ACC Externally Judged Competitions
Notes for Members
General information:
All images used must be ones that you have taken, and all editing must have been carried out by the entrant.
Entries for print competitions do not need to be printed by yourself but where an outside printer is used the printed image must be a faithful representation of the submitted digital file. A digital copy of each printed image must be sent to the Competition Secretary and the file should comply with the requirements for digital competition entries. Other than the Jackpot competition, prints must be mounted on the standard 500mm x 400mm (20 x 16 inches) size of masking board.
Entries for digital projected image competitions should be in JPEG format and scaled to long edge not less than 1024px; it is requested that the other parameters are adjusted so that the file size is less than 1GB.
Other than the Dacre Trophy, competition entries shall consist of 3 images, with the highest aggregate being the trophy winner. Members can submit up to 3 images for the Dacre Trophy, with the highest single score being awarded the trophy.
1: Tourist Trophy
The brief for the Tourist Trophy is “This is Scotland”. The print can be any format, image size, colour or monochrome but the mount must be the standard 500 x 400mm. There are no restrictions on content provided that the subject is identifiable as “Scottish”.
2: Mallis Trophy
The brief for the Mallis Trophy is for three projected digital images on the subject of Wildlife. The club has adopted the 2018 PAGB definition of “Wildlife” which in turn is based on the “Nature” definition, namely:
Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology, in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and certify its honest presentation.
The story telling value of a Nature photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality.
Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible. Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.
Processing of the captured image, by cropping, exposure adjustment, colour correction, noise minimisation, dodging/burning, HDR, focus stacking and sharpening, is allowed. Cloning of image defects and minor distractions, including overlapping elements, are permitted when these do not distort the truth of the photographic statement.
The following additional requirements apply to Wildlife (and therefore to the entries in the Mallis competition):
Images entered in Wildlife sections are further defined as “one or more extant zoological or botanical organisms free and unrestrained in a natural or adopted habitat”.
Landscapes, geologic formations, photographs of zoo or game farm animals, or of any extant zoological or botanical species taken under controlled conditions are not eligible in Wildlife sections.
Wildlife is not limited to animals, birds and insects. Marine subjects and botanical subjects (including fungi and algae) taken in the wild are suitable wildlife subjects, as are carcasses of extant species.
3: Robertson Trophy
Entries in the Robertson Trophy consist of three projected digital images on a subject which has been selected from a set of seven by drawing lots.
“Ecclesiastical” is the subject for the 2023/24 competition.
4: Chalmers Trophy
Entries for the Chalmers Trophy consist of three colour prints on any subject but each must not be larger than 500 x 400mm including mount. It is required that entries are submitted mounted to the 500 x 400 maximum.
5: Insh Trophy
Entries for the Insh Trophy have to be monochrome prints on any subject but must not be larger than 500 x 400mm including mount. It is required that entries are submitted mounted to the 500 x 400 maximum.
The ACC uses the SPF definition of “Monochrome”, namely a black and white work ranging from the very dark grey (black) to the very clear grey (white) and with various shades of grey. The SPF definition allows for a work entirely toned in another colour but does not allow partial toning by the addition of another colour.
6: Ramsay Trophy
Entries for the Ramsay Trophy consist of three projected digital portraits of individuals. These images must capture the personality of a subject by using effective lighting, backdrops and poses. No animals. More than one person is allowed provided that one of them is clearly the focus of the composition. Highest aggregate wins.
7: Dacre Trophy
Entries consist of a maximum of three projected digital images, colour or monochrome, and on any subject. Entries from previous competitions in the same club year may also be entered. Best image wins.
Notes for Members
General information:
All images used must be ones that you have taken, and all editing must have been carried out by the entrant.
Entries for print competitions do not need to be printed by yourself but where an outside printer is used the printed image must be a faithful representation of the submitted digital file. A digital copy of each printed image must be sent to the Competition Secretary and the file should comply with the requirements for digital competition entries. Other than the Jackpot competition, prints must be mounted on the standard 500mm x 400mm (20 x 16 inches) size of masking board.
Entries for digital projected image competitions should be in JPEG format and scaled to long edge not less than 1024px; it is requested that the other parameters are adjusted so that the file size is less than 1GB.
Other than the Dacre Trophy, competition entries shall consist of 3 images, with the highest aggregate being the trophy winner. Members can submit up to 3 images for the Dacre Trophy, with the highest single score being awarded the trophy.
1: Tourist Trophy
The brief for the Tourist Trophy is “This is Scotland”. The print can be any format, image size, colour or monochrome but the mount must be the standard 500 x 400mm. There are no restrictions on content provided that the subject is identifiable as “Scottish”.
2: Mallis Trophy
The brief for the Mallis Trophy is for three projected digital images on the subject of Wildlife. The club has adopted the 2018 PAGB definition of “Wildlife” which in turn is based on the “Nature” definition, namely:
Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology, in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and certify its honest presentation.
The story telling value of a Nature photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality.
Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible. Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.
Processing of the captured image, by cropping, exposure adjustment, colour correction, noise minimisation, dodging/burning, HDR, focus stacking and sharpening, is allowed. Cloning of image defects and minor distractions, including overlapping elements, are permitted when these do not distort the truth of the photographic statement.
The following additional requirements apply to Wildlife (and therefore to the entries in the Mallis competition):
Images entered in Wildlife sections are further defined as “one or more extant zoological or botanical organisms free and unrestrained in a natural or adopted habitat”.
Landscapes, geologic formations, photographs of zoo or game farm animals, or of any extant zoological or botanical species taken under controlled conditions are not eligible in Wildlife sections.
Wildlife is not limited to animals, birds and insects. Marine subjects and botanical subjects (including fungi and algae) taken in the wild are suitable wildlife subjects, as are carcasses of extant species.
3: Robertson Trophy
Entries in the Robertson Trophy consist of three projected digital images on a subject which has been selected from a set of seven by drawing lots.
“Ecclesiastical” is the subject for the 2023/24 competition.
4: Chalmers Trophy
Entries for the Chalmers Trophy consist of three colour prints on any subject but each must not be larger than 500 x 400mm including mount. It is required that entries are submitted mounted to the 500 x 400 maximum.
5: Insh Trophy
Entries for the Insh Trophy have to be monochrome prints on any subject but must not be larger than 500 x 400mm including mount. It is required that entries are submitted mounted to the 500 x 400 maximum.
The ACC uses the SPF definition of “Monochrome”, namely a black and white work ranging from the very dark grey (black) to the very clear grey (white) and with various shades of grey. The SPF definition allows for a work entirely toned in another colour but does not allow partial toning by the addition of another colour.
6: Ramsay Trophy
Entries for the Ramsay Trophy consist of three projected digital portraits of individuals. These images must capture the personality of a subject by using effective lighting, backdrops and poses. No animals. More than one person is allowed provided that one of them is clearly the focus of the composition. Highest aggregate wins.
7: Dacre Trophy
Entries consist of a maximum of three projected digital images, colour or monochrome, and on any subject. Entries from previous competitions in the same club year may also be entered. Best image wins.