Definition
This is an open theme “highlighting life in British Columbia and in the Yukon.” It is open to members of CAPA Clubs and Individual Members residing in British Columbia or the Yukon Territory. Please note that VCC members entering the VCC competition must reside in British Columbia or the Yukon. As an open theme – animals, birds, insects, landscape, nature, people, domesticated animals, wildlife and altered reality images are allowed. “Life in B.C. and the Yukon” is very broad. The restrictions that generally come with “landscape”, “wildlife”, and other terms do not apply. At the same time, “life in B.C.” suggests a realistic approach, rather than fantasy. Open themes are often hard to apply: look to the previous winning photos to get an idea of what was successful.
Images depicting homelessness, infirmity, or people in crisis will not be accepted. CAPA wishes to avoid the exploitation of the suffering and misfortune of others.
Again this year, in addition to scoring the images, one CAPA judge will provide a commentary on every image entered in the competition. This was promised last year, and it happened in all of the other zonal competitions, but not Pacific Zone. Hopefully this year it will happen.
For the first time in the zonal competitions, including Pacific Zone, CAPA is introducing a "Tiered Skill-level" model. Both Club and Individual entries will be required to enter in one of three skill levels, "Advanced", "Intermediate", and "Novice". Three sets of medals will be awarded.
The skill levels are determined by CAPA, and are not affected by VCC skill levels. CAPA bases its skill levels on award winning entries over time. They will update their lists approximately one month before the close of the competition. Members can visit the CAPA website to see what level they have attained. Currently (as at June, 2024), VCC has only one Advanced photographer, and four Intermediate photographers: all the rest are Novices. You can request that your image be entered into a higher category when entering, but you cannot enter a lower tier than indicated in CAPA records. Notify the External Competition Committee when submitting an image if you wish to enter a level higher than your CAPA level. You can also request of CAPA that they alter your level. Supporting rationale will be required.
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. Triptychs are permitted.
CAPA's permitted machine learning AI rules continue to evolve. As of July 2, 2024, CAPA has identified 8 post-capture processors which use AI generative technology: Canva, Lightroom, Luminar Neo, Photoroom, Photoshop, Picsart, Pixlr, and Stylar AI. The generative features in these applications are not permitted.
AI machine learning features which ARE permitted include (as of May 28, 2024): Luminar Neo's "AI Structure", "AI Sky Replacement", and "AI Skin Enhancer"; ON1 Photo Raw's "AI Auto Enhance", "AI Match Batch Processing", and "AI No-Noise"; DxO PhotoLab's "DeepPRIME denoising, sharpening and PRIME deblurring"; Topaz Labs AI's "Gigapixel AI", "DeNoise AI", and "Sharpen AI"; and Photoshop 2024 tools that DO NOT trigger the Firefly algorithm, including "Spot Healing Brush", "Remove Tool", "Healing Brush Tool", "Patch Tool", "Content-Aware Move Tool", "Re-eye Tool", "Clone Stamp Tool" and "Pattern Stamp Tool". If in doubt, review CAPA's updated web site.
The latest Lightroom Classic release (13.3.1) now has a "generative remove" tool where there was once the "Heal" Tool, and which is now called the "Remove" Tool. As a "generative" AI tool that uses Adobe Firefly, it falls into the list of Disallowed tools. Also in the latest Lightroom Classic, the new "Lens Blur" is permitted as it is not an AI generative tool.
Images created totally electronically with no photographic origin, including renderings generated via text prompts, are prohibited. Images must be captured in either British Columbia or the Yukon, by a light-sensitive device or surface and recorded on paper, film or in a digital format. Post capture treatments using artificial intelligence and third party pre-sets may not add or generate textures or elements not captured by the photographer. The original RAW or JPEG of Potential winning images may be requested. CAPA uses a variety of techniques and proprietary algorithms to detect generative AI.
Colour, black & white, monochrome and infrared images are permitted.
Submissions
VCC members may submit two images as Club images. The Club may enter only 5 images from 5 different photographers.
The DEADLINE for submission of images to VCC in the Club category is September 1, 2024, midnight PDT.
Individual members of CAPA may enter this contest. Follow the link to the CAPA contest page.
Results
2023
VCC tied with North Shore Photographic Society at 151.0 points. Judges broke the tie, awarding VCC an Honourable Mention Certificate and North Shore received the Bronze. Four judges scored all photos this year, so a "perfect" score would have been 40 points. (The highest scoring photo received 34.5 points. Surrey won Gold at 153.5.) Congratulations to Jerome Rozitis (32.0 points for "Creating Safe Passage for BC Mariners"), Jim Fowler (31.5 points for "Gale Warning"), Kathryn Delany (30.5 points for "The Bald Eagle and the Hake"), Ron Charles (28.5 points for "Spanish Banks Beach Serve"), and Christine Hutchins-Gallagher (28.5 points for Ma'ah's Fishing Tactics). See gallery to the right
2022
A big congratulations to Victoria Camera Club members Kim Smith, Jerome Rozitis, Judy Johnston, Kathryn Delany, Jackye Mills and Steven Lustig: VCC received the Bronze Medal in the Club portion of this competition. A special congrats to Kim Smith, who also earned a 3rd Place Merit award for her photo "Perfect Form". 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 2024 Pacific Zone Competition for More Information
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