Vermont Professional Photographers
2021 Image Competition Rules
NOTICE: This a remote photo competition. All entries are only digital.

1. IMAGE FEES AND DEADLINES

A. Image entry registration with PrintCompetition.com opens on January 22, 2021

• The entry DEADLINE is Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 11:00 P.M.

B. VPP members entry fee is $12/regular image.

C. Non-VPP members entry fee is $15/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. In order for Vermont residents to submit entries in the VPP Annual Image Competition, their 2021 VPP dues will be paid in full no later than March 1, 2021.

B. Out-of-state entrants may compete with six regular entries.

C. Out-of-State full-time high school and college students at the out-of-state fee rate.

D. Vermont high school and college students, 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 are back! Each album will be one of your regular entries.

C. Image-makers may use the same model/subject in multiple images as long as the images uses entirely different concepts.

• If the entirely different concepts standard isn’t met, all images with the same subject will be disqualified.

• The Image Committee Chair has the final word for any questions/disputes.

D. Images that have received a PPA Seal of Approval, PPA Merit, 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.

• 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: 

• Mack Derick Memorial and VPP’s Creative Theme (2021 – “In Motion”)

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.

• All other awards are available only to Vermont VPP members.

6. CERTIFICATION OF RESPONSIBILITY

A. By submitting entries, entrants certify that they have created, composed, and made original exposures and that the processing, printing, and special effects were done by them, or under their direction.

B. Entries in violation of this rule will be disqualified.

7. 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.

8. 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:

• 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

• 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.

• Landscape/Cityscape

• Wedding/Events:

1. Wedding - Documentary

2. Wedding - Posed

3. Event

4. Non-Event - Portraits and Storytelling

• 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 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.

9. JUDGING

A. Images will be judged Friday, March 5, 2021 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 known as the “ins & outs.”

E. The Image Committee Chairman has the authority to decide any questions not specifically covered by these rules, and his decision will be final.

10. IMAGE CORNERS

A. Blue, red, and white corners are awarded as follows:

• Blue = 80-100; Red = 75-79; White = 70-74

11. CREATIVE THEME AWARD

A. This year’s theme is “In Motion”

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 Image Competition.

E. The judges will select the image that best exemplifies and interprets this year’s theme.

12. BEST FIRST-TIMER AWARD

A. This is mini competition among the VPP members who are entering this competition for the first time.

B. This award goes to the highest scoring image among the first-time entrants.

13. MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER

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

14. YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER AWARD

A. Awarded to a deserving young photographer, who is 25 years of age, or younger.

B. The winner of this award must have a VPP mentor who is in good standing.

• If you need help finding a VPP mentor, contact the image committee chairman

15. STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHER AWARD

A. Awarded to a Vermont student photographer who is a current high school or full-time college student, in good standing.

B. The winner of this award must have a VPP mentor who is in good standing.

• 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 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:

• Master of Photography (M.Photog.)

• Master Artist (M.Artist)

• 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 a Judges’ Choice if more than one entry in same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior, Exceptional).

19. BEST PORTRAIT AWARD

A. This award goes to the highest scoring PORTRAIT entry, 80-100. Or a Judges’ Choice if more than one entry in same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior, Exceptional).

20. BEST WEDDING/EVENT AWARD

A. This award goes to the highest scoring WEDDING entry, 80-100. Or a Judges’ Choice if more than one entry in same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior, Exceptional).

21. BEST ILLUSTRATIVE AWARD

A. This award goes to the highest scoring ILLUSTRATIVE entry, 80-100. Or 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 a Judges’ Choice if more than one entry in same highest scoring level (Excellent, Superior,

Exceptional).

23. BEST ARTIST AWARD (previously the Creatively Plus Award)

A. This award goes to the highest scoring ARTIST6 entry, 80-100. Or a Judges’ Choice if more than one entry in 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 a Judges’ Choice if more than one entry in 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. At this time, albums do not have a separate category

• So, enter it in one of the 5 image categories.

C. See the PPA video tutorial for preparing an album for competition:

• https://www.ppa.com/events-members/photo-competitions-mem/ipcresources-mem

D. All page/spread files must have:

• the longest file dimension at 4000 pixels,

• have an embedded color profile of either sRGB or Adobe RGB1998,

• 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:

• Should be entered by the photographer with the most images in the album.

• Each entrant must have a minimum of 10 images.

• Multi-maker albums will be judged as one entry.

28. VERMONT HIGH LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE GOLD AWARD

A. This award is 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 score is the first highest total score from the top four entries.

E. Scores under 80 will not be included in the total.

29. VERMONT HIGH LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE SILVER AWARD

A. This award is 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 score is the second highest total score from the top four entries.

E. Scores under 80 will not be included in the total.

30. VERMONT HIGH LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE BRONZE AWARD

A. This award is 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 score is the third highest total score from the top four entries.

E. Scores under 80 will not be included in the total.

31. MACK DERICK MEMORIAL AWARD

A. Special Note: for the 2021 competition only, each printmaker will use one of these two options:

• Option 1: Skip 2021, Rules 31 C, F & G will be suspended, 2022 is your next consecutive year, and you will keep your current Mack Derick points.

• Option 2: Enter in 2021 on PrintCompetition.com, print your Mack Derick photo, and deliver it to Wayne Tarr by Thursday, March 4th.

1. In this Covid-19 environment, your print still needs to be “wholly of the maker’s own production from photographic capture to the finished mounted print.

This includes all the retouching, enhancements, and printing.”

2. After the competition, your print will be returned so you can store it.

3. 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 convention.

4. 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.

• The registration requires a digital image, and for 2021, 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. Earning zero points allows the competitor to remain in the MDMAC.

F. In order to receive the Mack Derick Memorial Award, the competitor must enter a print,

annually, until 15 points are earned.

G. If the print maker misses a year, his/her point count is reset to zero (0).

• Extreme circumstances accounting for missing a year can be appealed to the VPP Board of Directors, in writing, before the next VPP Image Competition.

H. Each print submitted in this award challenge must be wholly of the maker’s own production (with the exception of color first generation 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, and 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.

Image Committee Chairman’s Notes.

• PRINTCOMPETITION.COM

o PrintCompetition.com provides a valuable learning experience for its members by offering an extensive library of images to view. Your entries will be added to the

database unless you express, in writing, that you do not want this to happen.

o To opt out, send an email to the image committee chairman.

• VPP / NORTHEAST DISTRICT / IPC (International Print Competition)

o All three levels of competition use the same print and image preparation standard, so you only have to make one set of prints, or digital files, if you choose to compete with your VPP entries at the next levels of competitions.

o For more image competition information, see the PPA tutorials at:

• https://www.ppa.com/events/photo-competitions/ipc-resources

CONTACT THE IMAGE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN FOR QUESTIONS