Competitions

Competition schedule

There will be four competitions in 2025-26.

Competition 1

Categories: Reflections and Photographer’s Choice
Images due by 11:45 pm Sunday, September 28, 2025
Results presentation Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Competition 2

Categories: Repetition and Photographer’s Choice
Images due by 11:45 pm Sunday, November 23, 2025
Results presentation Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Competition 3

Categories: Macro & Closeup and Photographer’s Choice
Images due by 11:45 pm Sunday, January 25, 2026
Results presentation Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Competition 4

Categories: Canada My Country and Photographer’s Choice
Images due by 11:45 pm Sunday, March 29, 2026
Result presentation Tuesday, April 14, 2026

PACN competition rules 2025-26

Image format

Images are to be submitted as JPEG files (e.g., *.jpg or *.jpeg). The colour space should be sRGB for best colour representation.

Images must be no larger than 1920×1080, the OCCC competition standard. In other words, images must fit inside a box 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high. The uploader will also accept images of less than the maximum size but judges may penalize smaller images.

Borders of all kinds are permitted but the overall size must fit within the maximum size

Skill categories

There are no skill categories (e.g., novice, intermediate, advance) for this season. Skill categories may be reintroduced when there are consistently more than 25 makers entered per competition.

Image eligibility

Images must have been taken on or after January 1, 2020. This limit applies regardless of the category.

For the purposes of club competitions, a photographic image is defined as being a
captured image on a light-sensitive device (e.g. film camera, digital camera,
smartphone, tablet, etc.) and recorded on film or in a digital format.

Images that have been created or modified using AI generative techniques are not
permitted for submission into club competitions. This includes:

In-painting – where AI fills in generated elements not captured by the photographer or removes and replaces elements from a photograph with AI-generated content.
Out-painting – where AI extends beyond the original boundaries of the
photograph using generated elements.
Image-to-image AI – where AI transforms an entire photograph based on
text prompts or style references.
Text-to-image – where images are generated from scratch based on text
entered into a prompt description.

These restrictions apply whether or not text prompts are used in the AI generation
process.

Further:

All parts of the submitted image must be the creator’s original work, containing no elements produced or captured by others.
Image(s) featuring graffiti or street art are eligible for club competition only
when they demonstrate substantial creative input beyond mere documentation,
such as unique perspective, composition, inclusion of external elements or
context that transforms the viewer’s experience.
Capturing screen images or photographs from the internet for use in a
composite is not allowed. The photographer must do their own post-processing,
with the exception of negative scanning and printing.
Images must not violate any Canadian laws.
The photographer indemnifies the club against losses from any third-party
intellectual property infringement. The club accepts no liability for copyright or
trademark breaches by the photographer.
The club may use the image for non-commercial purposes like exhibitions, publications, promotions, and education. Permission will be sought before including the image in external competitions.
Images submitted in one club competition may not be submitted in
subsequent club competitions. Substantially identical images may not be entered
in the same competition, or in subsequent competitions. Slight variations are still
considered the same image. An image that has been rotated, flipped, re-formatted or converted to monochrome or infrared will be deemed substantially
the same image.
The photographer may not place identifying text, a signature or any other
distinctive mark on any submitted image.
Trademarks are allowed if not likely to mislead viewers about sponsorship.

Image submission

Images for all competitions will be submitted online.

Image display

Images for live competitions will be displayed to the judges on a colour-calibrated 1920×1200 monitor. The audience will view a projected display that may or may not be properly calibrated. Images will be displayed to the judges at 1:1 magnification on a black or grey background.

For online competitions, the judges will view images on their personal colour-calibrated monitors as per OCCC guidelines. Minimum resolution is 1920×1080.

Judging procedure

There will be three judges certified by the OCCC.

Scoring

Scoring is based on the OCCC guidelines wherein judges score each image from 4.5 to 10. The total image score will range from 13.5 to 30.

Images will be awarded first to fifth place according to their score. There may be multiple winners at each level. i.e., ties will not be broken.

If there is a difference of two or more points, the judges concerned will be asked to explain their decisions.

Judges comments (live judging)

For each image, one judge will make a comment. Comments will not be recorded. Judges will be requested to keep their comments brief – less than a minute.

Judges comments (online judging)

The scoring software will randomly assign one of the three judges to comment on each image. Entrants may choose whether they want judges to comment on their images. Judges are free to comment on any image.

Photographer Of The Year points

The maker earns point towards the coveted Photographer Of The Year (POTY) prize according to the image placement.

One point will be awarded for each image submitted. For images scoring in the top five, additional points will be awarded:

First place – 5 points
Second place – 4 points
Third place – 3 points
Fourth place – 2 points
Fifth place – 1 point