Focus 2019 Competition

2/5/2019

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A new race begins.

For The Throne.

WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?

Here are the changes in this year's competition from last year's :

NEW COMPETITION OFFICER : 2018 Competition Officer Jer Sandel has resigned his post and relinquished his officership altogether starting this year. Taking on the role of Competition Officer for 2019 is JING CALONGE.
Competition Officer Calonge is not eligible to enter Focus Bulacan's competition. She may, however, join the PhotoWorld Cup competition in representing Focus Bulacan, the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk contest, and other national/international contests that are not organized by Focus Bulacan.
Although he is now eligible to join Focus Bulacan's 2019 competition, former Competition Officer Sandel has chosen not to participate this year. However, he may still join the PhotoWorld Cup competition in representing Focus Bulacan, the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk contest, and other national/international contests that are not organized by Focus Bulacan.
2018 PhotoWorld Cup Adviser Joey Ramos is taking on a new role, this time as Externals Officer for 2019. He is still eligible to enter and join the Focus competition, with no restrictions.

FOCUS BULACAN 2019 CONTESTS

MONTHLY THEME CONTESTS

Theme contests are meant to provide an extra challenge to Focus competition participants on how to interpret themes and execute ideas into photo output.
Our theme contest format is retained. Themes will be announced at the beginning of each month. Photo entries must be shot/taken during the same month. Old/stock photos will not be allowed.
Theme contests also give an opportunity to Focus members who cannot join PhotoMeets to participate in the competition by shooting on their own.

MONTHLY PHOTOMEET CONTESTS

Monthly PhotoMeet contests will continue. Photo entries for these contests will be shot during designated monthly PhotoMeets of Focus Bulacan.
There shall be a minmum of nine (9) PhotoMeet contests for 2018 : one for every month except May, July, and December.
PhotoMeets could also coincide with special events such as the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk and the Fujifilm Nationwide Photowalk.

PHOTOWALK CONTESTS

Each year, Focus Bulacan makes it a point to participate in the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk and the Fujifilm Nationwide Photowalk. They are annual events that are in line with our campaign to make new friends and expand horizons via photography. Both photowalks are followed by photo contests, facilitated by both Focus Bulacan and the organizers of the entire photowalk event.
Due to the bigger turnout of participants, we allocate higher contest points to winners of these special contests.

SPECIAL CONTESTS

Focus Bulacan celebrates its founding anniversary with an annual photo exhibit. Included in this exhibit is a "People's Choice" contest where exhibit-goers vote for their favorite photo.
During the latter part of the year, Focus Bulacan has an annual "Focus Portrait Project" where members photograph their co-members. These portraits are entered into a contest.
Focus Bulacan aims to promote camaraderie through these contests and special contest points are given to winners of the mentioned contests.

PHOTOWORLD CUP CONTESTS

Focus Bulacan will again compete in the PhotoWorld Cup - a competition among FPPF-affiliated photography clubs.
PhotoWorld contests are judged on-the-spot monthly. There are ten (10) PWC contests for 2019.
Higher contest points are allocated to participants and winners in these PWC contests, to encourage participation among Focus members.

CONTEST GUIDELINES & ENTRY SUBMISSION MECHANICS

Purpose. Focus Bulacan’s photocontests are meant to inspire improvement by providing an organized form of objective and subjective evaluation of photos. Photograph entries are individually assessed, then compared to other entries, with these assessments being the basis for voting. The results and feedback of the contests should serve as critique, which in turn would guide the participants as to where improvements should be made in their next photos.

Approach. Contests are competitive in nature. Competitiveness - within the boundary of rules, fairness and sportsmanship – spurs improvement. Participants are urged to do their best to win contests while adhering to these guidelines. However, may we remind everyone that there will be winners, there will be losers, yet the ultimate goal is for participants to learn something from the feedback and critique on their photo entries. Winning isn’t everything. Wanting to win AND learning from trying are everything.

Methodology. Focus Bulacan contests are open only to official members and applicants. Likewise, only members and applicants are allowed to vote on the photos. Entries will be kept anonymous so as to eliminate bias and make voters assess the photos purely on their merit.

PHOTOMEET AND THEME CONTEST GENERAL MECHANICS :

Make sure your photos comply with the category or theme of the contest.
Only one (1) entry is allowed per participant.

Do not put borders or watermarks or any other mark of distinction on the photos.

Post-processing is allowed, unless stated otherwise. Creativity doesn’t end at the click of the shutter. However, putting text or borders on the photos are not allowed, unless specifically instructed by the Competition Officer to be allowed for a particular contest.
Please resize your entry to 1,000 pixels on the long side.
For photomeet contests, entries must be taken on the date of the photomeet.
For theme contests, entries must be taken on the same month of the theme.
Old/stock photos are not allowed.
Entries will be subjected to a vote by official Focus Bulacan members and applicants.
Contest organizer reserves the right to ask for RAW copy of the entry, for authentication purposes.

PHOTOMEET AND THEME CONTEST ENTRY SUBMISSION PROCEDURE :

Follow contest general guidelines (regarding restrictions and photo resizing).
Rename your entry in this format :

              If PhotoMeet contest : YOURNAME_PHOTOMEETNAME.JPG
              (Example : ALDENRICHARDS_MALOLOSPHOTOWALK.JPG)
              If Theme contest :
              YOURNAME_THEME.JPG (for your entry)
            (Example : ALDENRICHARDS_EMOTIONS.JPG)

Email your contest entries to focuscompetition2019@gmail.com (new email address for 2019 contests)
Indicate in Subject the name of the photomeet or theme contest

(Example : "DULANSANGAN CONTEST ENTRY")

PHOTOWORLD CUP CONTEST MECHANICS :

Make sure your photos comply with the category or theme of the contest.
Starting 2019, there will be no more date specifications. Old photos are allowed, except for the May 2019 theme (suprise theme).
Infrared and sepia photos are NOT allowed.
Cellphone photos are strictly NOT allowed.
Drone photography is NOW ALLOWED.
Photo entries must not be previously published in print or online, or posted in social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, 500px, Flickr, website, etc.)
Photos that previously won local and/or international awards prior to monthly theme judging will be disqualified.
"Kapatid" shots are not allowed to be used by the same photographer who previously used the image; except by other photographers who shot the same photo if it was done at the same time.
Photo inspiration is allowed for as long as it was not totally copied.
Post-processing is allowed but NO COMPOSITES. Raw/SOOC (straight out of the camera) JPEG copy of entries shall be provided by the participants along with the final output file of the entries.
Only one (1) entry is allowed per participant. Each club could enter a maximum of ten (10) entries per theme.

Do not put borders or watermarks or any other mark of distinction on the photos, unless otherwise allowed or stated by organizers.

Please send HIGH-RESOLUTION copy of your photo entry. We need high-res files of entries, as they will get printed for the FPPF PWC on-the-spot judging .
Entries will be screened by a Focus competition committee. Approved entries will be printed and submitted to the national PhotoWorld Cup judging.

PHOTOWORLD CUP ENTRY SUBMISSION PROCEDURE :

Follow contest general guidelines.
Rename your entry in this format :

              YOURNAME_THEME_EDITED.JPG (for your entry)
              YOURNAME_THEME_UNEDITED.JPG/RAW (for RAW file of your entry)
              (Example : ALDENRICHARDS_EMOTIONS_EDITED.JPG /
               ALDENRICHARDS_EMOTIONS_UNEDITED.CR2)

Keep in mind that you have to submit BOTH your photo entry and its raw file. Incomplete submissions will be disqualified from the contest.
Email your contest entries to focuscompetition2019@gmail.com
Indicate in Subject the name of the PhotoWorld Cup theme

(Example : "PWC HOUSE OF WORSHIP ENTRY")

ONLINE CONTEST VOTING MECHANICS

Only Focus members and applicants are allowed to join our contests.
For photomeet and theme contests : only members, applicants, and guest judges may vote (public voting).
For PWC contests, a Focus competition committee will select the entries for submission to the national PWC judging.
For 2019 photomeet and theme contests, we will use public comment voting system where votes will be posted as comments on the website contest page. You have to use your personal Facebook account in order to vote. The comment section is at the bottom of the contest page, click HERE to get the idea. We strongly encourage voters to offer critique along with their votes. Voting mechanics are also published whenever a contest is posted for voting.

Voting Mechanics

Contest is open to Focus Bulacan official members and applicants. Voting is also open only to members and applicants, plus official guest judges.

There's no specific criteria where to base your vote. Just vote for the photo that you think best represents the activity or theme.

Please view each and every photo before casting your vote.

Pick one photo for 1st place, one for 2nd place, and one for 3rd place. Cast your vote by stating the entry numbers of your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place photos. 1st place votes get 3 points, 2nd place votes get 2 points, and 3rd place votes get 1 point. (Guest judge's votes count for 10 points for 1st place, 7 points for 2nd, and 5 points for 3rd.)

You need to pick three photos. If you name only one photo, your vote would only count for 1 point.
Although not required, voters are encouraged to offer constructive critique on their picks.
Participants may not vote for their own photo. Self-votes will be nullified and offender's entry (if he/she has one in the contest) will be automatically disqualified.

The entry that accumulates the most number of points wins.

Use your Facebook account to cast your vote. State your vote in the Facebook comment section at the bottom of the contest page.

To the participants : win the contest thru the merit of your photo, not by other means.

Voting usually takes a week (7 days), with the winner announced the next day once voting ends.

Vote Solicitation/Influencing

Soliciting or influencing votes is strictly prohibited.
Do not ask voters to vote for your entry or influence them to do so by showing them your entry.
Keep your entry anonymous as much as possible.
Proven cases of vote solicitation/influencing will lead to disqualification of involved participant.
Please report cases of vote solicitation or vote influencing to Competition Officer Jing Calonge. Rest assured that your report will be handled confidentially.

2019 CONTEST JUDGES

Like the previous year, we shall have one guest judge for photomeet contests and one guest judge for theme contests. Each judge's votes will count for 10 points for their 1st place picks, 7 points for 2nd place picks, and 5 points for 3rd place picks. Each guest judge will be asked to vote in every photomeet or theme contest for 2019.

PhotoMeet Contest Judge :

FRANCIS NOLLAN - Neutral Ground Reborn administrator and Konsepto Camera Club president

Theme Contest Judge :

JAMES SINGLADOR - Internationally-acclaimed photographer, member of the PhotoWorld Cup committee and Samahan ng mga Litratista sa Rizal

POINTS ALLOCATION

Competition Officer Jing Calonge has reviewed and finalized the points system for our 2019 competition. Here are the details :

Points/Scoring System - Points awarded for contests and accomplishments :

For every submission of entry to a Focus PhotoMeet or Theme contest : 3 points
Bonus points for placing in the Top 5 of a PhotoMeet or Theme contest :

        + 10 points - 1st Place
        + 7 points - 2nd Place
        + 5 points - 3rd Place
        + 3 points - 4th Place
        + 2 points - 5th Place
        (No additional points for 6th place onwards)

Scoring for Focus Portrait Project :

             Submission of entry : 5 points
             + 20 points : 1st Place
             + 15 points : 2nd Place
             + 10 points : 3rd Place
             + 7 points : 4th Place
             + 5 points : 5th Place

Scoring for Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk contest :

             Submission of entry : 3 points
             + 20 points : 1st Place
             + 15 points : 2nd Place
             + 10 points : 3rd Place
             + 7 points : 4th Place
             + 5 points : 5th Place
           Bonus points :
             + 10 points : if included in Honorable Mentions list
             + 20 points : if included in Finalists list
             + 30 points : if People’s Choice winner
             + 50 points : if Grand Prize winner
             * +10 points for Photowalk Leader (who can only enter Leaders Contest, not the regular contest)

Scoring for Fujifilm Nationwide Photowalk contest :

             Submission of entry : 3 points
             + 20 points : 1st Place
             + 15 points : 2nd Place
             + 10 points : 3rd Place
             + 7 points : 4th Place
             + 5 points : 5th Place
           Bonus points :
             + 15 points : Top 5 finish (2nd-5th place)
             + 25 points : for Grand Prize winner / People's Choice winner
             * +10 points for Photowalk Leader (who cannot enter the regular contest)

Scoring for Focus Anniversary Exhibit and People's Choice + Juror's Choice contest :

             Submission of entries for exhibit : 10 points total (regardless if photos are approved for exhibit or not)
             Bonus points for People's Choice :
             + 20 points : 1st Place
             + 15 points : 2nd Place
             + 10 points : 3rd Place
             + 7 points : 4th Place
             + 5 points : 5th Place
             Bonus points for Juror's Choice :
             + 25 points : Juror's Choice (only 1 will get chosen)

Points for FPPF PhotoWorld Cup competition :

             + 5 points for submission of entry (regardless if approved for national contest or not)

             Bonus points according to contest ranking :
             + 10 points : Enter the Top 30 of a PWC contest (13th-30th place)
             + 20 points : Place 2nd-12th (Top 12) in a PWC contest
             + 30 points : Place 1st in a PWC contest

             Bonus points according to year-end competition ranking :
             + 75 points : Finish 1st in PWC Photographer Of The Year competition
             + 50 points : Finish 2nd-5th in PWC POTY competition
             + 30 points : Finish in Top 10 of PWC POTY competition
             + 50 points : Win PWC Rookie Of The Year competition
             + 20 points for each Focus participant if Focus Bulacan finishes in Top 10 of Club Of The Year competition

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2019 COMPETITION

Focus Bulacan Photographer Of The Year 2019 Competition Mechanics

The competition runs from January until December and encapsulates all Focus contests during the period.
POTY is points-based, with members accumulating points based on their activity and performance in contests/activities.
All points will be tracked and recorded. The Focus member who has the most points at the end of 2019 will be recognized as Photographer Of The Year.
The points and records will not be made available to the public but members will be updated individually - upon request - every quarter as to how many points they have accumulated and what is their current ranking. They will not be given access to other members' stats or standings.
Only official Focus Bulacan members will be allowed to participate in POTY. Focus applicants MAY join our contests, but they will not accumulate points to be included in the POTY competition. However, once they become official members, their points in previous contests (during the year) will then be carried over to the POTY scoring.
Focus Bulacan officers are allowed to join the contest, EXCEPT the Competition Officer, as standard procedure for our photocontests.
Final details of prize options will be announced in the last quarter of a calendar year.
For points allocation/system for POTY, please refer above (POINTS ALLOCATION).

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FOCUS COMPETITION