Digital Image Categories are:

A) Portrait, B) Weddings & Events, C) Commercial, D) Open Illustrative and E) Artist.

The individual entering an image has the responsibility to determine the category in which the image is to be judged. To help decide which category to choose, please consider the following category definitions:

1. Portrait may be of individuals, groups, or animal(s), where the primary focus is on the subject(s) portrayed. Minor enhancements, such as use of filters, overlays, painting, etc., are acceptable as long as they don't fundamentally alter the image's focus on the person, group or animal. 
2. Weddings & Events are self-explanatory. An 'event ' does not have to be a wedding (i.e., it could be a Quinceanera, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, an anniversary, a corporate event, a special celebratory event, etc.) Only images taken during the wedding and event are permitted in this category. Images taken on days before or after, such as special bridal or couple sessions, should be placed either in the Portrait, Open Illustrative or Artist categories. 
3. Commercial images are associated with advertising or industrial illustration (such as seen in annual reports). Besides judging on the 12 elements of a merit image, judges will also heavily consider how well the image would work with layout and typography in the selling of a product or idea.
4. Open Illustrative is a catchall category for everything that is NOT Portrait, Wedding, Event or Commercial. The image may contain people or animals where portraiture is not the primary focus of the image, such as sports photography or animal action. Landscapes, nature and macro photography would also fall into the illustrative category.
5. Artist represents images that fundamentally alter the original image(s} captured by the camera, including images that were never captured by a camera. Entries may be created in various artistic mediums. Entries may include freehand drawing or painting in traditional or digital applications. Entries can include stock photography, photographs or artwork from other artist(s) with written consent to use those sources. Documentation may be requested by the Image Competition Chairperson before, during or after the competition.  Judges rate computer skills, artistic skills and how ideas are represented, as well as the 12 elements of a merit print. NOTE: Guide images must be included on the face of the entry. For guide image samples go to https://www.ppa.com/events/photo-competitions/ipc-gallery and select the Artist Category, then select either the Merit or Image Excellence Collection.

• Any individual serving as Image Competition judge for PPSV may not enter an image in the competition in which s/he judges. However, that person will be allowed to enter up to an additional six (6) images in whichever other PPSV Image Competitions during the same calendar year in which s/he judges.
• Entry fees are $10.00 per image for PPSV members and $15.00 per image for non-members.
• By entering the PPSV Image Competition, the owner of the image expressly grants rights to PPSV to display that image either electronically or in print format in conjunction with image competition activities or to display as an example of submitted work.
• Only digital images are accepted, NOT physical prints.
• All image entry fees must be paid, and digital image submissions received by 7:00 PM on the Sunday night immediately preceding the image competition. Image fees shall be paid online via the PPSV.org website. This deadline may be extended by the Digital Image Competition Chairperson if sufficient images are not received by the deadline.
• If the Image Competition Chairperson receives an image that s/he deems to be inappropriate to display in our general meeting, s/he will forward that image to three non-judging members of a review committee which shall be composed of PPSV current and/or past board members. The decision of this committee to accept or return the image to its submitter is final.
• The Image Competition Chairperson has the authority to reject any submitted image if, in his/her judgment, the image does not meet competition standards.
• Digital images must be submitted as file attachments to an email sent to competition@ppsv.org. The email must contain the entrant’s name and phone contact information. Embedded images in the email will not be accepted - images must be attachments to the email.
• Technical requirements:
• File Size: LONGEST DIMENSION MUST EQUAL 4,000 pixels. Total file size should not exceed 3.5 MB
• Format: JPEG, quality 9 or 10.
• Embedded Color Profile: Adobe RGB (1998) preferred sRGB acceptable.
• Submitted Image File is to be named: 
  

  Category Letter_lmage Title_Entrant’s Name.
  Examples: 

  A_Leather and Lace_John Doe.jpg (Portrait entry)
  B_Together Forever_Jane Doe.jpg (Wedding & Event entry)
  C_Better with Butter_Jim Doe.jpg (Commercial entry)
  D_Ancient Spires_Julie Doe.jpg (Open Illustrative entry)
  E_Sword Play_Jack Doe.jpg (Artist entry)

SCORE  GRADE LEVEL

100-95  Exceptional

94-90    Superior

89-85    Excellent

84-80    Deserving of a Merit

79-75    Above Average

74-70    Average

69-65    Below Exhibition Standards