Syllabus
Competitions for 2024
Following is a list of the photography competitions scheduled for this year.
| Comp No. | Competition Details | Due Date | Results |
| 1 | Open | 14 Feb | 13 Mar |
| 2 | Monochrome | 13 Mar | 10 Apr |
| 3 | Minimalism | 10 Apr | 8 May |
| 4 | Industrial / Agricultural | 8 May | 12 Jun |
| 5 | Long Exposure | 12 Jun | 10 Jul |
| 6 | Lifestyle Portrait | 10 Jul | 14 Aug |
| 7 | Landscape / Seascape | 14 Aug | 11 Sep |
| 8 | Open | 11 Sep | 9 Oct |
| 9 | Forces of Nature | 9 Oct | 13 Nov |
Competition guidelines 2024
Competition 1 Open
Competition 2 Monochrome
Monochrome can include black and white or single tone images. Black and white images combine black and white with the various shades of grey, in a continuous spectrum of one colour (black & white). Monochrome is a black and white image modified by a partial toning or by the addition of one colour and nothing else. This could be different shades of sepia, blue, green or grey, for example.
Competition 3 Minimalist
Like other forms of minimalist art, this photography style is about stripping a subject down to its essence. The 6 elements in minimalist photography are, similarity (but not boring), the use of negative space, powerful composition, isolation, colour, the use of lines and shape. Images are normally composed in a clean, clinical way. It may be any genre e.g. Portrait, Black & White, Creative or Landscape/Seascape.
Adding elements to the photo or removing large elements is not permitted. No Photoshopping images into or out of the photo is allowed. You may remove small distractions.
Competition 4 Industrial/Agricultural
Images must incorporate themes involving scenes and/or activities relating to Industry or Agriculture, including but not restricted to, industrial or agricultural buildings, machinery, installations, building sites, work places. Images must convey an impression that the depicted themes have once been or are now being employed in industrial or agricultural activities.
Competition 5 Long Exposure
Long exposure photography is a technique that uses a long shutter speed to capture images. This means that the camera shutter stays open for a long period of time, allowing more light to enter the camera sensor. The moving elements in front of the camera look blurry or smudged, while the still elements remain sharp.
Long exposure is usually associated with very low light such as dawn or night time photography. However long exposure can also be utilised during daylight hours particularly with a Neutral Density Filter. Most images require a sturdy tripod and an in camera timer delay or remote shutter release. This can achieve creative and unique looking imagery or visual effects.
Competition 6 Lifestyle Portraits
Lifestyle photography is a genre that mainly aims to capture portraits of people in situations, real-life events, milestones or important developmental events, or moments in an artistic manner. Photos are usually unplanned and candid so they capture the beauty of each moment without staging. It captures the connections and emotion between people and loved ones in portraits that are relaxed. The photographer can gently prompt, however emotion comes naturally. There’s more action and movement in lifestyle photography.
Lifestyle photography shows an emotion and heart while the subject is completely involved with the situation, oblivious to the camera. It could be a family watching their child receive a graduation certificate, someone at work, different cultural activities, a captured moment on the street. It is that middle ground between portrait photography and documentary photography.
Lifestyle photography uses available complementary light.
Competition 7 Landscape/Seascape
Images may be a Landscape or a Seascape. They should incorporate elements of the natural environment as it can be seen by the human eye, with the intention to bring the viewer into the scene. It may include evidence of human-made elements, people, animals, provided that these additional elements do not dominate the photograph.
Competition 8 Open
Competition 9 The Force of Nature
The Force of Nature images must include elements which reflect natural phenomena and demonstrate the force of the interaction between natural elements which is beyond human control.
These may include weather events, water/wind erosion effects, floods, cyclones, storms, ocean waves, earthquakes, lightning, temperature extremes, effects of weathering etc.
General Notes
- Images must originate as photographs made by the entrant. They may not incorporate identifiable images produced by anyone else (for example: clip art, replacement skies, or stock images). Images created in whole or in part by image creation software (frequently called ‘AI’ images) are not allowed. Editing or alteration of images is permitted but read the rules in each competition as to how much editing is permitted.
- Images taken using camera film will be considered providing the competition entries comply with the standard competition rules i.e., electronic files are provided of these entries for projection and for display on the DVPS website.
Activities for 2024: “The Year of Experiment & Creativity”
14 Feb The year overview.
Entries due for Competition 1 – Open
Entries due for VAPS
28 Feb Melbourne City Walk
13 Mar Judge Competition 1
Entries due Competition 2 – Monochrome.
17 Mar Williamstown Railway/Spotswood Heritage Walk
27 Mar You Be The Judge
10 Apr Judge Competition 2
Entries due Competition 3 – Minimalism.
19-21 Apr Weekend away – Bellarine Peninsula
24 Apr Antarctic Presentation – Ross Kimber
4 May Bunnings BBQ
8 May Judge Competition 3.
Entries due Competition 4 – Industrial /Agricultural
22 May Leanne Cole – Guest Speaker “Long Exposure”
31 May Closing date. APS Australia Cup Competition –
Theme “This is Australia”
2 June DVPS – Whittlesea Friendly Challenge
12 Jun Judge Competition 4
Entries due Comp 5 – Long Exposure
14-16 Jun VAPS – Berwick TBC
26 Jun Portfolio Setup Preparations
July FEES DUE
10 Jul Judge Competition 5.
Entries due Competition 6 – Lifestyle Portrait
23 Jul Matt Krumins – Wildlife Healesville Sanctuary
24 Jul Cam Blake – Landscape Presentation
Entries due for Rosanna Inter club
14 Aug Judge Competition 6.
Entries due Competition 7 – Landscape/Seascape
25 Aug Abbotsford Convent – photo walk
28 Aug AGM. Triptych setup.
6 Sep Dinner with Portfolio presentations
11 Sep Judge Competition 7.
Entries due Competition 8 – Open
25 Sep Rosanna Inter-club. DVPS Hosting
9 Oct Judge Competition 8
Entries due Competition 9 – Forces Of Nature
End of Year entries due
11-13 Oct BFOP – Bright Festival Of Photography
23 Oct Triptych Group Presentations
10 Nov Werribee Mansion day trip photo walk
13 Nov Judge Competition 9
27 Nov Portrait and Lighting Workshop
6 Dec End of Year Dinner.