2020 Photo Show Rules

Overview:

On April 27, 2020, DPS will hold its annual photo show competition as an online competition using Zoom. In order to do this, we have made some changes to the entry procedures and cancelled the Graphic Design (print) category. The competition will be divided into 3 categories: Visual Story (Previously known as the Projected Image Class 1 Photo Show), Photo Essay (Previously known as the Projected Image Class 2 Photo Show), and Video Essay.

Please see the instructions for how to submit your entries towards the bottom of this page!

General Policies:

  • A member may submit one entry in each category (maximum of 3 entries per member).
  • A Photo Show which was entered in a previous year and did not win first place may be re-entered.
  • Photography, production elements and the creation of the presentation must be the work of the entrant in accordance with the rules of each category. 
  • No credits or copyrights identifying the maker should be visible to the judges on the Photo Show. Credits for music, quoted narration, or other materials not the work of the maker are required.
  • The Registration Deadline for entering the 2020 DPS Photo Show Competition is Midnight EDT on Monday, April 20. 
  • Projected Image Photo Show entries [Visual Story, Photo Essay, and Video Essay] must be submitted to the Photo Show Chairperson before the registration deadline. File format must be mp4, mov, or avi. No proprietary file format of a video editing software program is allowed. PowerPoint (ppt), Keynote (key), or Executable (exe) files must be converted to acceptable file formats.
  • Projected image Photo Shows will use a single screen, a computer and digital projector furnished by DPS.
  • A Jury of three qualified, neutral judges will preside over the competition.
  • Awards will be given based on ballots from everyone in the audience. In the event of a tie, the three judges will cast the deciding votes among the tied entries.
  • Entries that do not follow the rules of the category will be shown for comment only. Such entries will not be eligible for awards, even if they receive a higher audience score.
  • Judges will provide feedback on the competition on general and specific entries as requested prior to audience voting.
  • The winning entry in each class will be on the DPS website unless the show contains copyrighted music and permission has not been obtained from the copyright owner(s).

 

Rules for the Visual Storytelling Category:

  • A Visual Storytelling entry will consist of a Projected Image Photo Show containing a maximum of ten images which, when shown in sequence, tell a story without words.
  • A single title slide is permitted at the beginning of the show, but this slide cannot contain an image. A blank, black slide should be placed at the end of the show. (Maximum number of slides including title and end piece is 12 slides)
  • No Captions, Narration, or music allowed. 
  • The photographs alone must tell a complete story. 
  • The show should rely on straight cut transitions, with brief fade ins and fade outs permitted at the beginning or end of the story.
  • No slide effects are allowed, e.g., zooming, rotating, panning, tilting, etc. 
  • Maximum length of this photo show is two minutes.

 

Rules for the Audio-Visual Photo Show Category:

  • Audio-Visual Photo Show entries will consist of a Projected Image Photo Show containing still photographic slides enhanced with music, narration, or both.
  • Essays can have a maximum running time of no more than five (5) minutes.
  • There is no limit to the number of images that may be included.
  • There are no restrictions on the subject matter, content, or special effects.
  • Photos or art not made by the entrant (for example, photos of historical persons, photos of the earth from space, historical photos of buildings or maps, etc., needed to tell the story) can comprise no more than 10% of the essay. [# of non-entrant images divided by the total number of images] Credits for Non-Entrant images should appear at the end of the essay.
  • File format must be mp4, mov, or avi. No proprietary file format of a video editing software program is allowed. PowerPoint (ppt), Keynote (key), or Executable (exe) files must be converted to acceptable file formats.
  • The entrant's name may not appear in any way that is obvious to the judging panel.
  • Music or text quoted in the narration should be credited on a slide or slides at the end of the essay.

 

Rules for the Short Video Category:

  • Video Essay entries will consist of a Projected Image Photo Show containing video clips and still images (if desired) edited to tell a story.
  • Essays can have a maximum running time of no more than two (2) minutes.
  • There is no limit to the number of images that may be included.
  • There are no restrictions on the subject matter, content, or special effects.
  • Photos or art not made by the entrant (for example, photos of historical persons, photos of the earth from space, historical photos of buildings or maps, etc., needed to tell the story) can comprise no more than 10% of the essay. [running time of non-entrant video or still images divided by total running time] Credits for Non-Entrant images should appear at the end of the essay
  • The video resolution size may be up to 1080p or Maximum dimensions of 1200 pixels for the longest side of the image
  • The entrant's name may not appear in any way that is obvious to the judging panel.
  • Music or text quoted in the narration should be credited on a slide or slides at the end of the essay.

 

How to Submit Entries for the PhotoShow Competition:

PhotoShow Entry Submission on DropBox

Entries need to be uploaded to a special folder on DropBox, by clicking on the link above. This will take you to the Dropbox website. Dropbox will give you the options to [Choose from computer] or [choose from Dropbox]. Select [Choose from computer]. This will open a browsing window. Locate the file you want to upload and double click on the file. Please make sure the file is named using a “Title_CompetitionCategory” format and is in one of the approved formats (.mp4, .mov, etc). For example, “Life Is Too Short_VisualStory” or “You Gotta Believe_Photo Essay”. 

If you are entering more than one category, click [+ Add more files], if not click [Upload]. A blue box will appear showing the percentage uploaded. When is reaches 100%, a green box will appear saying “Done”. It will then show a page saying “Thanks! You’re all done. We’ll let DPS-IT Director know you submitted files.” and a button to [Add more files] if you missed any.

On the night of the competition, click on the Zoom link below or in the Event Calendar PhotoShow event on the DPS Website about 10 minutes before 7pm to join the meeting. We will show every entry in each category, then all of the members attending will receive an online poll to score the entries. More details about this will be posted as we get closer to the competition. 

Photo Show Zoom Meeting April 27, 7pm

David Shoemaker, Photo Show Competition Director (rumpleschnitz@gmail.com)




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