Toledo Camera Club Division Definitions
Nature Images Digital - The purpose of the Nature Division is to show nature in its pure form. Human elements are not allowed. Images depicting cultivated plants, domestic animals or pets, still-life studies, table-tops, mounted specimens, museum pieces or groupings, or similar subjects are NOT eligible. The presence of scientific bands on wild animals is acceptable. Zoo shots and Game Farm shots are eligible provided the artificial habitat is not apparent in the image. Photographs of artificially produced hybrid plants or animals, mounted specimens, or obviously set-up arrangements. are ineligible, as are some forms of manipulation, manual or digital, that alters the truth of the photographic nature statement.
Allowable manipulations of a nature photograph include:
- The photographer may perform enhancements and modifications that improve the presentation of the image that could have been done at the time the image was taken but that does not change the truth of the original nature story.
- Cropping and horizontal flipping (equivalent to reversing a slide), straightening, keystone correction, noise removal, dodging and burning, exposure adjustment, color balance, color correction, white balance, minimal saturation, sharpening, "HDR" (High Dynamic Range), and cloning spots, are examples of acceptable modifications it they are not obvious and the image remains natural.
- Adding elements to you nature image, or combining separate images into one are not acceptable and will lead to disqualification of your image.
Any techniques that make the image look altered from a natural appearance are not acceptable. It is the responsibility of the Nature Chairperson to determine if an image entered into the nature division does not meet these requirements and should be consequently disqualified. The chairperson should give the member the chance to enter an alternative image, time permitting. The photographer should be ethical about meeting these nature requirements.
PLEASE NOTE: Any images you would like to be entered as Nature image in GDCCC can not have a color border. Only white or gray borders are allowed in GDCCC, so choose your color correctly. Our club does not disqualify color borders, so you can still make color borders, but that image can not be entered in GDCCC.
General Images Digital - A "General" image must obviously show evidence of the "hand of man", or the human element. Although a part of a General image may contain a nature subject, it must also show the human element. For example, a pelican perched on a fishing dock would be a General image. Images of domestic animals, such as dogs and cows, etc. and cultivated plants, such as roses and tulips, would be considered General images. Nature subjects that look altered from a natural appearance can be entered in General Division.
It is the responsibility of the General Chairperson to determine if an image entered into the General division does not meet these requirements and should be consequently disqualified. The chairperson should give the member the chance to enter an alternative image, time permitting.
Digital Monochrome Images Digital - A monochrome image must be primarily a black & white image. There are no regulations on the subject matter of a monochrome image. Only one overall color tint is permissible, but the image must overall have a monochrome appearance. Note: in GDCCC rules, there can be no true black in a tinted image. See the Tech Tips in our Documents for more detail about tinting a monochrome image.
It is the responsibility of the Monochrome Chairperson to determine if an image entered into the monochrome division does not meet these requirements and should be consequently disqualified. The chairperson should give the member the chance to enter an alternative image, time permitting.
Creative Images Digital - The purpose of the Creative Division is to provide an outlet for photographers who like to work "out of the box", using electronic techniques to go a step beyond pure photography into the "artistic" realm. A "Creative" image is defined as an image which is manipulated in the computer, using computer software and shows obvious adjustments to the casual viewer. Examples of manipulation include, but are not limited to posterization, extreme over saturation, combining 2 or more different photos, distortion, special effects, special filters, collage, texturing, etc.
Nature subjects that have been enhanced by any of these techniques so they no longer appear natural will be accepted in the Digital Creative Division. There are no regulations on the subject matter of a Creative image. Regulations state that ALL work in Digital Creative Division and ALL components in the image must be that of the members. No AI generated images, in whole or in part, no images from other photographers, and NO clip art is allowed.
It is the responsibility of the Creative Chairperson to determine if an image entered into the creative division does not meet these requirements and should be consequently disqualified. The chairperson can request a RAW image of any part of the entered image that is in question. The chairperson should give the member the chance to enter an alternative image, time permitting.
Print Division - There is no restriction on print images as to subject matter or creative techniques. Members may submit a maximum of 4 printed images per competition with a maximum of 3 entered in color prints; distributed as they wish between the color print and the monochrome print category, and respectively, the color assignment group, color non-assignment group, monochrome non-assignment group.
Prints may be a minimum of 8" x 10" and a maximum of 16" x 20", with no signature or identifying name on the front of the image itself. All prints must be mounted on a mat board, not foam core, measuring 16" x 20", with NO over-mats, glass or frames. All prints must have a TCC label on the back in the upper left corner, printed legibly please. Prints may be made from film (negative or slides) using a wet-darkroom technique, or electronic digital files using computerized digital darkroom. All prints must be "processed" by the member. All prints must be printed by the member, or by a commercial printer that performs NO further adjustments or manipulations to the file when printed.
The Print Division if divided into categories: Color Prints and Monochrome Prints. Monochrome prints compete with only monochrome entries. And color prints compete with only color entries. Monochrome prints can ONLY be black and white, no tints. Any monochrome images with an overall tint will compete in color prints.