Bylaws

Membership

The Flagpole Photographers' Camera Club is a non-profit organization, any person interested in pursuing photography as an art, hobby or by sharing of knowledge and experience shall be admitted to membership upon payment of dues.

Dues

Dues are $20 per person or $35 for a family membership payable at the first meeting each September.  Dues shall be reduced to $15 for individual or $25 for family membership for those joining at or after the January meeting.  Students may join at no charge.

Meetings

Regular meeting of the club shall be held on the third Thursday of the month, unless otherwise noted starting at 7:30 PM.  The season starts in September and ends in June.

Monthly Competitions

Each month there is a print and/or slide competition.  To enter a competition the following conditions must be met:

• Entrant must be a club member.
• The entry must have been taken within the last two years, except the annual "Best of Summer" competition which must have been taken the previous summer.
• Entries which win a ribbon in a competition may not be entered in subsequent monthly competitions.  They may be entered in the club's annual competition.

Print Competitions:

A member may enter three prints each month as described below:

• One entry may be entered in each of the following categories: "Traditional" (monthly assigned subject), "Digitally Enhanced" (monthly assigned subject) and/or "Open" (see definitions below).
• Each entry must have a club label affixed in the upper left corner on the back of the print. For blank labels you can print on your printer click here.
• Each entry must be either matted or mounted (no frames).
• The maximum overall size for an entry is 16" x 20".
• If mounted, the minimum one side dimension is 10".
• If matted, the minimum one side exposed dimension is 9.5".
• The maker's signature may not appear on the print.

Slide Competitions:

• At meetings which include slide competitions, members may enter up to three slides in addition to three prints as described above under "Print Competitions".
• Slides must be from original film exposures (not digital reproductions).
• Slide entries must be correctly labeled as explained here.

Categories

Traditional (monthly assigned subject)

Digital entries in the "Traditional" category must meet the following criteria based on the PSA Nature Division's definition of  "Digital Realism":

"Makers may perform any enhancements and modifications that improve the presentation of the image that could have been done at the time the image was taken but that does not change the truth of the original story.  Cropping and horizontal flipping (equivalent to reversing a slide) are acceptable modifications.  Addition of elements, removal of elements other than by cropping, combining elements from separate images, rearranging elements or cloning elements are not acceptable."

Digitally enhanced (monthly assigned subject)

Digital entries with enhancements and modifications beyond those specified in the "Traditional" category are considered "Digitally Enhanced".

It is suggested that a copy of the original image prior to enhancements and modifications be affixed to the back of all entries in the "Digitally Enhanced" category.

Open

The open category allows for entries outside the monthly assigned subject. Entries must be “Traditional”.

Nature

Nature is a special category with competitions at the September meeting and the annual competition (Dave Kriger Nature Award).

Entries submitted in "Nature" competitions must meet the PSA Nature Division's definition of "Nature Photography" reprinted here:

"Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict observations from all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archeology, in such a fashion that a well informed person will be able to identify the subject material and to certify as to its honest presentation.  The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality.  Human elements shall not be present, except on the rare occasion where those human elements enhance the nature story.  The presence of scientific bands on wild animals is acceptable.  Photographs of artificially produced hybrid plants or animals, mounted specimens, or obviously set arrangements, are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation, manual or digital, that alters the truth of the photographic statement."

Annual Competition and Exhibition

Each spring the club holds an annual print exhibition and competition.  The rules for this competition differ from regular meeting print competitions as follows:

• Entrants must have entered a minimum of three previous club competitions during the current season.
• A maximum of six prints of which three may be color and three black and white may be entered.

The following awards are presented at the annual competition:

• First, Second, Third place and Honorable Mention for the "Traditional" category.
• First, Second, Third place and Honorable Mention for the "Digitally Enhanced" category.
• First, Second, Third place and Honorable Mention for the "Black and White" category.
• Best in Show.
• Dave Kriger Nature Award (Best Nature category print).
• Jeannette Talarino Flower Award (Best flower print).
• Bruce Allen Open Print Award.
• Peoples Choice Award (as voted by visitors).

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For a printable copy of the bylaws in PDF format click here.

(Last Revision: 9/21/08)