Lancashire & Cheshire Photographic Union DEFINITIONS AND CATEGORIES
GENERAL SECTIONS (SECTIONS 1,2,5)
Treatment should be essentially aesthetic, pictorial, or graphical. Any subject matter except true Natural History or Creative may be used in these sections i.e. still life, landscape, portraiture, record, illustrative.
NATURAL HISTORY (SECTIONS 3,6)
Images must be an accurate representation of the species or subject matter. Titles must be specific and correct. Creatures are expected to be alive and free in the wild NOT DOMESTICATED OR IN ZOOS. If controlled conditions are used this should be declared with the exception of micro or macro detail. Geology. Weather, Climatology, and Ecology are permissible but should be accurately titled to show their significance in the natural world. Derivations or any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement are ineligible.
MONOCHROME PRINT (SECTION 1)
Pictures entered must comprise either wholly a monochromatic image (which may be singly toned in a single tone colour), or include a split-toned area within the black- grey-white image. Monochrome which have one or more colours/dyes must be entered in the Creative section. (sections 4,7)
It is worth stating that the definition has been taken from the FIAP definition for Monochrome. The debatable "Grey" area is where the added colour is superimposed on an already monochromatic (toned) image. Such images are responsible for a confusion of opposing interpretations by some competition secretaries and judges. This confusion may also extend to dual toned images especially if the original toning does not alter the blacks in the original image. To avoid possible rejection, authors would be advised to enter such images in the colour section of the competition.
CREATIVE (SECTION 4,7)
The section is stated to be reserved for those pictures where the final image has been treated in a manner which removes it from the reality of a straight interpretation of the subject.
The definition does not include the authors individual subject approach during taking of the picture, (choice of camera angle, lighting, colour filters and exposure for example to produce modest soft focus or image blurring) or during printing with the normal techniques of shading, burning in or retouching, or even in colour printing the choice of overall colour balance.
It should be appreciated that the use of double exposure in camera is a debatable area open to individual interpretation by the viewer, competition organiser, and judge!
The "Creative" definition is aimed at final images which have used techniques which radically change the appearance of the original subject in front of the camera in terms of tone, form, or colour, either during the original exposure or during the production of the post-exposure image. The definition includes pictures which combine several images.
It is aimed at the techniques of tone-elimination, posterisation, bas-relief, solarisation or the use of added overlay textures etc in monochrome or colour work; blurring due to zooming or the use of streaking or multi-image filters during the initial exposure and similar effects imposed during the production of the final image. It is also aimed at all uses of montage and similar techniques of combining several images to produce the final desired image.
It must be noted that the stated author must have copyright to all elements of the final picture to ensure that they cannot be accused of plagiarism.
Except for final printing all the techniques employed must be carried out by the stated author.
