Irish Photographic Federation
National Shield Digital Competition

1 Irish Photographic Federation National Shield Digital Competition Rules 2020

Version: 1.6 Covid-19 Pandemic Andrew Magan AIPF, ARPS, EFIAP National Shield Coordinator Important Submission of an entry constitutes acceptance of the IPF National Shield rules of the Competition complied and approved by the IPF council Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679). (While every care is taken in drawing up the Irish Photographic Federation Rules the information given in this document is, to the best of our knowledge, accurate and complete). 2 1. Introduction 1. The National Shield is an inter-club competition, open only to non-advanced photographers from affiliated clubs / Societies in good standing with the Irish Photographic Federation. 2. The competition shall take place at a date to be fixed by the National Council / Shield Coordinator. 3. The National Shield will be a Digital Competition in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. After restrictions have passed, it will revert to a print-only competition. 2. The Competition 1. The National Shield shall be competed for in each of the following categories: Monochrome Digital Colour Digital 2. The National Shield shall be awarded to the club with the highest aggregate total score across the two categories. Please read section 3.9 3. Clubs may compete in any or both of these two categories. 4. To compete, a club must submit eight images in each of the categories in which they wish to compete. Up to two substitute images may be submitted which may be substituted in case of a dispute relating to an image on a panel. 5. Of the eight images submitted in each category the following shall apply: 5.1. Only one image per photographer per panel is allowed 5.2. Each participating club may enter up to two images per panel from advanced photographers provided that the only criteria that determines them to be advanced is that they hold an LIPF distinction from the IPF or similar distinction from another recognised photographic organization. Photographers with any of the following are not eligible; 5.2.1. Any person who has received an IPF Associateship or Fellowship distinction or similar from FIAP, the PSA, or any other similar distinctions from any other photographic organization. 5.2.2. Any person who has been awarded more than one IPF medal in IPF National Competitions. 5.2.3. Any person who had an image that was chosen to represent the IPF in international competitions. 5.2.4. Any person who has received acceptances with five or more image titles, or any award including a ribbon, at FIAP and/or PSA recognised salons. 5.2.5. Any person whose club considers him or her to be of advanced standard in any discipline of photography. 5.2.6. Any person who holds a diploma or degree in photography from any recognised educational institution in Ireland or elsewhere. 3 6. A Digital A4 contact sheet containing thumbnail images of entries is required see (5.e and Appendix 1). 7. All images entered in the competition must be the work of the persons stated to have created them and must have originated in-camera according to international competition rules. Where the IPF requests proof of authorship, such proof shall be provided without delay. 8. No person may represent more than one club in this competition. 9. Images used in any previous National Shield competition shall not be used in the current competition. 10.Infringement of any of the rules may cause the relevant image and panel to be disqualified. 11.A club shall not use the same images in more than one panel. Where an image is so used, all versions of the images shall be disqualified. 3. Participation in the Shield 1. All clubs must register their intention to participate in the National Shield two weeks before the closing date so they can receive their registration number. 2. The National Shield Coordinator shall issue entry forms (Appendix 2), and other documents, by which participating clubs enter the competition. Such forms must be returned to the co-ordinator by WeTransfer, by a date specified on the IPF website, which deadline may be changed to an earlier date with the consent of the National Council. 3. The entry fee is set by the IPF Council. The 2020 entry fee is €60. The reduced fees for 2020 reflect the reduced costs arising from this being a digital rather than a print competition. 4. Submission of the entry form constitutes acceptance of the rules of the competition. 5. The IPF Council, on the recommendation of the National Shield Co-ordinator, shall appoint an official referee for the National Shield, under whose supervision the competition rules shall be followed. Such referee(s) shall be a member of the IPF Council. 6. Prior to judging, the referee shall inspect the entries. 7. The Shield shall be adjudicated by three judges appointed by the Judges’ Selection Committee of the IPF. 8. The judges’ decisions are final, and no discussion of such decisions shall be entered into or entertained. 9. Scoring in the competition shall be on the basis of the official score sheet approved by the National Shield Co-ordinator. Results shall be based on the aggregate scores given by all judges to each competing panel. Each image shall be scored out of ten points per judge, the maximum available score being 240 points per panel. In the event of a tie, the judges will be asked to choose the winning panel from those whose scores have tied. If it is not possible to separate the contestants by this means the award will be shared jointly. 4 10. It is not permissible to publicly dispute the judges’ decisions or comments at any time during the competition, up to and including the awards ceremony. Any contraventions of this rule shall be dealt with by the National Shield Co-ordinator as s/he deems appropriate - to the extent, if necessary, of disqualifying a club whose member has contravened this rule. 11. The results of the 2020 National Shield Competition will be announced within seven days of the judging all Clubs/Society will be informed. 12. Presentation of awards will not take place until the Government Covid-19 regulations allow the IPF to do so in reasonable safety. 13. While every care will be taken by the IPF and the host club to ensure that material submitted will be handled properly, neither the IPF nor the host club can accept responsibility for loss or damage to entries. 4. General 1. The Irish Photographic Federation retains the right to reproduce any image entered in the competition in connection with publicising or promoting the competition, the IPF or an affiliated club. Copyright of the images shall, at all times, remain with the respective authors. The IPF retains the right to store the images in the National Photographic Archive Collection and may use them to create on-line galleries or may display them on the IPF website. The IPF retains the right to use any images entered in its competitions for use in international biennials and the Celtic Challenge. 2. The IPF Council’s decision in all matters relating to the National Shield shall be final. 3. Before the results are announced, the competing panels shall be displayed on the IPF Website after the completion of judging and shall remain there for 5 days during which time objections or complaints may be lodged as outlined in item 4. hereunder. 4. Objections or complaints relating to an entry, an entrant or a panel, must be made in writing by a club secretary, a club competition secretary or a member of the IPF Council. Objections from any other source shall not be entertained under any circumstance, as outlined in item 3 above. The objection must state clearly, in writing, the reasons for the objection and must be accompanied by an investigation fee of €50. The matter complained of will then be investigated by the Coordinator and competition referee. If the objection is upheld, then the investigation fee will be returned. If the objection is deemed invalid, the IPF will not refund the investigation fee. A penalty of not less than €50 and not more than €150 may be imposed on the club against whom the objection has been proved valid. 5. It is incumbent on all participating clubs to ensure that they have adhered to the rules of the competition and all rules shall be enforced on the basis that all competing clubs and club members have taken full cognisance of the rules. 6. All entries in relation to monochrome digital and colour digital must conform to the current specifications as defined by FIAP. 5 5. Check list for entries to the National Shield a. You must register two weeks before the closing date, your intention to participate in the National Digital Shield, so you can receive your club’s registration number. b. Payment can be paid with PayPal (For administrative purposes, PayPal is preferred) via the IPF website http://irishphoto.ie (Payment to be marked National Shield 2020) c. Entries to the competition must include Entry Form 2020 in Digital format: (Appendix 2) Entry form are available on the IPF website:- https://irishphoto.ie/ and must be completed digitally and sent together with your digital images by WeTransfer https://wetransfer.com/ to the event coordinator. d. Name your Image Files: Photos must be in jpeg file format, RGB Maximum dimensions: 3,000ppi on the longest side, 7 - 10, max 2Mb. All Files must be named and numbered as per your colour or mono entry form. Club registration Number-Image Number-Image title_Author name Example: 020-1-Down by the river_David Blog (It’s very important to remember to please double check that your images are in this format, the software will only except the files in this format. Continue on and rename all your images from 1 to 10 in colour and mono). Titles will be provided to the judges to assist them interpret the images. No extra marks are awarded for titles. Images should not include any text or watermarks of any kind such as your name or club name or any mark that would identify you. e. Digitally composed contact sheet (i.e. not a photograph of prints) per panel being submitted in jpeg format only. Do not put any marking on the front i.e.: - number or title of images, your name or club name or any mark that would identify you. Contact sheet (Appendix 1) in a Digital format must be named: (Only include your eight panel images in contact sheet) 6 Registration number_Your Club Name_Year Example: 020_Offshoot Photography Society_2020 Correct Example A Digital contact sheets of your colour panel and monochrome panel must be sent along with entry forms to the event co-ordinator. f. Please upload your images/files by WeTransfer https://wetransfer.com/ to the National Shield Co-ordinator. Under the Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679). What information are we collecting? The IPF/National Shield Coordinator collects your personal data i.e. name – contact number – e-mail address. We collect this information to administer the competition and to be able to contact entrants. Your personal data will be kept for two years, we do not pass your personal data to third parties. If you have any queries, please contact the National Shield Digital Coordinator. Andrew Magan AIPF, ARPS, EFIAP Mobile: 087 2331548 e-mail: andrewmaganaipf@gmail.com or e-mail: shield@irishphoto.ie 7 (Appendix 1) Contact Sheet Layout of your Colour or Mono Panels Some helpful guidelines on how to do a contact sheet in Photoshop a. Assemble files in a folder (Name files 1 to 8) b. Open Photoshop c. Go to File (top left) d. Automate e. Contact Sheet f. Browse g. Import files (Remember only the 8 images on the panel) in this section h. Important to have all setting correct to print on an “A4” sheet i. Click on OK Colour Contact sheet (Sample) Offshoot Photography Society Winners of the: IPF National Shield 2019 You now have a digital contact sheet, save as Jpeg file, name your file. Registration number_your club name_year Example: 020_Offshoot Photography Society_2020 Do not put any marking on the front i.e.: - your name or number or club name or any mark that would identify you Do the same for your mono panel 8 (Appendix 2) Entry form are available on the IPF website and must be completed digitally and sent to the event coordinator. 9 Check List Have you: • Registered • Paid • Filled in Entry form • Named Images • Resized images • Contact sheet for each panel • Sent your files by WeTransfer Registration Date: _________________ Closing Date: _____________________ Judging Date: ____________________ Result Date: ______________________ 10