurate capture of the world is not important: the creation of an image that expresses the idea of the photographer is key. While photographic skill is needed, ordinary rules of "sharpness" don't necessarily apply: the key is to create a vision.
Themes
There are four themes this year:
- Abstract - the creative use of shape, colour, light and composition in new ways, or with a fresh perspective, can make an everyday scene abstract. Filters and ICM are less impactful than seeing the ordinary in a new way.
- Landscape - urban or rural, creative perspectives and lighting can create a compelling landscape of any environment. Find drama and emotion to go beyond the usual scenic documentation.
- Creative Vision - transform familiar subjects and scenes through creative manipulation of perspective, light, and context to create an otherworldly narrative where reality and imagination intertwine.
- Still Life - transform inanimate objects, traditional or no-traditional, into an artistic arrangement, using lighting, depth of field, and perspective. "Still Life" is defined for this theme as "a work of art that focuses on commonplace, inanimate objects." Such objects could be man-made (vases, clothing, consumer products, etc) or natural (flowers, plants food, rocks, shells, etc.)
Open Editing
All 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. Triptychs 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, 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 papers.
All submitted photographs should contain complete, unaltered original metadata. The CAPA Competition Director will request un-retouched JPEG or RAW files of winning images for verification of compliance. Failure to provide all original files when requested will result in withdrawal of a winning image.
Colour, black & white, monochrome and infrared images are permitted.
Submissions
Club members may submit up to two photos by December 30, 2025 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 January 30, 2026.
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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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sRGB colour space and have a maximum file size of 1.8 MB
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Maximum number of submissions per VCC member is two. See 2025 Fine Art Competition for more information.
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VCC Results
- 2024/25:
Results are in on the CAPA Fine Art competition. VCC placed 12th out of 46 clubs. No awards for us in the "club" competition, but still, a respectable showing. Congratulations to Geof Squarok, "Reflections - Four Eyes on the Pond" (25 points), Anne McCarthy, "Layers of Me" (23.5 points), Normand Marcotte, "Urban Art" (23.5 points), Kathryn Delany, "Hummingbird Notes", (23 points), Ron Charles, "Bound by Nature", (22 points) and Jim Fowler, "Great Blue Feathers", (22 points). In the Individual portion of the competition, Kathryn Delany won an Honour Award for her three images.
See the gallery to the right.
- 2019/20:
Victoria Camera Club placed 17th out of 32. See the gallery
- 2017/18:
Victoria Camera Club came in tied for 8th place. The good news is that Dan Takahashi's image "The Moment" placed third overall and was given a merit Award Ribbon. See the gallery
- 2016/17:
In 2016, Victoria Camera Club tied for 4th, earning an Honourable Mention Award. This was considerably higher than our 9th place finish in 2015 and our 16th place in 2014. See the gallery
- 2015/16:
Victoria Camera Club placed 9th in 2015 which is a major improvement from finishing 16th in 2014. Meherzad Romer did us all proud by having the highest scoring image (28 points) for his excellent image "Intricacy in Simplicity"! See the gallery
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--to see a full image size slideshow, hover cursor over an image then click on the "Expand" icon on the right of the filmstrip--
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