COMPETITION RULES
Club Rules for 2024-25 Season HIGHCLIFFE & INFINITY PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB COMPETITION RULES
1.0 GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR ALL COMPETITIONS
Only fully paid-up members of Highcliffe & Infinity Photography Club (H&IPC) may participate in competitions. Each photographic image is eligible to be entered in only one internal club competition during the season, plus The Best of Year. Images used in any competition from a previous season may not be re-entered.
Members agree that their images may be used on our website, in inter-club competitions, and may also be chosen to represent the Club in external competitions. Copyright always remains with the author.
H&IPC is an active member of the Southern Counties Photographic Federation (SCPF) and participates in their League, Championship, and inter-Federation Competitions.
Members who belong to other photographic clubs must ensure that any image used by H&IPC in SCPF League or inter-Federation competitions is not used in the same Federation competitions by their other club(s). Similarly, members must inform the External Competitions Secretary of any image likely to be or that has been used by their other club(s) in the same Federation competitions, regardless of SCPF League, so it can be excluded from our entries.
Members may request that their competition entries be critiqued without being scored. The member must inform the Internal Competition Secretary of their request at the time of submitting their image(s).
2.0 OWNERSHIP/AI
All images and their components must be the original work of the entrant, photographed by them, with copyright retained by the author. The use of stock images, AI-generated elements, or any content derived from sources not photographed by the entrant is prohibited. The Committee reserves the right to request original image files for verification.
While the use of AI-generated imagery is not permitted, traditional editing techniques and AI-assisted tools that enhance or correct image quality — such as noise reduction, sharpening, or exposure optimization — are allowed. These tools must remain under the photographer’s control and must not introduce content that alters the authenticity of the scene.
Tools such as the clone stamp, healing brush, patch tool, and content-aware fill are acceptable provided they work with and derive from the original image content. Generative fill or any feature that introduces new pixels based on external data or models — rather than the photographer’s own image — is not permitted.
3.0 Changes for 2025-2026 Season
This season, we will have 10 competition evenings. No Combined PDI or Print competitions this year.
Members are allowed to enter a maximum of 3 images per competition night. On evenings with two competitions, members can submit a maximum of 3 images across both competitions. This can be any combination of 3 Prints and 0 PDIs, 3 PDIs and 0 Prints, or 3 entries spread across both PDI and Print competitions.
All images must be submitted online via the PhotoEntry website: photoentry.uk Members have been provided with login details. If you have not received them or are experiencing issues, please contact Tony White.
4.0 PRESENTATION
4.1 PRINTS
Prints must be mounted on board or card with a maximum mount size of 500mm x 400mm, with the entry number, print title and author’s name clearly marked on the back. The entry number must be positioned in the top left-hand corner of the back. All prints must be supplied in electronic format into the PhotoEntry system.
4.2 DIGITAL PROJECTION IMAGES PREPARATION
Files must be in JPG format and in the sRGB colour space. The image dimensions should fit within a rectangle of 1600 pixels wide by 1200 pixels high (maximum).
It has been found that applying a narrow white stroke line of 1-2 pixels around the image works well. There is no need to place smaller images on a 1600x1200 black canvas anymore.
5.0 Colour\B&W\Monochrome
With the exception of entries for the Monochrome Cup, all images may be either colour or monochrome unless otherwise advised by the Chairman.
6.0 JUDGING
All competitions will be independently judged whenever possible. Prints and images for digital projection will be
judged as separate categories.
The scoring system for the 2024/25 season has been updated following the majority agreement at the AGM 2024. We will adopt a points system ranging from 6 to 10, including half marks, for all competitions.
6.01 Scoring Guide:
The judge will score pictures within the range of 6 to 10, allowing for half marks. This scoring does not necessarily reflect the overall quality of the pictures but is relative to the entries on the night. Consequently, there could be at least one score of 6 and one score of 10. The score reflects the judge’s opinion of how each image compares to others in the same competition, not its absolute quality.
6.02 Results
The Set Subject Competitions will be scored and will recognize a winner and a runner-up. The Open Competitions will only be scored.
7.0 SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES
Submitting a JPEG of your print via PhotoEntry is required no later than midnight on the Friday before the competition week.
In PhotoEntry, enter the file name you want displayed in the competition in the box titled “Entry Title” (e.g., ‘Snowy Mountain’).
As in previous years, upload your images to PhotoEntry in the order you would like them to be used in competitions. If we receive too many entries for a particular competition, we may remove your last submitted image. If you change your mind, you can reorder your images using the blue up and down arrows on the left of the image in PhotoEntry. Please note that your third image is the one most likely to be culled.
7.01 Competition Night
Prints must be handed in no later than 7.20pm on the night of the competition - the Internal Submitting Competition Secretary has the right to refuse late entries.
8.0 LEAGUE COMPETITIONS
8.1 ORGANISATION
League competitions will be held in two categories throughout the season: Prints and Digitally Projected Images.
The Digital Projection League will consist of 5 Competitions:
One Open Competitions with no set subject:
Landscape – the winner will receive the Landscape Trophy:
Set Subject - the winner will receive the Set Subject Trophy:
Wildlife - the winner will receive the Wildlife Trophy:
Flora - the winner will receive the Flora Trophy:
The Print League will consist of 5 Competitions:
Two Open Competitions with no set subject:
Monochrome - the winner will receive the Monochrome Trophy:
Portrait - the winner will receive the Portrait Trophy:
Battle Of The Sexes:
8.02 League 2025/26: PDI & Print League Winners
To ensure a fair and accurate determination of the PDI League winner, the following scoring method will be used: Top 12 Scores: Only the top 12 scores will be considered for the final calculation of a participant's PDI score.
To determine the Print League winner, the following scoring method will be used: Top 12 Scores: Only the top 12 scores will be considered for the final calculation of a participant's Print League score.
The impact of any lower-scoring images, including those from rounds a participant may have missed, is minimized. This approach rewards consistent high-quality work and provides a more accurate reflection of a participant's overall skill and effort.
9.0 ENTRIES
Each member may submit up to three entries for each competition evening. Unless otherwise stated (see rules for each competition) there is no age-limit for entered images but they must not have been entered in any previous league competition.
The Competition Secretary reserves the right to see the original image from the camera.
9.1 Landscape Competition
This digital projection competition celebrates the art of landscape photography. Members may submit up to three images, with the winner awarded the prestigious Landscape Trophy.
This is an open competition, welcoming landscape entries from around the world. While there is no strict definition, landscape photography is generally understood to depict outdoor scenes where human or animal presence is minimal or non-dominant. Living creatures may be included to provide a sense of scale or narrative, but they should not be the primary subject.
There are no restrictions on what constitutes a ‘landscape’ image. Entries may include traditional landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, industrial scenes, or even close-up elements that evoke the essence of a wider environment. The aim is to creatively capture the character, atmosphere, or beauty of the world around us.
Both traditional and modern editing techniques are permitted, including the use of AI-assisted tools for tasks such as exposure blending, sharpening, and noise reduction. However, generative AI or editing methods that introduce visual elements not present in the original capture — such as synthetic skies or fabricated content — are not allowed. All elements in the final image must originate from the photographer’s own work.
9.2 SET SUBJECT COMPETITIONS
This is a digital projection competition with the subject chosen by club members at the Annual General Meeting. Members may submit up to three images, which must have been photographed since the subject was set at the previous AGM. Images must not have been used in previous League competitions and cannot be entered in later League competitions, except for the Best of Year in the same year.
9.3 WILDLIFE AND FLORA COMPETITIONS
These competitions are digital projection set subject competitions. As of 2023, the Wildlife and Flora Competitions are separate league competitions. Each member may submit up to three entries per competition.
Editing, including AI-assisted tools, must comply with the guidelines set out in Section 2 of the club rules.
9.3.1 Flora Competition – Not in 2025 Programme
The Flora Competition is dedicated to images of flowers, plant life, cacti, and fungi, whether found in nature or arranged as a tabletop subject.
Editing, including AI-assisted tools, must comply with the guidelines set out in Section 2 of the club rules.
9.3.2 Wildlife Competition
The Wildlife Competition focuses on wildlife typically found in natural environments. Domesticated or managed animals — such as New Forest ponies — are not eligible. Photographs featuring only plant subjects are excluded; however, insects or small wild animals may be the main subject.
Subjects photographed in captivity are permitted, provided there is no visible evidence of confinement, handling, or human presence in the image.
Images should reflect the scene as it was observed in nature. Only minimal editing is allowed: cropping, exposure correction, contrast and colour balance, sharpening, noise reduction, and the removal of minor distractions. All adjustments must appear natural and must not alter the integrity of the subject or its environment. Full monochrome conversion is acceptable.
Editing, including AI-assisted tools, must comply with the guidelines set out in Section 2 of the club rules.
9.4 Monochrome Competition
Each member may enter up to three monochrome prints. There is no prescribed subject; all themes and genres are welcome, with the winner awarded the prestigious Monochrome Trophy.
A monochrome image is defined as one that consists of varying tones of a single hue. This typically includes black-and-white images, which range from the darkest black to the lightest white. Monochrome images may also be toned entirely in a single colour, such as sepia, cyan, or any other uniform hue.
Images that are partially toned, selectively coloured, or "colour-popped" — where only one part of the image is rendered in colour while the rest remains monochrome — do not qualify and will be treated as colour images. Such images are not eligible for entry in the monochrome category.
For clarity, images produced using split toning, duotone processing, or any method that introduces more than one hue are regarded as colour images and are not eligible for entry in the monochrome category.
Editing, including AI-assisted tools, must comply with the guidelines set out in Section 2 of the club rules.
9.5 PORTRAIT COMPETITION
This is a print competition where members may enter up to three images.
A portrait is defined as the representation of a person, where the face and its expression are the dominant elements.
The intention is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person.
Editing, including AI-assisted tools, must comply with the guidelines set out in Section 2 of the club rules.
9.6 BEST OF YEAR COMPETITION
Following the decision made at last year’s committee meeting, the Best of Year competition has been split into two separate categories: Print and Digital Projection (DPI). Each member may now submit up to three images in each category.
Images must be presented exactly as they appeared in the original competition and may not be altered in any way. However, if an image has been used in a Set Subject competition and the title appears slightly odd, it may be retitled.
Entries must have appeared in an Internal Club Competition during the current year.
10.0 NON-LEAGUE TROPHIES
10.1 THE CHAIRMANS CUP
This trophy will be awarded at the Chairman’s discretion to the club member who has demonstrated the most improvement over the year. The recipient will be chosen based on competition scores, reflecting their enthusiasm, effort, and progression.
11.0 FINALLY
While the competition rules aim to be comprehensive, they may not cover every possible scenario. Members are encouraged to follow both the spirit and the letter of the rules.
Latest Amendment 27th August 2025.