Understanding N4C Competitions
The Livermore Valley Camera Club is a member of a regional collective of fourteen Greater Bay Area camera clubs, known as N4C (Northern California Council of Camera Clubs). As such the club competition is based primarily on the guidelines set up by the N4C. Therefore, the Livermore Valley Camera Club adheres to the standards set forth by the N4C for rules of competition and judging. For more information, go to the N4C Website.
The club's semi-monthly meetings focus on competitions critiqued by outside judges where members compete against other members of like abilities. Generally, prints are judged prior to projected-images, with a break for refreshments in between. If submitting work for competition, members are encouraged to arrive early in order to complete the process for entering their submissions.
Competitions at all camera clubs are intended to be healthy, fun, and a means to improve one's photography. Members should use the competition as a motivational tool to always improve their own work. Points are kept for the purposes of grouping photographers with "like" abilities and experiences together. It is also a measure of a member's participation level in the club. In order to enter images in competition, a new member's skill level must be determined by the club officers. Guests and non-rated new members may enter images in a special non-rated category. The meeting judge will critique entries in this category (for up to two meetings), but the entries are ineligible for competition until a member's skill level has been determined.
The top images in each level are forwarded to a N4C. At N4C, the LVCC images are judged against the winning entries from other clubs, and results are reported in the monthly N4C newsletter. Winning N4C entries are eligible for the end-of-year competition, and are presented at the annual N4C banquet.
Regardless on how you may feel about competition and points, we encourage your participation! Sharing our photographic works is at the heart of what Camera Clubs are all about!
The following information has been condensed from the club by-laws. This is intended to be a quick reference for new and existing members. While these rules may seem complex at first, really the best way to understand them is to come to a meeting and see how it all works. Our members will help you, and answers any of your questions.
Competition Divisions
The Livermore Valley Camera Club adheres to the standards and guidelines set forth by the N4C for competition divisions. The Livermore Valley Camera Club participates in the following competing divisions:
Prints
Monochrome B/W Pictorial (MO)
Color Pictorial (CO)
Nature (N)
Creative / Contemporary (C)
Travel (T)
Journalism (J)
Sequence (S) |
Projected Images
Pictorial (P)
Nature (N)
Creative / Contemporary (C)
Travel (T)
Journalism (J) |
For complete information on N4C divisions and their definitions, please see
N4C Competition Definitions
Note that for Nature, Travel, and Journalism divisions, the images titles are read during judging. Therefore the title is an important aspect in understanding the image, or story that is presented to the viewer. Nature titles should be concise and include the Latin name if possible. Be specific as possible to include activity, behavior, etc. or "Portrait of...." when the whole subject is not shown.
Competition Levels
Within each division there are group levels. Each "level" signifies photographers of like abilities. Each member competes in a division in the group corresponding to the level he/she has achieved in that division. For example, it is possible for a member to compete in Projected Image Pictorial Advanced, and in Monochrome Prints compete in Intermediate. New members are placed in the Beginner levels by default. However, members with previous club experience or photo experience can/will be placed in higher levels by the executive committee. If you're a new member, please talk with a club officer if you're not sure what level you should be competing in.
Prints
Beginner/Basic (B)
Intermediate (I) *
Advanced (A)
Masters (M) * |
Projected Images
Beginner/Basic (B)
Intermediate (I)
Advanced (A)
Masters (M) |
* Note only Pictorial Monochrome and Color prints have all four levels. Below is the list of print divisions and their associated levels:
| Print Division |
Print Levels |
| Pictorial Color |
B, I, A, M |
| Pictorial Monochrome |
B, I, A, M |
| Nature |
B, A |
| Creative / Contemporary |
B, A |
| Travel |
B, A |
| Journalism |
B, A |
| Sequence |
one level |
Competition Rules and Judging
Competitions at all Livermore Valley Camera Club and N4C meetings are critiqued by an impartial outside judge. Judges are experienced photographers and/or are involved in photography in some professional manner: photographer, teacher, business owner, etc. The judges perform two functions at club meetings. The first is to evaluate images on their technical qualities, visual impact, and compliance with N4C rules and award places for the competition. The other purpose, hopefully more meaningful, is not only to critique, but also to teach and share their knowledge of photography, in an effort to improve the photography of all who attend. When entering competitions, it is VERY important to keep in mind that the opinion of the judge is just that, an opinion. A judge may not like your particular image on a given night, but rest assured that a different judge on a different night might think it's a wonderful image. Some judges are very critical, while others are very constructive and instructive. Don't let negative comments from a judge discourage you. Take it as an opportunity to improve your photography.
The following rules have been established to meet N4C guidelines for competition:
- Member may enter any division, but only in members own group level or above.
- Limit (2) two prints per division per monthly competition.
- Limit (2) two projected-images per division per monthly competition.
- No print, slide or digital image shall be entered more than (3) times within its division in monthly competition without significant changes via printing, cropping, etc.
- No previously qualified N4C print, slide or digital image will be eligible for subsequent entry in regular monthly competition (except for Club Annual or Inter-club competitions).
- Newcomers/Non-members may exhibit/enter up to (3) three months before their dues are payable.
- Projected-images and Prints must be properly labeled (see below).
- Projected-images and Prints taken from the highest places in monthly competitions will be sent to N4C for judging, unless member chooses not to submit to N4C.
- Entries sent to N4C can only be from paid-up members.
For more complete information on N4C competition rules, please see
N4C Competition Rules
Points are awarded in all divisions, and are accumulated and tracked for the purposes of advancing members to higher competing levels. However, while the executive board members can and will advance a member to a higher levels when deemed appropriate, a member may self-promote him/herself as well. Accumulating points is also an indication of a member's active participation in the club. Points are awarded per division at our monthly and N4C competitions in the following manner:
| First Place |
- 5 Points |
| Second Place |
- 4 Points |
| Third Place |
- 3 Points |
| Fourth Place |
- 2 Points |
| Honorable Mention |
- 1 Point |
| All Other Club Entries |
- 1 Point |
Competition Schedule
Always check the club calendar and announcements as holidays may cause actual competition dates to change.
| Divisions:Print |
Levels |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
| Monochrome |
B, I, A, M |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Color |
B, I, A, M |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Nature &
Sequence |
B, A |
X |
- |
- |
X |
- |
- |
X |
- |
- |
X |
- |
Travel &
Creative |
B, A |
- |
X |
- |
- |
X |
- |
- |
X |
- |
- |
X |
| Journalism |
B, A |
- |
- |
X |
- |
- |
X |
- |
- |
X |
- |
X |
| Divisions:Projected Images |
Levels |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
| Pictorial |
B, I, A, M |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Nature &
Creative |
B, I, A, M |
- |
X |
- |
X |
- |
X |
- |
X |
- |
X |
X |
Travel &
Journalism |
B, I, A, M |
X |
- |
X |
- |
X |
- |
X |
- |
X |
- |
X |
For the pictorial prints and projected-image categories, the top two places are submitted to N4C for interclub competition, and will be returned two months after original submission. For the specialized categories, the first three places are submitted to N4C, and will be returned at the 2nd meeting of the following month. Monthly N4C projected-image judging is held at Rossmoor or San Mateo on the 3rd Saturday of the month, while print judging is held at the home of the N4C Print Chairman. Both N4C judging sessions are open to guests. Please contact the LVCC Print, Slide or Digital Chair for more information on attending the N4C sessions.