SHIREE JETHA, MCAPA
First Vice President and Salon Director,
Canadian Association For Photographic Art
[email protected]
CapaCanada.ca

Salon Enquiries -
[email protected]
CapaSalon.ca

The contest is divided into following sections:
1. OPEN COLOR
2. OPEN MONOCHROME
3. NATURE (Botany, Zoology, Nature General)
4. FINE ART (Creative, Abstracts, Altered Realty)
5. AMATEUR (Open Color, Open Monochrome, Fine Art)

Opening date: 15 January 2024
Closing date: 1 May 2024
Judging date: 5 May 2024
Notification date: 5 June 2024
Delivery date: 28 June 2024
Gallery publish date: 28 June 2024

Depending of the number of sections participant enters, the entry fee cost as follow:
1 Section = 20 CAD
2 Sections = 30 CAD
3 Sections = 40 CAD
4 Sections = 50 CAD
Section 5 = 20 CAD (Amateur Level Only, one section)

Please note: There is 6 image per section allowance.

Payment of entry fee can be made using Paypal.
[email protected]

Images from participants who did not pay the entry fee will not be taken into consideration.

Photographs must comply to CAPA specifications; be in JPEG format, with dimensions 1400x1050 pixels at 300, JPEG compression (if Photoshop used for export): 7-12, file size maximum 2 Mb. Each image must have a unique title. Titles must not include file extensions such as .jpg or .jpeg (or any other camera capture filenames), or words such as "untitled" or "no title". Titles may not consist solely of numbers. Digital images cannot be altered, including resizing in either direction, by the exhibition or by the exhibitions equipment before or during judging. The photographs of participants with the application are submitted in these ways:
- uploading through our website
-Please contact the Salon Director with any queries.

NOTICE: When an entrant fills in the Entry Form to submit an entry the entrant will see a feature to affirm he or she has read these Conditions of Entry when he or she fills out the entry form. If the entrant does not so affirm the entry will not be submitted.

To participate in this contest entrants will apply with black & white or color works. The maximum number of photographs per section is 6. No title or identification of the maker shall be written anywhere on the face of an image.
Photographs must be sent in digital form, as a picture file with dimension 1400x1050 pixels at 300 dpi. The maximum file size is 2 Mb.

The jury will consist of 15-20 CAPA Certified Judges.

The judges of the event will give following awards:
11 x CAPA MEDAL OF DISTINCTION, 11 x CAPA GOLD MEDAL, 11 x CAPA SILVER MEDAL, 11 x CAPA BRONZE MEDAL, 11 x CAPA 1st MERIT, 11 x CAPA 2nd MERIT, 11 x CAPA 3rd MERIT, 55 x CAPA HONORABLE MENTION RIBBON,
5 x IAAP Gold Medal, 5 x IAAP Silver Medal, 5 x IAAP Bronze Medal,
Gold Grand Master Photographer,
Silver Grand Master Photographer,
Bronze Grand Master Photographer,
Virtuose Artistique Plaque (Virtuoso Artistic Plaque),
CAPA Best Author,
Canadian Rising Star (Amateur Division, must enter all 3 subdivisions),
Canadian Photographer Of The Year (Must enter Sections 1 to 4),
IAPP Diploma (Open Color),
IAPP Diploma (Open Monochrome),
IAPP Diploma (Nature),
IAPP Diploma (Fine Arts),
IAPP Diplma (Amateur),
IAPP Diploma Best Author,

Total 160 Awards plus 35% Acceptance Awards

The organizer reserves the right to change the number of awards, depending on the total number of the entrants.

All entries shall conform to the stricter of these definitions for acceptances to be validated by all the international organizations granting recognition or patronage.


[MONOCRHOME]
An image is considered to be monochrome only if it gives the impression of having no color (i.e. contains only shades of grey which can include pure black and pure white), or it gives the impression of being a greyscale image that has been toned in one color across the entire image. (for example by sepia, red, gold, etc.) A greyscale or multi-colored image modified or giving the impression of having been modified by partial toning, multi-toning or by the inclusion of spot coloring does not meet the definition of monochrome and shall be classified as a Color Work.
A black and white work fitting from the very dark grey (black) to the very clear grey (white) is a monochrome work with the various shades of grey.


[NATURE]
Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict 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 certify its honest presentation.
• The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality.
• Human elements shall not be present, except where those human elements are integral parts of the nature story such as nature subjects, like barn owls or storks, adapted to an environment modified by humans, or where those human elements are in situations depicting natural forces, like hurricanes or tidal waves.
• Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible.
• Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.
• No techniques that add, relocate, replace, or remove pictorial elements except by cropping are permitted.
• Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or the pictorial content, or without altering the content of the original scene, are permitted including HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning.
• Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise, and film scratches, are allowed.
• Stitched images are not permitted.
• Color images can be converted to greyscale monochrome.
• Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivations, are not allowed.
• Images entered in Nature sections meeting the Nature Photography Definition above can have landscapes, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food. Attention is drawn to the PSA Statement on Subject Matter which applies to all sections.


[FINE ART]
NO AI IMAGES. All cmponents must be lens based, captured by you. No self identifying elements or self portraits. Judges reserve the right to call for RAW files if unsure.

CAPA defines artistic as “an image produced with the intention to portray a creative vision based primarily on an aesthetic and emotional thrust.”

For the purpose of this competition, the entrant will submit their image into one of the following three themes:

Abstract Art is a method of expressing ideas and emotions with photographed image elements without the intention of creating a traditional or realistic image. The image needs to have something that retains the viewer’s attention, draws them in, keeps them looking and generates an emotional response. Examples of creating Abstract Art – a captured image is distorted or transformed; double exposure; blurred; smoke form captured image; intentional camera movement or composition of captured images, etc…

Altered Reality is a manipulation of one or more photographed elements to create a fictional scene which conveys a message or tells a story. Manipulation can be undertaken in-camera or in post processing. For example, tiny planet effect images are accepted in this theme. High Dynamic Range (HDR) image without additional changes is not considered an Altered Reality image.
Creative Image is one that was specifically created using props or amplification of elements not normally viewed by the human eye such as: bokeh, colour glitch effect, double exposure effect, high-speed capture, interweaving strips effect, lens ball, LED light stick, light painting, long-exposures, macro, multiple exposures, photo mosaic, photo montage, rain, reflection, shadows, steel wool, string of lights, water drop, water splash, water & oil, x-ray, etc…


[AMATEUR/NOVICE]
Based on skill level and experience. If participating in this category, you may NOT participate in the Section 1-4.

CAPA BASIC REQUIRES
Provided by Sheldon Boles, with thanks.
Basic Requirements:

Definition of a Photographic Image: In our salons, a photographic image is defined as one captured on a light-sensitive device, such as a film or digital camera, smartphone, or tablet. An AI-generated image in whole or part is not deemed a photographic image. Therefore, this type of image will not be accepted into our salon.

Ownership & Copyright of Image: Entrants will retain the copyright to all submitted images. They must ensure that all components of their submitted images were captured by them, holding the copyright for the submitted image. In the event of infringement on the copyright or intellectual property rights of a third party, the photographer indemnifies and holds harmless CAPA and associated sponsors against any claims for losses arising from such infringement.

Nude Images Are Permitted: Nude images are permitted in this salon. However, sexually explicit images will not be accepted.

No watermarks should be present on the surface of the image.

Trademarks are permitted in an image; however, a trademark cannot be accepted if a "fair-minded individual" is likely to mistakenly believe that the trademark owner sponsored a photograph.

Judges’ Participation judges for this salon are not permitted to submit images.

Disqualification From Salon - Decisions and scores provided by the judging panel are final and cannot be appealed. CAPA reserves the right to withdraw an image before, during, and shortly after the judging process if it is found to have failed to meet the conditions of the salon. Images previously awared by CAPA may not be resubmitted. No self identifying elements in the images and no self portraits including the Fine Art Category.

EDITING CRITERIA

Permitted Editing Techniques:

All In-Camera Techniques: Any adjustments made directly within the camera during image capture.

On-Camera Techniques: Utilizing on-camera features and settings for image enhancements.

Post-Processing Techniques: Encompasses the process of editing the image using post-processing software. Only specific AI features permitted in this salon are masking, sharpening, de-noise and upsizing.

Sky Replacement: Sky replacement but the replacement sky must have been captured by the same photographer submitting the image into the salon.

Editing Techniques Not Permitted:

Frames, Borders, Pin-lines, and Mats: Adding decorative elements like frames, borders, pin-lines, or mats to the photograph.

Artificial Intelligence Renderings: Images that have been created or modified using specific AI generative techniques – in-painting (where AI fills in generated elements not captured by the photographer or removed elements from a photograph) or out-painting (where the AI extends beyond the original boundaries using generated elements), whether with or without text prompts, are not permitted for submission into a CAPA salons.

The inclusion of Photoshop application features, such as Firefly’s AI Generative Fill and AI Expand cannot be contained in your image submitted into a CAPA salon. Similar positions will be taken with other AI systems with these features.

Image Metadata Required:

For all themes: it is mandatory that your submitted image includes complete image file metadata. Alternatively, if your image is chosen as a potential winning entry, you will be required to provide the original images (e.g., un-retouched JPG or RAW files) used in developing the submitted images. Ensure that all requested files maintain the full image file metadata.

Accepted Image Types

• Black & White images
• Infrared images
• Colour images

Image Specifications

Image File Name

Do Not: include punctuation marks or symbols such as / –_ , ; : ‘’ “” ! ? & $%*{} [ ] @ # &) or quotation marks in the Image File name. For example, do not use: “NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER”it_a_red rose”.jpg”
The image file name that you create prior to uploading into this salon should also be simple, and could be the same as the Image Title. For example: John Snow-Sublime Nova Scotia Sunset

Image Size – Dimensions

You must ensure your image is re-sized to meet the following two parameters:
1. Saved the image as a jpg with a maximum file size of 1.8 MB.
2. Dimensions: Maximum horizontal size: 1400 pixels and maximum vertical size: 1050 pixels.
Note: Images smaller than the maximum dimensions will ONLY be accepted when one of the image edges has a horizontal size is 1400 pixels or the vertical size is 1050 pixels. For example: square image – 1050 x 1050 pixels; 1400 x 800 pixels; or 700 x 1050 pixels.

Judging Criteria:

 An Image’s title may be used by the judges in evaluating a submission, so entrants should take care in selecting a title that complements or contributes to the vision or message being presented in the image.

 The judges will assign scores primarily based on the ‘emotional’ components of the image, considering values such as creativity and emotional impact. Secondary emphasis will be place on the ‘technical’ aspects, followed by considerations of the ‘composition.’

 Technical and Organizational factors, such as exposure, sharpness, focus, space, and composition, will be taken into account solely to the degree they do or do not support or reinforce the creative vision and storytelling. Images will not be penalized in scoring for so-called technical rule infractions, such as focus, if that is immaterial to the creative vision and storytelling.

Likewise, judges take into consideration in their scoring the degree to which the entrant’s use of techniques such as colour, monochrome, duo and multi-tone, contributes to or supports the creative vision and the story telling value of the image.

Notification cards will be sent by email.
All entrants of the event (participants which submitted works and paid entry fee) will receive on-line PDF catalog of the photo event.
The organizer will take all possible care while handling the emails, awards and catalogs, however will assume no liability for damages and loses during shipment.

SHIREE JETHA
First Vice President and Salon Director, CAPA
Canadian Association For Photographic Art
[email protected]
CapaCanada.ca

Salon Enquiries - [email protected]
CapaSalon.ca