CAPA Competitions

 

CAPA (Canadian Association of Photographic Art) runs a number of competitions throughout the year as individual and/or club competitions. Club members can join CAPA and enter their competitions as individuals. Alternatively, members can submit images to be considered for the club’s entry into the CAPA club competitions. The list of current competitions and detailed submission criteria can be found on the CAPA website.  Each competition has themes to break up the entries into groups for judging and these themes change from year to year.

CAPA posts the previous years’ winning shots for both the club and individual competitions.  Reviewing these top images can be instructive.

An updated Judging Criteria came into effect on September 1, 2021:
Judges will award their scoring based on creative vision and the story telling value of an image along with the pictorial quality and technical quality (e.g. quality of execution, innovation, creativity, and ‘wow’ factor) as well as the degree that the image is within the “Scope-of-Theme.”

Our Participation

As a member of CAPA, Highland Glen will be submitting images to four CAPA (Canadian Association of Photographic Art) Competitions as a club this year (2024-2025).  The club can submit a maximum of six images per competition and all images must be from different photographers.

The rules below are the essential rules for the competitions for this year.  See the provided links for more details on each competition.  Winners must be able to provide the submitted image’s original un-retouched (not cropped, or edited) JPEG or camera RAW file.  A DNG or PSD file are not recognized as an original file, except for images captured on specific cameras.
We will participate in the following competitions:

1. The Nature/Wildlife Competition encourages you to submit your best nature and wildlife images from a wide range of topics.  Two (2) of the club’s six (6) images must be entered into different themes.
   NOTE: This competition has restricted subject and editing conditions.  Typically, hand-of-man is not allowed or restricted. Read the detailed rules on the CAPA site!
   Your image must fit into one of the following themes:
   1. Botanical – wild plants photographed in their natural environment
   2. Insects, Reptiles & Amphibians – such as: alligators, ants, bees, beetles, butterflies, crickets, crocodiles, dragonflies, frogs, gecko, hornets, iguana, lizard, mantis, mosquitoes, snakes, turtles, wasps, etc…
   3. Landscape – subjects such as weather phenomena, geological formations, cityscapes, landscapes, seascapes and natural phenomena, planets, stars and astronomical events.
   4. Nature – subjects such as living animals, birds and marine subjects – under the control and feeding of humans if not obvious – such as zoos, game farms, animal preserves, aquarium, etc…
   5. Wildlife – only living and untamed wildlife mammals, birds and marine subjects.
2. The Black and White Competition encourages you to exercise your creative skills with a black and white image.
   Your image must fit into one of the following themes:
   1. Candid Person(s) – images that capture candid moments that reveal the humour, irony, and drama of the human experience.  Photograph people naturally, without posing.
   2. Natural Surroundings – image featuring weather phenomena, geological formations, cityscapes, landscapes, seascapes and natural phenomena such as planets, stars and astronomical events.  People can be included in the image(s) provided that they enhance the story of the surroundings.
      
   3. Dramatic Contrast & Shadows – are the focal point of these images.  Explore low-key, silhouette, and selective lighting effects to create bold graphic image.  Everyday spaces can reveal geometric shadows cast by individuals, buildings, signs structures and wildlife.
   4. Nostalgia – capture scenes reminiscent of bygone eras – images that evoke echoes of the past.  Examples such as, abandoned aircraft, boats, buildings, ships, still-life of antiques, structures, trains and vehicles.  Composite images contrasting the old and the new are permitted in this theme.
3. The Colour Insperation Competition invites you to showcase your creative skills, using colour as a vibrant medium to capture outstanding and stunning images.  
   Note: The definition of ‘landscape’ is quite broad and details should be reviewed on the competition site.
   Your image must fit into one of the following themes:
   1. Still Life – images are skillfully-crafted arrangement(s) of vibrant objects and textures. Experimenting with lighting, angles, background and props may contribute to a unique fine art interpretation. The possibilities are endless – the beauty of flowers, the allure of food, nostalgia of toys, the wisdom within books, elegance of fabric, the charm of collectibles, craftsman’s hand tools, and natural materials.
   2. Dramatic Contrast & Shadows – mages in this theme leverages the power of dramatic contrast and shadows. Sources of inspiration – low-key, silhouette, and selective lighting effects to create bold graphic image. Everyday spaces reveal geometric shadows cast by individuals, buildings, signs and structures
   3. Action & Motion – image in this theme should convey excitement, speed, and movement through colour. Image can be a result of panning effects, slow shutter speeds and freezing fast action. Source of inspiration is boundless – whether it’s animals, birds, dance, long-exposure shots, sports, traffic, vehicles, or any other dynamic subject.
   4. Nature’s Beauty – images capturing inspiring landscapes, mesmerizing plants, enchanting animals, and captivating natural phenomena. Domesticated animals, birds and drone images are welcome additions to this theme, allowing for a broad spectrum of natural wonders. All hand-of-man elements are permissible in this theme.
   5. Travel – image that transcends the typical postcard and provides a fresh and creative perspective. Submissions are welcome from all corners of Canada or anywhere else in the world.
4. The Curves & Lines Competition is looking for images that capture the energy and emotion that lines and curves bring to an image. We invite you to explore these powerful compositional elements and share your creative perspective through photography.
   Your image must fit into one of the following themes:
   1. Geometry in Nature –  images that capture interesting natural shapes and patterns like spirals, fractals waves, etc… This theme highlights the curve and repetitions found in the natural world or created within a photographic image.
   2. Landscape –  images capturing interesting architectural shapes, leading lines, patterns in rural or urban environments. This theme focuses on curves, geometry, and visual rhythm in man-made surroundings.
   3. Minimal Still Life –  simple, clean images of everyday objects arranged in repetitive patterns or positions to emphasize their curves and lines. This theme aims to find the curve and visual interest in mundane items.
   4. Motion and Flow – image capturing the curves and created by moving elements such as people, animals, vehicles, water, smoke etc. This theme focuses on using curves to show movement and energy.
   5. Kaleidoscope Curves – image featuring interesting reflective symmetry (where shape or pattern is reflected in a mirror line or a line of symmetry),or a kaleidoscopic effect. Images will showcase curves, lines, and geometric shapes found in modern architecture. Submissions can feature architectural details such as stairs, railings, windows, bridges, and other structural elements. Creative perspectives showcasing the artistry of modern architectural designs are encouraged.

Image Standards

Submitted JPG image must comply with the following:

1. Dimensions:
   Maximum horizontal size: 1400 pixels and
   Maximum vertical size: 1050 pixels
   Note: One of the dimensions must be exactly the maximum allowed size and neither dimension may exceed the maximum pixels for that dimension
2. Colour Space: Should be sRGB
3. Colour Accuracy: Strongly recommend that you calibrate your monitor to ensure colour accuracy from your monitor to the image projected to the judges
4. Maximum file size: 1.8 MB

Filenames

Image filename should be my name–title of  image where:

• the first and last name are separated by a space
• words in the title are separated by a space
• the photographers name and the title are separated by a hyphen and no spaces

  For example:
  Sally Brown-The Wild Rose.jpg
  Oliver South-The Double Rainbow.jpg
  Winston Rogers-Canada Day.jpg
  John Wayne-Sandy Beach.jpg

Do NOT use only numbers (i.e. Sally Brown-123456.jpg)
Do NOT include punctuation marks or symbols such as / –_ , ; : ‘’ “” ! ? & $%*{} [ ] @ # &) or quotation marks in the filename
Do NOT use the same filename for more than one image in a submission, such as “untitled.jpg” or “flower.jpg”

Image Titles

Images must have a title.

NOTE:  In CAPA competitions, the judges are asked consider if the image title compliments or contributes to the vision or message being presented in the image and includes this aspect when assigning a score for the image presented to them.  You may use the scientific or common-name title for the subject of an image submitted to all Nature/Wildlife themes with the exception of Landscape.

Following are some samples of creative and inviting image titles.

Drained Of Emotion
Essence Of Victory
Agony Of Defeat
Flood Season
In A Days Work
Dashed Hopes

Titles may NOT contain the club’s name or the photographer’s name

Do NOT include punctuation or symbols in the title.
Please refrain from using ALL CAPITALS.