Last updated: 18/07/2025 Graeme Webb

GENERAL POINTS

Members who win a Trophy are requested to have the trophy engraved at their own expense.

All trophies must be returned to the Club by the last meeting in April.

Should the “Borders Digital Challenge” be revived, the rules are available on request

General Rules

  1. Only paid up members can enter any competition.
  2. All entries must be the member’s own work and contain a photographic image taken by the member. The use of stock images or the use of advanced generative AI tools where entirely new images or image elements are built at pixel level using non photographic processes are not permitted. The person entering the image must hold the copyright for the image and all component parts. AI /enabled algorithmic automation of basic imaging processing (including e.g. exposure optimization in-camera, the cloning of a background, removing of photographic noise or removal of subject elements), are allowed. All such modifications must be the photographer’s own work.
  3. In all competitions the judge’s or judges’ decision will be final and no appeal allowed.

 

THEMES

  • General Rules 1, 2 and 3 apply to the Theme competitions;
  • The committee will provide some simple guidance for each theme but will aim not to strait-jacket members to a very narrow content
  • For each theme a member can enter 2 projected digital images (PDI) except where this is varied by the committee for a specific reason.
  • Each image has to be given a filename to include your membership number and image title relevant to that image and not simply the file name automatically allocated by the camera/software.
  • All images entered must be taken in the club session usually running from 1st June of one year to the end of May the following year unless the specific theme permits any variation.
  • Images must be a JPEG
  • Entries must be in before the deadlines which are published on the website.
  • There are no restrictions to the editing / manipulation permitted except for occasions where the committee exercises its right to vary them for a specific theme or competition.
  • Where the committee exercises its right to vary these rules any such variation will only apply to the single individual instance. Subsequent themes / competitions will revert to the standard rules.
  • Entries must be submitted to the Competition Secretary using SINOSEND link provided for each theme.
  • Points will be awarded to the three top theme images (three points for a win, two points for coming second and one point for coming third).
  • A points table will be kept and the member with the most points at the end of the session will win the “The John Anderson Cup” for a year.
  • Winning images (1st, 2nd and 3rd) will be displayed on the Club website. By entering a competition, you are giving your agreement for this

WILDLIFE COMPETITION

The Wildlife competition was set up in memory of Club member, Avril Peoples, an active member who sadly died in a car crash along with her husband. Avril’s main interest in photography was Wildlife and the committee decided that this was an appropriate way of keeping Avril’s memory alive. The Winner will receive for a year the “Avril Peoples’ Memorial Cup”.

 

  • General Rules 1, 2 and 3 apply to the wildlife competition;
  • Members can enter up to a maximum three projected digital images. (pdi)
  • Wildlife does not include any domesticated animal or pets but can be animals captured and kept in zoos, etc.
  • Each image has to be given a filename to include your membership number and image title relevant to that image and not simply the file name automatically allocated by the camera/software.
  • An image must be taken within the last TWO years from the start of that session but cannot be an image entered in any other Club competition in the past or has won another competition at any time. This does not include images selected to represent the Club in the 2/3/4 Way inter Club competitions.
  • Images must be a JPEG, Images should be resized at 4000 pixels on the long side.
  • Entries must be submitted to the Competition Secretary using SINOSEND link provided for each theme.
  • Closing dates will be notified to members.
  • There are no restrictions to the editing / manipulation permitted within the limits of Rule
  • The committee exercises its right to vary these rules from year to year according to need and/or clarification.
  • The committee reserves the right to appoint the judge(s) annually for this competition.

LANDSCAPE COMPETITION

The landscape competition was inaugurated by the first Chairman of the re-constituted Kelso Camera Club Ken McKillop and was to encourage members to improve their photographic skills when taking landscape images.

Ken was the judge for many years but the committee will now appoint a judge at the time.

 

The term “landscape” will be interpreted for this competition as any image where the majority of the content is clearly land but can include a coastline scene.

 

The winner will win the “Blackbox Trophy” and retain it for a year.

 

  • General Rules 1, 2 and 3 of the general rules apply to the Landscape competition.
  • Members can enter up to a maximum of three projected digital images (dpi).
  • Each image has to be given a filename to include your membership number and image title relevant to that image and not simply the file name automatically allocated by the camera/software.
  • An image must be taken within the last TWO years from the start of that session but cannot be an image entered in any other Club competition in the past or has won another competition at any time. This does not include images selected to represent the Club in the 2/3/4 Way inter Club competitions.
  • Images must be a JPEG. Images should be resized at 4000 pixels on the long side.
  • Entries must be submitted to the Competition Secretary using SINOSEND link provided for each theme.
  • There are no restrictions to the editing / manipulation permitted within the limits of general Rule 2.
  • The committee exercises its right to vary these rules from year to year according to need and/or clarification.

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

 

This is a new competition started for the 2025-2026 session and will be an annual one for members only. The competition was devised to encourage members to go out and witness what is happening in our towns and cities. The Street Photography Cup was donated by Ian Topping, a previous Chairman of the Club.

 

For this competition images should capture candid moments of everyday life in public places. It should typically focus on people, urban environments, and spontaneous scenes, aiming to reflect the human condition, culture, or atmosphere of a place.

Key Characteristics:

  1. Candid: Subjects are usually unaware they are being photographed.
  2. Public settings: Taken in streets, parks, stations, markets or any open spaces
  3. Unposed: The authenticity of natural behaviour is central.
  4. Storytelling: Often aims to convey a narrative or emotion within a single frame.
  5. Urban context: While not strictly limited to cities, it usually features urban life.
  • General Rules 1, 2 and 3 of the general rules apply to the Street Photography competition.
  • Members can enter up to a maximum of three projected digital images (dpi).
  • Each image has to be given a filename to include your membership number and image title relevant to that image and not simply the file name automatically allocated by the camera/software.
  • An image must be taken from the start of the previous session. but cannot be an image entered in any other Club competition in the past or has won another competition at any time. This does not include images selected to represent the Club in the 2/3/4 Way inter Club competitions.
  • Images must be a JPEG. Images should be resized at 4000 pixels on the long side.
  • Entries must be submitted to the Competition Secretary using SINOSEND link provided for each theme.
  • There are no restrictions to the editing / manipulation permitted within the limits of general Rule 2.
  • The committee exercises its right to vary these rules from year to year according to need and/or clarification.
  • The closing date for this competition will be the Thursday, one week before the Christmas meal.

RULES FOR THE CLUB EXHIBITION

  • General Rules 1 and 2 apply.
  • Members can enter up to a maximum of five images of which the Club guarantees at least one will be selected for the exhibition. This number may vary.
  • The photographs can be of any subject but cannot have been shown in any previous exhibition.
  • There is no time limit to when the photographs were taken.
  • Images for consideration must be submitted to the Competition Secretary using SINOSEND link provided by the given date. Images cannot be accepted after that date (intimated on the club calendar). Entries must be in before the deadlines which are published on the website.
  • The images must be at a minimum size suitable for printing (print size @300dpi). Image standard sizes are also restricted to 15×10, 10×15, 12×12, 16×12 or 12×16. Advice and guidance on this can be found in the tutorial section of the Club website
  • Each image has to be given a filename to include your membership number and image title relevant to that image and not simply the file name automatically allocated by the camera/software. The title of the image should describe the image or have a short description in brackets (e.g. “Kissing Cousins (two donkeys)
  • There are no restrictions to the editing / manipulation permitted within the limits of Rule 2.
  • The committee exercises its right to vary these rules from year to year according to need and/or for clarification.
  • Cost of printing and mounting will be at member’s expense. However, sponsorship and Club support may help cover some of the cost.
  • Members can organize the printing of their own photographs but this must be done according to the size of prints (See above) and must be on lustre paper
  • Members printing their own images must still provide the Competition Secretary with the titles of their images and a JPEG copy (this is for promoting winning images and for Club records) by the closing date.

 

Members of the Public will be asked to vote for their favourite exhibition images (First, Second and Third) during the time of the show. Votes will be allocated by giving three points for a first, two points for a second and one point for a third place.

The author of the winning image will be presented with the “The Willie Stewart Trophy”

Members will also be asked to vote for their favourite images using the same rules as for the public vote. The author of the winning image will be presented with the “KCC Exhibition Members’ Choice Trophy”

KNOCKOUT COMPETITION

  • General Competition Rules 1 and 2 apply.
  • Members will be notified of the subject for each round before the start of the season and the maximum number of images which can be entered at least four weeks prior to the competition.
  • Specialist software will show two randomly selected images on screen side by side. Members vote for their favourite with a show of hands, the image with the most votes goes through to the next round and the losing image is knocked-out. This process continues until there is just one winner left at the end.
  • A number of images will randomly be given a bye into the next round to ensure that each round has an even number of images.
  • All images are shown anonymously (with the exception of the winning images announced at the end).
  • There are no restrictions on the subject or age of the image.
  • Do not enter anything which has been placed (1st, 2nd or 3rd) in any previous Kelso Camera Club competitions.
  • Do not enter anything which has previously been included in a KCC Knockout Competition.
  • Images must be a maximum 1600px wide and a maximum of 1200px tall and JPEG format. (Images larger than this will automatically reduced by software so you may want to take control of this yourself.)
  • File names must be in the format membership number_image title,
    For example 099_Kelso Sunset.jpg.
  • The closing date for submission of entries will normally be one week prior to the competition. Members will be advised if this needs to be changed.
  • Images can be submitted on a USB memory stick at a club meting or transferred as a single download via WeTransfer or FromSmash.
  • In the event of a tie during any of the rounds the organiser will have the casting vote.
  • By entering this competition members agree that their images may be added to the club web-site and may be used for publicity purposes with the photographer retaining copyright.

 

The Wilson Challenge Cup for the MOST IMPROVED MEMBER

The committee will discuss and select one member who had shown the most improvement over the Club session. This member will be awarded the Wilson Challenge Cup and can keep it until the same time the following year.

TWO/THREE/FOUR WAY COMPETITION

The selection panel’s decision is final and there is no appeal except if an image is discovered not to meet the competition rules.

• Only paid-up members can enter any competition.
• All entries must be the member’s own work and contain a photographic image taken by the member. The use of stock images or the use of advanced generative AI tools where entirely new images or image elements are built at pixel level using non photographic processes are not permitted. The person entering the image must hold the copyright for the image and all component parts.
• AI /enabled algorithmic automation of basic imaging processing (including e.g. exposure optimization in-camera, the cloning of a background, removing of photographic noise or removal of subject elements), are allowed. All such modifications must be the photographer’s own work.
• In all competitions the judge’s or judges’ decision will be final and no appeal allowed.
• Each club must submit fifteen digital images and each image must be the sole work of a member of the club entering the image. The number of images may vary from year to year.

• A member of a competing club may submit a maximum of two images

• If an individual is a member of more than one of the competing clubs, he or she may submit images for only one club.

• Images should be a maximum of three years old from the start of the present season and must not have been entered into any previous inter-club competition

• All components of the submitted images must be original works created by the photographer (see rule above)

• Images produced during workshops or any scenario where another individual has arranged either the composition, lighting or subject are ineligible for submission.

• Images must be in .jpg format with maximum dimensions of 1600 pixels wide and a maximum of 1200 pixels tall.

• Images must include the title as part of the file name but not the name of the author. Authors’ names must be communicated to the host club separately and will not be forwarded to the judge.

• All images will be collected together and randomized or organized in another arbitrary way before being sent to the judge.

• Entries must be submitted by the published closing date notified by the host club