Photographic competition 2009 rules

In 2009, we are again offering 3 categories in our competition so get shooting now! 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 who has kindly agreed to support us again. The meeting will then, on a show of hands, choose the overall winner who will win the Gordon Langsbury Cup, currently held by Bill Watts for his action shot of a Grey Heron. Gift vouchers will be given in all categories for first place and second place and the overall winner will also win the Gordon Langsbury Cup. Additional prizes may be supplied on the night. You may enter photographs entered before if you wish, so if you think one didn’t get the attention it deserved feel free to try again. We encourage newcomers to show their photographs, an experienced photographer certainly does not win every time! You just might have the picture to catch the judges attention! Due to time limitations on the night, we have changed the number of entries per section to just four, so you still have up to twelve chances to win prizes on the night so have a look through your photos and give it a go!

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 four entries per category per entrant.
• Entrants agree to any entered 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. The decision of the judges is final.
• To qualify as a digiscoped picture the photograph must have been taken through a telescope.
• Limited image manipulation is permissible e.g. removal of a twig or blade of grass, but no major changes to the bird image itself. Adjustment to exposure, sharpening, colour correction, sensor dust spotting and cropping and resizing is acceptable.
• The images, regardless of file size, image size and resolution will be adapted by the BOC for presentation as they see fit but without responsibility for the results.
• Closing date for entries is 18 March 2009. 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.