FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

 
 
In this document: 
  
• What is the Vale of Evesham Camera Club? 
• Lost or Forgotten Passwords 
• Paypal & Entry Problems 
• Can I enter manipulated shots?  
• Natural History Definition 
• Colour Category Definition 
• Monochrome Definition 
• Experimental/Creative Image Definition 
• How Do I Create JPGs from Adobe Photoshop? 
 
 
 

What is the Vale of Evesham Camera Club?

 
 
VECC (for short) is a society for image takers and makers based around Evesham. 
 
Please visit our main web site for details about the club and the program: 
www.eveshamcameraclub.co.uk 
 

Lost or Forgotten Passwords

 
 
If a previous entrant or pre-registered then log in using your email address and password. If this is your first entry then please use the register function and make a personal note of your password as all passwords are now stored in encrypted form. 
 
If you have lost or forgotten your password then there is a forgotten password function which will email you a new auto-generated password. If you do not receive this password please check your spam folder or failing that please contact us for assistance. Some emails containing passwords have bounced, these are being picked-up and resent using a different system however delivery may be delayed 24hrs. The password will be of the form of two words separated by a hypen, please note not an underscore. 
 
 

Paypal & Entry Problems

 
 
If you having problems paying with Paypal please make sure that, after selecting to pay by Paypal, that you click the SUBMIT at the very bottom of the page. 
 
A small number of Anti-Virus and Firewall combinations can prevent upload. Temporarily turning off the Firewall usually solves this. 
 
If an image starts uploading then stops with no further progress being shown. Click the X adjacent to the progress bar to cancel that particular image. Then repeat upload for that image - this then usually works OK.  
 
If you still have a problem or don't know how to do this then I can upload images for you. 
  
If husband & wife entrants, with separate computers but sharing the same Internet router, then please do not both log-in to enter at the same time. Always log-out before the other logs-in .... I could explain why but life is too short !  
  
If any entrants do have problems uploading images then please contact me for assistance.  
 
Please also see notes in 'Contact Us' menu option. 
 

Can I Enter Manipulated Images?

 
 
YES! Actually, we pretty much expect any entered image to be manipulated in some way, if only for contrast and colour. However, you may enter any image you like, with any amount of manipulating, montage or other processing you wish. However please note restrictions in Natural History and guidance for Colour section. 
 
You may enter these images in any class, however there is a special class "Experimental/Creative Images" which is intended for Reality Altered images or obviously manipulated images.  
 
The only requirement we have is that you own copyright on all parts of the image, including any textures.  
 
Text generative AI images, in whole or in part, or entirely computer generated images are not permitted - there must be significant photographic work present in the image.  
 
Please note though, for Natural History entrants the 2018 PAGB rules apply, see below, which now permits limited editing provided that it does not alters the truth of the photographic statement. Evidence of man is no longer prohibited.  
 

Natural History

 
Nature Definition ( Based on PAGB rules February 2018). 
 
Note that images already meeting the separate FIAP Definition of Nature will satisfy 
this less restrictive definition. 
 
Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict all 
branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology, in such a fashion that a 
well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and certify its honest 
presentation. 
 
The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while 
maintaining high technical quality. 
 
Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible. Photographs 
of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or 
mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the 
photographic statement. 
 
Processing of the captured image, by cropping, exposure adjustment, colour correction, 
noise minimisation, dodging/burning, HDR, focus stacking and sharpening, is allowed. 
Cloning of image defects and minor distractions, including overlapping elements, are 
permitted when these do not distort the truth of the photographic statement. 
 
Images entered as Nature can have landscape, geologic formations, weather phenomena, 
and extant organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with the 
subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums 
and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food. 
 
Access to biological subjects may be restricted. By entering a PAGB event, Photographers 
warrant that they have followed relevant codes of practices and hold any necessary licences. 
 
Additionally montaged/composite images are prohibited.  
 

Naming of Natural History Entries

 
 
The use of Cute or Humorous titles are best avoided. 
 
 

Colour Category

 
 
This is a general category judged on pictorial merit. Pictorial photography is the use of the photographic medium as an art form. The emphasis is on interest, visual impact, composition, and technical excellence. 
 
Images in the Pictorial Division are not confined to any particular subject, type, or style of photography. Pictorial images may be manipulated on the computer or in the camera, however "Altered Reality" Images that have been visibly manipulated should be submitted in the Experimental/Creative section. 
 
Nature style images entered in the Colour Category will be judged solely on pictorial merit.  
 
 

Monochrome Definition

 
 
A black and white work fitting from the very dark grey (black) to the very clear grey (white) is a monochrome work with the various shades of grey. A black & white work toned entirely in a single colour will remain a monochrome work able to stand in the black & white category; such a work may be reproduced in black & white in the catalogue. On the other hand a black and white work modified by partial toning or by the addition of one colour becomes a colour work (polychrome) to stand in the colour category. 
 
 

Experimental/Creative Definition

 
 
This category means different things to different people and therein lies the appeal for photographers who like to think outside the box and use their imaginative skills. For the purpose of this Exhibition, there are other labels which cover this genre which include Abstract, Altered Reality, Contemporary, Creative, Surreal. The common thread is that this embraces a very diverse category of images made using an assortment of techniques and with equally varied intentions. 
All components of the image (which may include computer graphics) must have been created by the entrant (the inclusion of stock images & textures is not permitted), and the photographic content should predominate. 
 
 

How Do I Create JPGs from Adobe Photoshop?

 
 
Resize the image to maximum 1600 pixels wide by 1200 pixels high. Portrait format images will be 1200 high but less than 1600 wide. 
 
Images smaller than these maximum dimensions will automatically have a black background applied to take it to the judging dimension of 1600x1200. 
 
Check that the colour space is sRGB and if necessary use Image/Mode/Convert to Profile to change your image to sRGB to ensure that it displays correctly. Also some other colour profiles create very large files. 
 
Choose to "Save As" and select a location directory. Enter a file name/title and for format select JPG (NB. Not JPEG) to create JPGs. 
 
In choosing a file name please avoid the following symbols "+", "(" or "&" within file names. Please do not add a full stop at the end of your file name otherwise when the file extension is added this will become Bird on a Stick..jpg (ie double dot) which can give problems with our file upload software. Next make sure the Format field is set to JPG (ie .jpg) The file extension must end with .jpg 
 
Click save and then set the quality to 10. This will ensure the final file size is not too large (NB. do not exceed the 1,500 KB limit/image for online entry) but will retain the quality of the image. Click OK.