Beware - Monthly Critique Rules Have Escaped the Darkroom!
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
There was a time, not so very long ago, when entering the Coastal California Photographers Monthly Critique was as easy as photographing a sleeping cat.
Life was simple.
Your masterpiece needed only to be 1080 pixels vertically, 1920 pixels horizontally, and have the proper filename that didn't resemble your cat walking across the keyboard.
Those carefree days have now ridden off into the sunset.
The Competition Committee, in its infinite wisdom (and probably after consuming industrial quantities of Irish coffee), has unveiled a shiny new set of submission rules. Fear not! They're actually designed to make judging smoother, improve image quality, and keep everyone on the same page. They simply look intimidating when gathered together in one place...rather like a family reunion.
The New Digital Image Requirements
Your image must now be:
JPEG/JPG
sRGB color space
Maximum 4,000 pixels on the long edge
Quality setting: 100
Think of it as putting your photograph on a healthy diet. Not too small. Not too large. Just right.
Good news for those who enjoy dressing up their photos:
Frames and strokes are now permitted!
That's right. Your image may wear a tasteful picture frame. Just don't get carried away. We still want to judge the photograph, not admire something that looks like it belongs in Buckingham Palace.
(Please note these decorative additions are not allowed for Ventura County Fair competitions.)
Things Your Image Must Not Contain
Your masterpiece should not include:
Your name
Watermarks
Logos
In other words, the judges shouldn't know who created the image until after they've admired it.
Artificial Intelligence also receives its own chapter in the rulebook.
AI may help with masking, cloning, removing distractions, sharpening, and similar editing techniques.
However...
You may not invite Bigfoot, three unicorns, two UFOs, and a pirate ship into your sunset if they weren't actually there when you pressed the shutter.
The camera still has to do the heavy lifting.
Monthly Submission Rules
Only current paid members may enter.
Your original/base image must have been captured with a camera, including smartphones.
The important parts, the key elements of the photograph must be your own creation.
Images should preferably have been made within the last few years.
If an image has already earned a Merit, congratulations! Please allow it to enjoy retirement rather than sending it back into battle.
And finally, anything inappropriate or offensive may be removed. We're here to critique photography, not provide material for awkward apologies.
Two Categories
Every image belongs in one of two camps:
Assigned - This month's challenge or theme.
Open - Anything your creative heart desires.
You decide which category your image enters, but remember to review all the gory details of Assigned criteria in the Blog and Web site.
Choose wisely.
The Filename Has Gone to Finishing School
The filename now follows a very civilized format:
Assigned Example
IMAGE TITLE_John Doe_MM-YY_Assigned.jpeg
Notice those underscores.
They are not optional.
They are tiny digital bridges holding civilization together.
Submitting Your Images
Meeting dates, themes, and judges can be found in the club newsletter and on our website.
Email your entries to Janice Lindsay at:
Use the subject line:
## Photos for MON – Last Name
Yes...the hashtags really do belong there.
Janice will send a confirmation that your images arrived safely. If no confirmation appears, don't assume your email wandered into the Bermuda Triangle. Simply send a polite follow-up.
Finally, remember that all entries are due Sunday evening before the meeting.
So don't wait until 11:58 PM while simultaneously searching for your reading glasses, renaming files, exporting JPEGs, and wondering why your computer suddenly wants to install updates.
With these new guidelines in hand, you'll be ready to submit like a seasoned professional. The judges will be happy. Janice will be happy. Your files will be happy.
Your computer...
Well...that's another story entirely.
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