Amended Proposal for the Competition Category
The competition category, “Out Of The Box” (OTB) has been tested on a provisional trial basis for a little over a year. We have had, I feel, a positive reception to it with a few bumps and discrepancies along the way, as expected. I feel it is now time to either fish or cut bait, in other words decide if we want to make this category a permanent part of our competition agenda (Schedule A) or not. The following is a first draft of what the objective, description and parameters of the OTB category might be. I encourage any and all comments, suggestions and feedback.
This following proposal was discussed at our May 14, 2009 Executive Committee Meeting for the purpose of deciding whether to continue with it and if so in what form.
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OTB
(Draft)The OTB category is to be offered to the membership three (3) times a year – spaced out over the club’s annual, eleven (11) monthly competitions. It is the purpose of this category to give those members who wish to create and present images that do not fall into the genera or parameters of the existing categories of Assigned and Open, the opportunity to compete and to have their images discussed and critiqued. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place images from this category are eligible to compete in the Club’s annual “Print Of The Year” competition held on the first Tuesday of the following new year.
There will be no assigned topic in the OTB category. This category will be similar to the Open Category in that any subject matter may be entered (at the discretion of the Competition Chairman) but the images:
(a)
Will Not Be conventional, typical or what may be classified as normal images.
(b) Must Be considered very creative, unusual, possibly experimental, and somewhat off the wall in nature. It matters not whether the image is created through contrivance, Photoshop, or in the camera. Examples of such images would be: extreme Photoshop editing, collages, bazaar subject matter and unusual presentation, as long as they comply with the above parameters/guidelines.
This category is to make available a venue to those image-makers who have the desire to try out creative and different avenues of image making. It is also the hope that this category will stimulate others to try new and creative approaches to their image making. During the Executive committee’s discussions the following question was presented. Who will determine whether an image is eligible for OTB or not and how will the determination be made? It was discussed what might be OTB for one member may not be for another. At present, the final decision as to the eligibility of an image is solely the Competition Chairman’s decision.
So what happens if the chairman’s decision is challenged?
One solution would be to have the image in question voted on by the members in attendance as to its compliance with the category. It was also suggested that a 4x6 of the original image should accompany the OTB entry when possible. Granted, if the creation was done in camera, this would not be possible.
I’m sure some of you have additional ideas and thoughts on this – so gather them together and we will discuss them at out June 16, 2009 competition meeting. It was agreed by the committee to continue with the OTB for the remainder of the year and then vote on whether to continue and make it a permanent part of our competition and have it included in the competition write-up in the Club’s By Laws.
Jim Fife
– 05 - 2009