What is a competition?
The Saskatoon Photography Club holds fall & winter competitions, Photo Presentation and a Year End Competitions (Traditional Colour, Monochrome, Altered Reality & Portrait). These are judged by professional photographers from our community. Comments and scores are given to the submissions.
Submission Guidelines
- Submissions are due on or before the submission date. Instructions will be available on the website and at meetings.
- Do not resize your digital image, we prefer full resolution
- The minimum resolution is 1280 x 800
- Prints are only considered for Year End Competitions
- Entrants must be the author of any image/s and all parts thereof submitted into a Competition.
- All parts of the image or images must have been ‘photographed’ by the author.
- ‘Content-aware Fill’ or similar modification that is entirely based on pixels in the original image/s and which does not extend the image beyond its original boundaries is ‘acceptable’.
- ‘Generative Fill’ or other processes that use content generated by software from written prompts or developed from the work of others is ‘not acceptable’.
Summer Fun Competition
- Entries must be taken during the scheduled summer fun trips
- Digital Images only
- Limits: 1 Digital Submission
- Can be color or black & white
- No creative/altered reality
- Upload your images to our online Submissions Page
- Images will be judged during a scheduled night
- Deadline: November 26, 2024
- Results: May 6, 2024
Fall Field Trip Competition
- Entries must be taken during the September club field trip
- Digital images only
- Limits: 1 Digital Submission
- Can be color or black & white
- No creative/altered reality
- Upload your images to our online Submissions Page
- Images will be judged during a scheduled night
- Deadline: November 26, 2024
- Results: May 6, 2024
Fall Competition
Animal — Monochrome / Black & White
Celebrate the beauty, personality, behaviour, and character of the animal world through monochrome or black-and-white photography.
Your subject may be wild, domestic, large, small, familiar, or unusual. Images can focus on action, behaviour, portraiture, interaction, environment, pattern, texture, or a quiet moment that reveals something about the animal.
Because colour is removed from the image, photographers are encouraged to pay special attention to light, contrast, texture, shape, expression, tone, and composition. The animal should be an important part of the photograph and help create a strong visual story or emotional connection.
Inspiration
Consider photographing:
- Wildlife in its natural environment
- Birds in flight, feeding, nesting, or interacting
- Pets showing personality or expression
- Farm animals and livestock
- Insects, reptiles, amphibians, or aquatic life
- A dramatic close-up animal portrait
- Animals interacting with one another
- An animal within a landscape
- Movement such as running, flying, jumping, or swimming
- Details such as eyes, feathers, fur, scales, paws, or wings
- Humorous or unexpected animal behaviour
- Silhouettes, shadows, or strong graphic compositions
- High-contrast scenes with dramatic lighting
- Soft, subtle tonal images with delicate detail
Think beyond simply recording an animal. Look for expression, behaviour, light, timing, texture, and composition that become even more powerful when colour is removed.
Still Life — Monochrome / Black & White
Still life photography gives the photographer complete control over the subject, composition, lighting, background, and mood.
For this competition, all entries must be presented in monochrome or black and white. Use light, shadow, tone, texture, shape, pattern, and composition to transform ordinary objects into a visually compelling photograph.
Without colour to carry the image, the relationship between highlights, midtones, shadows, textures, and forms becomes especially important.
Your still life can be simple and minimalist or elaborate and carefully styled. It may be photographed using natural light, window light, studio lighting, or creative lighting techniques.
Inspiration
Consider creating a photograph featuring:
- Flowers, plants, or dried botanicals
- Fruit, vegetables, food, or beverages
- Vintage cameras or photography equipment
- Tools, books, musical instruments, or collectibles
- Glassware, bottles, ceramics, or reflective objects
- Everyday household objects arranged creatively
- Antiques or objects with history and character
- A minimalist arrangement using only one or two objects
- Strong geometric shapes, lines, patterns, or repetition
- Dramatic low-key lighting with deep shadows
- Bright high-key compositions
- Backlighting, reflections, shadows, or silhouettes
- Strong textures such as wood, metal, fabric, glass, or stone
- A conceptual arrangement that tells a story
- Objects selected primarily for their form, shape, texture, or tonal contrast
Still life is an opportunity to slow down and build the photograph rather than simply find it. Experiment with arrangement, lighting, shadows, textures, and tonal relationships until every element contributes to the final monochrome image.
Submission Requirement
All photographs submitted in the Animal and Still Life competitions must be presented in monochrome or black and white.
Colour images are not eligible for these competitions.
Rules:
- Limit 1 digital image per topic
- Maximum total of 2 digital images
- Winners announced at Awards Night
- Submit: TBA
- Review Judges Comments: TBA
- Results: TBA
Upload your images to our online Submissions Page
Winter Competition
Winter Scenes — Monochrome / Black & White
Capture the atmosphere, beauty, mood, and character of winter through monochrome or black-and-white photography.
Winter offers strong graphic possibilities: snow, ice, frost, bare trees, long shadows, dramatic skies, fog, and changing light can all become powerful visual elements when colour is removed.
Your photograph may feature landscapes, city scenes, people, wildlife, details, weather, or abstract interpretations of the season. The goal is to communicate a sense of winter, whether that feeling is peaceful, harsh, dramatic, quiet, playful, or mysterious.
Because these entries are monochrome, photographers are encouraged to pay particular attention to contrast, texture, shape, pattern, light, shadow, and tonal range.
Inspiration
Consider photographing:
- Snow-covered landscapes
- Frost-covered trees, grasses, or windows
- Hoarfrost and ice formations
- Winter streets or urban scenes
- Snowstorms, blowing snow, or falling snow
- Bare trees against dramatic skies
- Frozen rivers, lakes, ponds, or waterfalls
- Long winter shadows
- People enjoying winter activities
- Tracks or pathways through fresh snow
- Minimalist scenes with large areas of white
- Dark trees or structures against bright snow
- Close-up details of snow, frost, or ice
- Reflections in ice or open winter water
- Fog, mist, or atmospheric winter conditions
- Abstract patterns created by snow and ice
Look beyond simply documenting snow. Use winter light, atmosphere, texture, contrast, and composition to create an image that expresses the feeling of the season.
Architectural — Monochrome / Black & White
Explore the form, structure, design, character, and visual impact of architecture through monochrome or black-and-white photography.
Your subject may be an entire building or only a small architectural detail. Images can emphasize shape, geometry, symmetry, repetition, texture, perspective, light, shadow, or the relationship between a structure and its surroundings.
Architecture is particularly well suited to monochrome photography because removing colour can place greater emphasis on lines, form, contrast, texture, pattern, and design.
Photographers are encouraged to interpret the topic creatively rather than simply produce a record of a building.
Inspiration
Consider photographing:
- Historic or heritage buildings
- Modern architecture
- Saskatoon landmarks
- Bridges and structural elements
- Churches, civic buildings, or public spaces
- Industrial architecture
- Architectural interiors
- Staircases, hallways, windows, or doorways
- Repeating windows, columns, beams, or balconies
- Strong geometric shapes
- Symmetry and leading lines
- Dramatic perspectives looking upward
- Reflections in glass buildings
- Shadows cast across walls or structures
- Architectural details and textures
- Minimalist compositions isolating one part of a building
- Buildings within their surrounding landscape or streetscape
- Abstract interpretations of architectural forms
Think beyond photographing a building as a record. Look for the lines, shapes, light, shadows, textures, and relationships that reveal the design and character of the structure.
Submission Requirement
All photographs submitted in the Winter Scenes and Architectural competitions must be presented in monochrome or black and white.
Colour images are not eligible for these competitions.
Rules:
- Limit 1 digital image per topic
- Maximum total of 2 digital images
- Winners announced at Awards Night
- Submit: TBA
- Review Judges Comments: TBA
- Results: TBA
Upload your images to our online Submissions Page
Photo Presentation Competition
A Photo Presentation is a digital projection of a collection of images forming a unifying theme
- Recommended 4-6 minutes
- Video format preferred or PowerPoint
- Judged by 3 Professionals
- Submit Title: TBA
- Judging Night: TBA
- Results: TBA
Year-End Competitions
Topics:
- Photographer’s choice (monochrome)
Rules:
- Submit 1 digital and/or 1 print per category
- Images must be taken in the last 2 years
- These will be judged by 3 professional judges and retained until the Awards night.
Upload your digital images to our online Submissions Page
How is your Photograph Judged?
The purpose of the competition is to provide instruction through constructive critical comment and evaluation. Images are judged by 3 professional photographers.
Judges comment using 3 categories:
- Pictorial or Artistic Merit (IMPACT)
- Technical Skill
- Interpretation of Subject
Pictorial or Artistic Merit (IMPACT)
This is a measure of the SUCCESS of the COMPOSITION.
Factors include the “RULES OF COMPOSITION”:
- Rule of Thirds
- Balance
- Lighting
- Framing
- Tonal Range and Texture
- Pattern and Rhythm
- Lead-in Lines
Technical
Here you measure the skills of:
- Exposure
- Depth of Field
- Focus
- Shutter Speed
- Filters
- Panning
- Mounting, spotting (prints)
Interpretation
Here you evaluate how well the photographer interpreted the topic photographically.
- Is the subject matter appropriate?
- Has it been chosen carefully?
- Has it been captured in an interesting way?
- Does the subject communicate itself clearly without distraction?
Note: a TITLE may or may not assist in this process. It is only one factor to be considered.
(some titles are merely labels, and are therefore neutral).
Image Evaluation
10. Outstanding, flawless
9. Dramatic, beautiful, strong impact
8. Excellent, minor flaws only, photographic mastery
7. Very good, just short of excellent
6. Competent, technically OK, lacking impact
5. Average, unmemorable, lots of room for improvement
4. Below standard, one or more specific faults
3. Many faults, badly composed
2. Unacceptable, slide or print should not have been entered.
Awarding Points
- A 30 point system of judging will be used
- Each of the 3 judges will award up to 10 points in each of the following categories:
- pictorial or artistic merit (impact),
- technical skill, and
- interpretation of the topic.
- All points are totaled and divided by 3, giving a maximum of 30.
- Judges will vote to break ties
What does the total scoring reflect?
30/30 Unique; outstanding; stunning; flawless (rarely awarded)
27/30 Outstanding; dramatic; beautiful; technically superb; very strong impact
24/30 Excellent’ worthy of Honorable Mention – minor flaws only. Demonstrates photography mastery; a memorable picture.
21/30 Very good, but falls short of excellent rating.
18/30 Good. Competent: technically satisfactory, but lacking in impact, interest, strength of composition, etc.
15/30 Average, undistinguished; unmemorable. Shows minor faults. Lots of room for improvement in composition, interpretation, etc.
12/30 Below standard; lacking in some essential quality or definable way. One or more specific faults which really spoon the picture
Guide for Judging Presentations
Judges are asked to evaluate and score the presentation in each of the following categories:
Introduction & Ending
• How effective the opening and closing slide are in terms of titles, maps, graphics, etc.
• How well they lead into the main theme and how well they close out the set at the end
• Transitional slides within the set, if used, should also be considered here
Sequencing
- Mixing of styles
- Order and timing of images on the screen
- Appropriate select of images for illustrating the topic
- How well they interpret the theme
Photography
- The quality of the images in terms of:
- Composition
- Artistic merit
- Impact
- Technical quality:
- How well the photographer has used his/her equipment
- Focus
- Exposure
- Depth of field
- Lighting
Slide cleanliness and lack of projection problems are also important
Audio Presentation
- If commentary is included, consider the narrative style including:
- Choice of words
- Smoothness of presentation
- Intonation (expression, delivery, clarity of voice)
- Unity of thought
- Evaluate choice of music and sound effects if used
Overall Impact
- Evaluate the set as a whole
Each category is judged out of 10 which gives you a grand total out of 50.