For 2019, the Photographic Alliance of Fort Smith will have monthly Digital photo contests
topic entry deadline (2 weeks before the contest)
January: Decorations completed
February: Money completed
March: Isolated Subject completed
April: Glass Bottle (one bottle) completed
May: Neon Color(s) April 25
June: Berries May 30
July: Framed Composition June 27
August: Circles July 25
September: Barn(s) August 29
October: Rain September 26
November: Group of 5 October 31
December: Bokeh November 29
* Each member may enter 2 photos in digital form, not prints.
* Photos need to have been taken within the 12 months prior to the contest entry deadline. Photos older than that will be rejected.
Size your photos so that they will fit into an area that is 1920-pixels wide x 1080-pixels tall. If you crop your photo to a different ratio (such as a square photo) then it will not precisely fit these dimensions, which is okay. Just make certain that the shortest side of your photo is NOT LESS than 1080-pixels (It can be longer, but not shorter than 1080.)
NOTE: it will be a HUGE HELP to me (Jeff) and make the job easier if you will follow this next instruction.
Please name your photo files in the style shown in the examples below:
N-bottle-John Doe-1.jpg i-framed-John Doe-2.jpg A-rain-John Doe-1.jpg
... etc. (with "John Doe" being replaced with YOUR name.)
First is a single letter abbreviation for the skill level you are in ...then the monthly topic (feel free to abbreviate this too) ...then is your name in a manner that we can identify; not just your initials ...and finally either a 1 or a 2 for your entry (each photographer can have up to two entries)
* Each submitted image file must have the intact camera metadata included (to verify date taken).
Some post-processing (which is allowed) applications may strip out the metadata from your finished image. If this happens you will be asked to provide a copy of your original photo file with the metadata intact.
* Email your entries to Jeff Willard at zescanner@yahoo.com by midnight on the deadline date.
* If you have not previously this year participated in a contest please state in your email which category you are competing in: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, or Master.
* Jeff will download your entry photos and look at them to see if there are any problems (size or a bad file, etc.). At that time he will email back to you that he has received your entry and how many he has received. This will usually occur within 3 days of the entry deadline. If you do not receive a confirmation email within a week of the deadline then CONTACT Jeff to ask if he received your photos.
* If there are less than 5 entries in a category, then those entries will be combined and judged with the next higher category.
____________________________________________
We will also have quarterly Print photo contests
March: First Responders March 28
June: Exposure 30 seconds or longer June 27
September: Hopeless September 26
Each member may enter 1 Printed photo. Print your photo so the smallest edge is at least 8" and the longest edge is not more than 20". Bring your printed photo to the meeting the night of the contest. The print contests will be held on the 4th Thursday of the month and will begin at 7:00 pm at the Fort Smith Trolley Museum Library at 100 South 3rd Street unless a different location is specified in announcements prior to the meeting.
____________________________________________
We will also have "Photo Sharing" in which anyone can bring a few photos to show and tell about. Check the website from time to time to see if we have posted further information about the contests.
topic entry deadline (2 weeks before the contest)
January: Decorations completed
February: Money completed
March: Isolated Subject completed
April: Glass Bottle (one bottle) completed
May: Neon Color(s) April 25
June: Berries May 30
July: Framed Composition June 27
August: Circles July 25
September: Barn(s) August 29
October: Rain September 26
November: Group of 5 October 31
December: Bokeh November 29
* Each member may enter 2 photos in digital form, not prints.
* Photos need to have been taken within the 12 months prior to the contest entry deadline. Photos older than that will be rejected.
Size your photos so that they will fit into an area that is 1920-pixels wide x 1080-pixels tall. If you crop your photo to a different ratio (such as a square photo) then it will not precisely fit these dimensions, which is okay. Just make certain that the shortest side of your photo is NOT LESS than 1080-pixels (It can be longer, but not shorter than 1080.)
NOTE: it will be a HUGE HELP to me (Jeff) and make the job easier if you will follow this next instruction.
Please name your photo files in the style shown in the examples below:
N-bottle-John Doe-1.jpg i-framed-John Doe-2.jpg A-rain-John Doe-1.jpg
... etc. (with "John Doe" being replaced with YOUR name.)
First is a single letter abbreviation for the skill level you are in ...then the monthly topic (feel free to abbreviate this too) ...then is your name in a manner that we can identify; not just your initials ...and finally either a 1 or a 2 for your entry (each photographer can have up to two entries)
* Each submitted image file must have the intact camera metadata included (to verify date taken).
Some post-processing (which is allowed) applications may strip out the metadata from your finished image. If this happens you will be asked to provide a copy of your original photo file with the metadata intact.
* Email your entries to Jeff Willard at zescanner@yahoo.com by midnight on the deadline date.
* If you have not previously this year participated in a contest please state in your email which category you are competing in: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, or Master.
* Jeff will download your entry photos and look at them to see if there are any problems (size or a bad file, etc.). At that time he will email back to you that he has received your entry and how many he has received. This will usually occur within 3 days of the entry deadline. If you do not receive a confirmation email within a week of the deadline then CONTACT Jeff to ask if he received your photos.
* If there are less than 5 entries in a category, then those entries will be combined and judged with the next higher category.
____________________________________________
We will also have quarterly Print photo contests
March: First Responders March 28
June: Exposure 30 seconds or longer June 27
September: Hopeless September 26
Each member may enter 1 Printed photo. Print your photo so the smallest edge is at least 8" and the longest edge is not more than 20". Bring your printed photo to the meeting the night of the contest. The print contests will be held on the 4th Thursday of the month and will begin at 7:00 pm at the Fort Smith Trolley Museum Library at 100 South 3rd Street unless a different location is specified in announcements prior to the meeting.
____________________________________________
We will also have "Photo Sharing" in which anyone can bring a few photos to show and tell about. Check the website from time to time to see if we have posted further information about the contests.
2019 Photo Scavenger Hunt Contest
There are 12 subjects to take photos of. All photos must be taken between June 9th and September 30th, 2019. Between those dates try to find and take photos of as many of the subjects as you can. When it is time to submit your entries you can enter ONE photo of each of the 12 topics. You do not have to enter all of the topics in order to enter the contest. Submit your entries by Tuesday, October 1st. Email them to Jeff Willard at zescanner@yahoo.com or give them to him in person on a flash drive. The photos will be shown during the 2019 Thanksgiving Dinner.
the 12 Topics for the 2019 PAFS Photo Scavenger Hunt are yet to be specified. The contest has not yet started.
1. A photo with you in the scene (does not need to be a 'portrait')
More info about Scavenger Hunt photos:
Critical NEW RULE:
Each submitted image file must have the intact camera metadata included. This is primarily to determine when the photo was taken. Any photo taken before the start time of the contest will not be accepted. Any photo missing the metadata may not be accepted without good evidence of the time it was taken.
You are permitted to do "post-processing" of the photos. This includes cropping, enhancing the colors, tones, contrast, sharpness, etc. You are permitted to do some editing of the photos, such as to combine multiple images of the same scene for HDR or image stacking, that sort of thing.
Black & White means a monotone color image. This includes sepia tones or such but not multiple colors.
As usual, you may NOT submit an entry of a photo you have taken of someone else's photo, such as on a billboard, TV, etc.
You may use smart-phone cameras to take your photos if you want or need to.
What size should your photo entries be?
Size your photos the same as for the monthly digital photo contests.
If you send photos that are too small they won't look as clear and sharp. If you send photos that are too big, they will be resized down to the correct size.
Naming your photo files for entries:
Rename your photos in the following format:
1-self portrait-John Doe.jpg
2-water-John Doe.jpg
3-Belle Grove-John Doe.jpg
... etc. (with "John Doe" being replaced with YOUR name.)
As mentioned earlier...
either email your entries to Jeff Willard at zescanner@yahoo.com (send them in several emails if you need to), or put them on a flash drive and bring them to Jeff (JW) at Bedford Camera or to a PAFS meeting prior to the deadline.
If you have any other questions please call Jeff at 479-719-5049.