Monthly Photo Challenges (MPC) and PGPS Open and Nature Competitions

1. Purpose

To provide members a monthly topic that will encourage creativity and provide an opportunity for discussion of the technical and creative aspects of their photography. The purpose of the MPC is to promote growth and sharing, not to determine a "best" photo.

A challenge is held at the first member meeting in each of the following months: September, October, November, February, March, April, and May. We do not have a Monthly Photo Challenge when we hold the PGPS Open Competition in January and the PGPS Nature Competition in June. We do not have meetings in July and August. We usually view member slideshows in December.
The challenge may be delayed to the second meeting of the month to accommodate the scheduling of other activities.
A new topic is usually announced one month prior to the date of the challenge. The September topic is announced in June.
Challenges are planned by the Executive with input from the membership.
Members are encouraged to contribute ideas for new topics for challenges to the Executive at any time.
Variety is the spice of life. From time to time, the Executive may decide to make a temporary exception to the rules stated here. For example, we might wish to critique prints instead of digital images; we might allow photos taken previously to be used; etc.

A photo must have been taken during the challenge period which begins when the topic is announced and ends at the submission deadline. Older photos should not be used unless the topic specifically allows for their use. Photos for the PGPS Open and Nature competitions must have been taken in the year prior to the competition date.
Members are encouraged to interpret the topic in unusual and creative ways. Be ready to explain how your interpretation is relevant to the current month's topic!
All components of the submitted photo must be the original work of the photographer. The photo must not contain elements created or captured by someone else. Examples include the combination of two or more layers into a composited image and the use of texture layers. Texture layers created by the photographer are acceptable. Texture layers built into editing software or purchased separately are not acceptable. A composited photo may use layers created at another time provided the image was conceived during the challenge period and that a substantial portion of its content was created during the challenge period.
Members are encouraged to read CAPA's Eligibility Requirements for submitted photos at https://capacanada.ca/capa-competitions/capas-eligibility-criteria/.
We rely on members to honour these rules. However, the challenge manager may request confirmation that a photo meets these requirements.
Only members in good standing are allowed to participate in the challenge.

Each member may submit one photo for the challenge.
Image files should be emailed to the challenge organizer by the stated deadline ‐ usually the Sunday evening prior to meeting that will view the photos.
When submitting a photo, members should ensure that the photo's title is clearly indicated and that they include their name in the email.
No personal identification text, such as a signature, watermark or copyright notice, is allowed on the image.
Image files should be jpgs profiled to sRGB. They should be sized to fit a 1400 pixel x 1050 pixel window - ie. no wider than 1400 pixels and no taller than 1050 pixels. This is an aspect ratio of 4 x 3. An image with a different aspect ratio should be sized to one of those two maximum dimensions. For example, an image that is 3 x 2 will be 1400 pixels by 933 pixels and an image that is 1 x 1 will be 1050 pixels x 1050 pixels.

The purpose of the selection procedure is to determine which photos will be displayed on the club's web site.
Photos for Monthly Photo Challenges and the PGPS Annual, PGPS Nature and external competitions will be displayed without maker’s names and will be discussed following selection.
Three photos will be selected by ballot as follows:
1. Ballot slips will be issued to all present at the meeting.
2. Each voter will write down their three choices on the ballot using the number assigned to the photo.
3. Each voter will hand in their ballot slip.
4. The votes will be tallied to determine the three photos which have received the most votes.
5. The photos receiving the greatest number of votes will represent the club on our website.
6. If the voting results in a tie for photos with the third greatest number of votes, we may display all selected photos on the website. A tie may also be resolved by a show of hands at a meeting. If that isn't possible, a tie may be resolved by a minimum of two members of the executive.

Thumbnails of the photos chosen each month for the MPC and the two Annual PGPS Competitions will be displayed on the homepage of the club’s website pgphotoclub.com. These photos also will be added to the Monthly Challenge Gallery on the website. The thumbnails will link to the Gallery and will be displayed until replaced by photos from the next challenge or competition.
Each member is asked to provide a title for their photo.
Thumbnails of these photos may be displayed on the club’s Facebook Page.
All photos submitted for the MPC, PGPS Annual Competitions and external contests will be displayed in albums in the club’s Yogile Gallery.
All photos submitted for the MPC, PGPS Annual Competitions, external contests or open Yogile albums, may be used in club slideshows highlighting club events and field trips.
Additionally, if your photograph is selected for entry into an external contest, that contest may have additional policies relating to the use of submitted photos. Members should make themselves aware of these policies prior to submitting their photo to the PGPS.

This policy was updated in January and May 2023. The old page is here.