BOC Photographic Competition 2008 rules

This year, 2008, we are offering 3 categories in our competition. These are:

• Best digiscoped bird (portrait or action shot)
• Best digital bird portrait
• Best digital bird action photograph

Each of the three categories will be judged and winners chosen by Gordon Langsbury and Dave Cromack. The meeting, on 19 March 2008 will then, on a show of hands, choose the overall winner who will win the Gordon Langsbury Cup, currently held by Mike McKee for his Pallid Swift.

Overall rules

• Photographs will be of wild, non captive birds only
• The competition is open to paid up members of the BOC. New members may join on the night if they wish.
• No more than five entries per category per entrant.
• Entrants agree to winner and runner up photographs being displayed by the BOC on it’s website and used for publicity purposes, at the Club’s discretion. The BOC will make reasonable attempts to ensure acknowledgement is given to photographers whose work is used in this way.
• Photographs will be judged on all factors including exposure, colour cast, focus, composition and form.
• Photography related prizes (usually vouchers) will be given in all categories for first place and second place and the overall winner will also win the Gordon Langsbury Cup.

Digital rules

• Limited image manipulation is permissible but no cloning of the bird image itself. Accordingly, adjustment to exposure, sharpening, colour correction, sensor dust spotting and cropping and resizing is acceptable. It is not permissible to clone any part of bird images, or copy or pass off other people’s work.
• The images, regardless of file size, image size and resolution will be adapted by the BOC for presentation as well as possible but without responsibility for the results.
• Closing date for entries is 10 March 2008. No changes or additions can be considered after that time. Images should be emailed to colin.wilson@berksoc.org.uk or sent on a CD to his home address: Blakeney, St. Catherine’s Road. Frimley Green, Surrey, GU16 9NP. Any questions please telephone 01252 837411.
• The pictures will be placed in Microsoft Powerpoint and shown as a slide show. Portrait pictures will be expanded to full page height.