Full rules

Visions Interpretation of Rules

Submission of Photo

  • Closing Date 12th December 2020, Visions photos to be submitted for selection by 30th November, 2020
  • 15 photos to be submitted with the 8 best being chosen for round 1.
  • The Total score will be made up of all the 8 Round 1 photos and the highest scoring 4 photos from the remainder
  • Each photographer may enter 4 photos with only 2 in round 1.
  • Each club may enter up to 5 nature photos and these must be marked as such during submission. (See below for definition)
  • Each photographer may only represent one club
  • You cannot enter a photo that has been used in certain SPF competitions before (not applicable to us as we haven’t entered any yet.)
  • You cannot use a photo that has been used more than 5 years ago in an SPF event (not applicable to us as we haven’t been involved before)
  • Images entered must be entirely the work of the photographer. Composite Images are permitted provided all component images meet this requirement. This is similar for textures, PS brushes etc. You can use things created from your own work but not otherwise.
  • Each photographer must agree to and comply with The copyright and data protection statement – see below.

Format for files

  • Image Size –maximum 1600 pixels horizontal; 1200 pixels vertical, (You are welcome to enter smaller sized images) 
  • Mode: RGB Colour, 8 bits only or Greyscale, 8 bits only
  • Colour Space – sRGB
  • File Format jpeg

Awards

The Plate Trophy Competition 2020

  • Winner – Kirkintilloch Plate Trophy, & SPF Gold Medal
  • Runner Up – SPF Silver Medal
  • 3rd Place – SPF Bronze Medal

Individual Awards

  • Best Overall – SPF Gold Medal
  • Best Creative – SPF Silver Medal
  • Best Landscape – SPF Silver Medal
  • Best Portrait  – SPF Silver Medal
  • Judge’s Choices – SPF Bronze Medals.

Rules for the Nature Category

Full Rules

This category has its own specific rules as follows:

Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or the pictorial content, or without altering the content of the original scene, are permitted

Nature includes landscapes, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and living organisms. 

Subjects can be in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food.

  • Taking the photo
    • Story telling weighted more than pictorial quality though this must also be high
    • No hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, mounted specimens
    • No human elements except where integral part of story e.g. barn owls in barn or where force of nature e.g. tidal waves
    • Scientific tags, collars etc are allowed
  • Editing – CAN
    • Crop
    • Adjust levels so long as picture remains natural
    • dust spots, digital noise, and film scratches can be removed
    • HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning are allowed
    • Convert to grayscale monochrome
  • Editing – CANNOT
    • add, relocate, replace, or remove pictorial elements 
    • Stitch images
    • Use infrared 

The SPF Copyright and Data Protection Statement

‘By entering, the Photographer consents to the retention by the SPF of information identifying the Photographer as the creato r of an Image. Where a Federation, or Club is the Entrant, on behalf of multiple Photographers, then the Entrant warrants that eac h Photographer has consented to the retention of identifying information as if the Photographer had entered in person. Any 

photographs submitted may be selected to represent the SPF. By virtue of submitting an entry the entrant certifies the work as his own and permits the SPF to reproduce all or part of the entered material free of charge for publication and /or display in media related to its Competitions, including on its website or by circulation to its member Clubs. The Photographer of each image will normally be credited with any use. The SPF assumes no liability for any misuse of copyright.’