Vermont Professional
Photographers all abilities welcome!

1. IMAGE FEES AND DEADLINES
a. Image entry registration with PrintCompetition.com opens on January 16, 2023
i. The entry DEADLINE is Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 11:00 P.M.
b. VPP members entry fee is $15/regular image.
c. Non-VPP members entry fee is $20/regular image.
d. Full-time Vermont high school and college students’ entry fee is $7/regular image.
e. The entries for the Creative Theme and Mack Derick categories at no charge.
f. At the end of your image registration, image entry fees should be paid via PayPal.

2. PRINTCOMPETITION.COM
a. The PrintCompetition.com platform will be used to host and organize all entries.
b. All image-makers must create a profile at PrintCompetition.com and register each entry with the VPP competition.
c. Club79 will be open to members and the public during judging. Have fun, discuss images, and relax in the comfort of your home, but please keep the tone respectful.

3. ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS COMPETITION
a. For VPP Vermont residents to submit entries in the VPP Annual Image Competition, their 2023 VPP dues will be paid in full no later than March 1, 2023.
b. Out-of-state residents may compete with six regular entries.
c. Out-of-State high school and college students may compete with six regular entries.
d. All high school and college students, who are full-time and in good standing, are allowed to enter at the reduced student fee rate.

4. ENTRIES ALLOWED
a. Up to six regular entries may be submitted by each entrant with digital images.
b. Digital album entries. Each album will be one of your regular entries.
c. Image-makers may use the same model/subject in multiple images if the images are created with entirely different concepts.
i. If the entirely different concepts standard isn’t met, all images with the same subject will be disqualified.
ii. The Image Committee Chair has the final word for any questions/disputes.
d. Images that have earned a PPA Merit Image Review* Category C or D or have been previously entered in VPP annual image competitions AND scored 80, or above, are not allowed.
e. Images captured by any entrant at a photography school, or under the supervision of an instructor, are not allowed.
i. High school and college students, in good standing, are exempt from this rule until they are no longer enrolled as a student.
f. In addition to six regular entries, one entry for each special category is also allowed:
i. Mack Derick Memorial
ii. VPP’s Creative Theme (2023 – “Smartphone Born”)

5. OUT-OF-STATE ENTRIES

a. Up to six entries are allowed by each out-of-state entrant and shall follow the same rules as VPP members.
b. Only one Out-of-State Court of Honor award is available for these entries.
c. All other awards are only available to VPP members who currently live in Vermont.

6. OUTSOURCING
a. The outsourcing or supplying of digital files or film to a lab, editor, retoucher or print service is allowable under your direct supervision and explicit instruction.
b. A third-party may offer recommendations for your consideration but may not make the ultimate decisions.

7. AI-GENERATED IMAGES
a. Content created by Artificial Intelligence is not allowed in VPP’s Photographic Competition.
b. This is a photographic competition for photographers and computer artists who create their own images.

8. CERTIFICATION OF RESPONSIBILITY
a. By entering this photographic competition, each entrant certifies they created, composed, and made the original exposures and the processing, printing, and special effects were done by them, or under their direction, and all entries contain only appropriate content.

9. DIGITAL ENTRIES – SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
a. The longest side of each image file should be 4000 pixels at 200ppi.
b. Image files saved to a JPEG quality of 10
c. Image file size should not exceed 7.5MB.
d. Image files should be saved in either sRGB, or the Adobe RGB 1998, color space.
e. These digital files will be used for awards selection, presentation, and publishing on the VPP website and convention book.

10. JUDGING
a. Images will be judged Friday, March 3, 2023, in an open PPA-style image judging.
b. PPA rules will be followed as they apply to state-level print competitions.
c. Images will be judged individually, but not in categories or classifications.
d. PPA Automatic Majority Challenge rule replaces the 78-79 and 80-81 review process.
e. The Photographic Committee Chairman has the authority to decide any questions not specifically covered by these rules, and his/her decision will be final.

11. IMAGE CORNERS
a. Blue, red, and white corners are awarded as follows:
i. Blue = 80-100; Red = 75-79; White = 70-74

12. PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE CATEGORIES
a. For the awards selection, your images will only be considered for awards in the categories you check marked during your online registration on PrintCompetition.com.
b. Designate one of these categories for each entry, including albums, when uploading your entries:
i. Portraits:
1. Portrait of 1 or 2 Adults
2. Family Portraits - 3 or more people
3. Newborn Portrait
4. Children’s Portraits
5. High School Senior Portraits
6. Boudoir, Glamour, Fashion
7. Pet Portraits 8. Wedding studio portraits
ii. Illustrative:
1. Nature: flowers, insects, wild animals, zoo animals
2. Commercial: real estate, architecture, still life and product photography
3. Includes images that don’t fit into other categories.iii. Landscape/Cityscape iv. Wedding/Events:
1. Wedding - Documentary
2. Wedding - Posed
3. Event 4. Non-Event - Portraits and Storytelling
v. Artist
1. This category is judged with emphasis on the creative use of manipulation through any means of imaging.
2. It is not intended to be just images that are retouched, enhanced, or printed digitally.
3. Photo restorations should be placed in this category.
4. Entries may include any appropriate subject and may have additional elements not created by the maker.
5. All processing, manipulation, artwork, or rendering must be done by the entrant.
6. Guide images must be included on the submitted image.

13. CREATIVE THEME AWARD
a. This year’s theme is “Smartphone Born”
b. Vermont VPP members may enter one image in this category.
c. This category is in addition to the 6 regular entries and is free to enter. d. Judging is done within the VPP Photographic Competition.
e. The judges will select the image that best exemplifies and interprets this year’s theme.

14. MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
a. Awarded to a Vermonter who has competed in VPP’s Image Competition for 2 consecutive years, or more.

15. STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHER AWARD
a. Awarded to a Vermont student photographer who is currently in high school, or college, and is full-time and in good standing.
b. The winner of this award must have a VPP mentor who is in good standing.
i. If you need help finding a VPP mentor, contact the image committee chairman.
c. The winner of the Student Photographer award will receive a $500 college scholarship.

16. GEORGE R. READ MEMORIAL AWARD
a. A Vermont VPP member's image in a Vermont setting is eligible for this judges’ choice award.
b. The image may be a portrait, commercial, or pictorial, but must stress the natural beauty of the State of Vermont, its people, or heritage, to be eligible.

17. COURT OF HONOR AWARDS
a. Any single image entry that scores 80-100, is eligible for these judges’ choice awards.
b. Three awards shall be given to non-masters.
c. Three awards shall be given to VPP members holding any of these PPA degrees and registered as a “PPA Master” on PrintCompetition.com:
i. Master of Photography (M.Photog.)
ii. Master Artist (M.Artist)
iii. Master of Wedding Photography (M.Wed.Photog.)
d. One award for an out of state entrant may be chosen.

18. BEST BLACK & WHITE AWARD
a. This award goes to the highest scoring B&W entry, 80-100. Or is a judges’ choice if more than one entry scores in the same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior, Exceptional).

19. BEST PORTRAIT AWARD
a. This award goes to the highest scoring PORTRAIT entry, 80-100. Or is a judges’ choice if more than one entry scores in the same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior, Exceptional).

20. BEST WEDDING/EVENT AWARD
a. This award goes to the highest scoring WEDDING/EVENT entry, 80-100. Or is a judges’ choice if more than one entry scores in the same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior, Exceptional).

21. BEST ILLUSTRATIVE AWARD
a. This award goes to the highest scoring ILLUSTRATIVE entry, 80-100. Or is a judges’ choice if more than one entry in same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior, Exceptional).

22. BEST LANDSCAPE AWARD
a. This award goes to the highest scoring LANDSCAPE entry, 80-100. Or is a judges’ choice if more than one entry scores in the same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior, Exceptional).

23. BEST ARTIST AWARD
a. This award goes to the highest scoring ARTIST entry, 80-100. Or is a judges’ choice if more than one entry scores in the same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior, Exceptional).

24. BEST OF SHOW AWARD
a. This award goes to the highest scoring entry from the five category winners, 85-100.
b. Or is a judges’ choice if more than one entry scores in the same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior, Exceptional).

25. CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER (CPP) AWARD
a. This award is given to the highest scoring image by a Vermont VPP CPP.

26. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PHOTOGRAPHERS (ASP) AWARD
a. This award is given to the highest scoring image by a Vermont VPP ASP member.

27. DIGITAL ALBUM
a. An album is one of the regular entries.
b. Currently, albums do not have a separate category i. So, enter it in one of the 5 image categories.
c. See the PPA video tutorial for preparing an album for competition:
i. https://www.ppa.com/events-members/photo-competitions-mem/ipcresources-mem
d. All page/spread files must have:
i. the longest file dimension at 4000 pixels,
ii. have an embedded color profile of either sRGB or Adobe RGB1998,
iii. saved at a JPEG quality setting of 10.
e. Each page/spread file may contain as many images as you desire.
f. An entry shall contain a minimum of 5 pages/spread files up to 36 pages/spread files
g. Files will be numbered in viewing order with two digits, i.e., 01 jpg, 02 jpg, 03 jpg, etc.
h. All individual files must be compressed into a single ZIP file. ZIP file must be named: Album Title.zip (e.g., Summer Wedding.zip).
i. Studio identification or entrant's name cannot appear on any file within the album entry.
j. MULTI-MAKER ALBUM:
i. Should be entered by the photographer with the most images in the album.
ii. Each entrant must have a minimum of 10 images.
iii. Multi-maker albums will be judged as one entry.

28. VERMONT HIGH LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS: GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE
a. These awards are based on image competition performance.
b. Six regular qualifying entries are required to be considered for this award.
c. A minimum of four entries scoring 80, or above, is required.
d. The scores are based on the highest total score from the top four entries.

29. MACK DERICK MEMORIAL AWARD
a. Special Note:for the 2023 competition, each printmaker needs to:
i. Enter in 2023 on PrintCompetition.com
ii. Print your Mack Derick photograph.
iii. The physical print must be delivered to Image Competition Chair, Wayne Tarr, by Thursday, March 2, 2023.
iv. After the competition, your print will be returned so you can store it.
v. Prints are required, because the year you are presented your award, your accomplishment will be highlighted with a display of all your Mack Derick prints at the VPP annual in-person convention.
vi. The jury panel will use your digital image for judging.
b. This award was established to give VPP members a continuing incentive to create and enter images of their own production. The award is in memory of one of the founders of VPP and a lifelong craftsman of the photographic arts. The intent of this award is to honor the craftsmanship of photography. This includes exposure of a sensitized material, film or digital sensor, which is processed in chemistry, or with a computer, and brought to a print through a chemical process, or an inkjet printer.
c. The Vermont VPP member enters one (1) print annually in this award challenge, until the award is earned, using the current rules for entry in the VPP Image Competition.
d. Judging will be on the same basis as the images in the VPP Image Competition.
i. The registration requires a digital image, and for 2023, this is what will be used for judging your Mack Derick.
e. The current year’s print will receive the following points based on the print’s final score: 90-100 = 5 points; 85-89 = 4 points; 80-84 = 3 points; 75-79 = 2 points; 74-70 = 1 point; £ 69 = 0 points.
i. Earning zero points allows the competitor to remain in the MDMAC.
f. To receive the Mack Derick Memorial Award, the competitor must enter a physical print, annually, until 15 points are earned.
g. If the print maker misses a year, his/her point count is reset to zero (0).
i. Extreme circumstances accounting for missing a year can be appealed to the VPP Board of Directors, in writing, before the next VPP Photographic Competition.
h. Each print submitted in this award challenge must be wholly of the maker’s own production (except for first generation color film processing) from photographic capture to the finished mounted print. This includes all the retouching, enhancements, and printing.
i. The print, which may be in black and white, or color, will be in addition to the case total allowed by the VPP Print Rules.
 j. This is a stand-alone competition; Mack Derick prints are not eligible for other awards.
k. Register your Mack Derick print on PrintCompetiton.com along with your other entries.
l. This is a free category.
m. Transparencies are not eligible.
n. A Mack Derick Memorial Award recipient may receive this award only once.
o. By entering prints in this award challenge, you certify that you have read and understand the specifications of the Mack Derick Memorial Award as set out here in the VPP Image Competition Rules. You also certify that you did all of the work from capture to its final presentation for this award challenge, personally.