KPS runs a simultaneous pair of image competitions every month. A 'set subject' or themed competition and an 'open' or (almost) no holds barred competition. There are sections for Novice prints, Open prints, EDPI (Electronic Digital Projected Images) and Slides. The competitions are judged generally by an experienced, completely impartial, appropriately qualified and usually external, person - hereinafter called - The Judge.

Monochrome, toned and colour images are eligible in every category, unless the competition is specifically for monochrome images only.  All images are eligible - film or digital based, machine, home darkroom processed or inkjet printed.

When

Members hand in their entries for the month's competition at the 1st meeting of the month (2nd Wed). Presentation of The Judge adjudications and merit awards is at the 2nd meeting of the month (4th Wed).

Judgements

The works entered into a competition are reviewed off-site by the selected judge, usually a week or so prior and the adjudications presented at the second meeting of the month.  Judges are sufficiently skilled in their ability to assess photographs and members use these competitions to get constructive critique of their efforts from more experienced and qualified people. Merit certificates are awarded and presented to the winners-n-grinners on 'judging night' and all images that gain merit awards at monthly competitions during the year are eligible for entry into the 'Image of the Year' competition, held on our last meeting for the year in December. Club members are issued with an ID code on joining and use this code to identify the works they enter into our club's competitions, The judge therefore only knows the owner of a work by the ID code. This ensures complete impartiality by the judge and acts as a shield against embarrassment for not-so-good efforts. The competitions are designed as and are a major part of, a critique, a device from which to gain information and knowledge to aid in the progression towards betterment. The competitions are not run or entered into purely for the sake of 'winning'.

View our competition rules.

Digital or 'Organic'

At KPS, we make no distinction between traditionally processed media (what some like to call the 'organic' or dark-n-wet approach) and digital media. We don't care what type of apparatus was used to capture the image, nor how it was processed to produce the final result. We are mindful of digital editing or 'manipulation' of images, but are respectful of a person's creative and artistic abilities. There are rules governing how much post processing is permitted to an image, but only in some sections. Provided these processes mimic traditional (old, ancient, antiquated, organic, ha!) methods, that any 'foreign' objects added to an image are of photographic origin and are the authors own work, then they are eligible to enter our competitions. We are not about hindering creativity. Besides, with the quality of work today, who can tell if an image has been extensively edited anyway? Some photographs are the obvious result of editing and manipulation, eg: stitched panoramas, which are permitted, but we ask for some restraint to ensure that the final result still resembles a photograph. In the Creative/Experimental section (we don't actually have such a section, but we might have one on a forthcoming Pancake Day), there are no holds barred, almost anything goes. Size is really the only constraint with prints. Check out the competition rules for more complete and accurate information.

For those who work strictly in the digital domain, we have a EDPI (Electronic Digital Projected Image) competition in both Set Subject and Open divisions. To be eligible, an image must conform to the sizes specified in the rules. If you wish to know how to size a digital for competition, the Digital Image Sizing for Projection tutorial will help. The information is universal in nature yet specific in detail and conforms to most national and international salon and competition image size requirements.

Novice Division

In an effort to avoid a genuine novice worker feeling intimidated by those workers with more (obvious) expertise, KPS provides a specific division for the Novice worker, so that they too may have their works judged, critiqued and be provided with quality feedback of their efforts. The Novice workers are competing against their peers, not the more proficient workers. As they gain expertise, their works may be put up for assessment and judged by a panel, with a view to upgrading them to the higher Open division. This is not an automatic upgrade. Whilst highly subjective, the assessment and upgrade is done only after serious consideration of the novice worker's level of competency.

Other Competitions

Some members enter individual or collective works into a variety of Victorian, state, National and even International competitions and they have done extremely well.

KPS holds its an annual cross-club (interclub) competition in July - the "Black and White Interclub". In reality it is a 'monochrome' competition, not strictly black and white, so single-toned images are eligible. Other clubs are invited to participate and typically, 6 to 8 clubs agree to participate each year.  This is a very popular event and the invitation list is expanding each year. KPS also competes in other interclub events run by various other photographic clubs.

The Victorian Association of Photographic Societies, of which KPS is an affiliated member, holds an annual Interclub competition in June. Clubs throughout Victoria submit a selection of works for judging, with the high scorers being displayed in exhibition at the annual Convention. Aggregate scores rank the individual clubs and a range of prizes are awarded. The top images from this competition are then entered into an interstate competition, coordinated by the Australian Photographic Society. For more information, check the V.A.P.S. website.

You can read all about current happenings and see the latest monthly competition results in our latest newsletter, or delve into our history with back issues.