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
Categories
Each competition will have two categories. One of them will always be “Photographer’s Choice”. Entrants may submit up to four images per competition. Each category must contain no more than three images.
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.
Each image must be the work of the entrant.
Images submitted in one club competition may not be submitted in subsequent club competitions. Please avoid submission of near identical images.
Images that directly, or indirectly, identify the maker are discouraged.
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