Body

Handbook

President: Andrew Spackman

Rules of the Banbury Camera Club

The Club shall be called the Banbury Camera Club and membership shall be open to all interested in photography.
Membership of the Club entitles any member to attend and participate in the activities of the Club, and implies an undertaking to comply with these Rules.
Membership shall take effect on payment of the appropriate membership fee.
The officers shall consist of a Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and Programme Secretary(s). The Committee may appoint a Vice Chairman at their discretion.
The affairs of the Club shall be managed by a Committee consisting of the officers and not more than seven members, to be elected at the AGM.
Officers and Committee members are eligible for re-election each year, with the exception of the Chairman and Hon. Secretary, who shall not be eligible to serve for more than the following periods consecutively:
Chairman: Two years maximum
Hon. Secretary: Three years maximum.
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings and conduct the correspondence of the Club.
The Treasurer shall collect all subscriptions and monies due, and the make payments, after authorisation by the Committee. At the close of each Club year a balance sheet shall be drawn up by the Treasurer and examined by not more than two ordinary members appointed for this purpose at the AGM.
At Committee meetings five shall form a quorum, and at a General Meeting 30% of the paid-up membership.
An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened on a resolution signed by at least 5 members or 5% of the membership, whichever is the greater, stating the object of the meeting, and sent to the Secretary at least 14 days before the date proposed.
The Club's financial year shall end on 31st March, and the Annual General Meeting shall be held in April or May.
The annual subscription shall be fixed at the AGM for the twelve months immediately following, and be due as from the date of the AGM. Any person who is a full-time student over 18 may be admitted to membership at one half fee at the discretion of the Committee. There will be special fees for unwaged and for juniors (under 18), and there will be a family membership concession (second subscription at half the appropriate rate).
Visitors to ordinary Club meetings shall be charged the appropriate fee as laid down by the Committee.
The name of any member whose subscription is more than three months in arrears may be removed from the list by order of the Committee.
A member may be expelled or asked to resign from the Club at the discretion of the Committee. The Committee can request a member to appear before it provided that, where any accusation or charge is made, the member shall be given full and reasonable opportunity to put forward a defence and bring witnesses to a later meeting. Any member expelled or asked to resign shall have the right to an Extraordinary General Meeting called for the purpose. All minutes of Committee meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings called under this rule shall be treated as privileged and confidential.
The Club shall be affiliated to the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain through the Chilterns Association of Camera Clubs.
All other rules made since the formation of the Club, and not included in the above, are rescinded.
No alteration of, or addition to, these Rules shall be made except by the Annual General Meeting, or an Extraordinary General Meeting called in accordance with Rule 10.

Updated September 2007

Competitions

The Club holds competitions both annually and at intervals during the year. Members' competitions are held during the winter programme, usually with open subjects. Annual competitions, for which trophies are awarded, are open subject. Two trophies are also awarded annually on the basis of the monthly competition results.

All members are very welcome to enter the competitions; equally, if you prefer to come along and look at the other members' entries that's fine too. Wherever possible outside judges are used, and all our judges are ones who offer constructive comments and advice on entries. The main purpose of the competitions is to get external comments on our work, and so help us form our own judgements about our photographs.

Entry fee is £1 for each competition, which cover entries to all or any of the classes (see Competition Rule 8 for details of entries). There's an entry form to be filled in on the evening or you can download it from here, in advance.

Members' Competitions

There are five rounds of these monthly competitions, with three classes in each competition - monochrome prints, colour prints and colour slides. Points are awarded within each class as follows: 4 for First, 3 for Second, 2 for Third, 1 for Commended, plus 1 for each entrant.

Entries will usually be judged on the following criteria:

a. Interpretation

Set Subjects - how well the picture fits and interprets the subject. A picture which does not, in any way, fit the set subject will be disallowed, but judges should be aware that there may be more than one interpretation of the subject.
Open Subjects - how well the picture explains and interprets its subject and the photographer's aim in taking it.

b. Artistic merit - on the basis of composition, colour and tonal balance, special effects, use of filters etc.

c. Technique - on the basis of accuracy of exposure, accuracy of focus, use of flash and lighting, use of shutter speed and aperture etc.

Annual Competitions

There are annual competitions for monochrome prints, colour prints and colour slides, held in two sets - one for photographs taken at club events, and the other without any restrictions on where taken. All of these are open subject. In addition, there is an annual John Saunders Competition for a set of photos, and the Photo Finish Impact Trophy for prints. Trophies are awarded for all of these competitions:

The competitions are:

For photographs taken at a club event or evening:

Beechcroft Cup

James Church Cup

Brantwood Cup

For photographs taken at any time or place:

Club Colour Cup

Wordsworth Cup

Alcan Shield

For a set of photographs:

John Saunders Cup

a series of between three and seven prints or slides, linked by a common theme, which together tell a story

For photos illustrating a theme:

Walford and Round Trophy

For photos illustrating "Impact"

Photo Finish Impact Trophy

F-Stop and Bodicote Trophies:

The F-Stop Trophy shall be awarded to the member scoring the highest number of points in any one class.
The Bodicote Trophy shall be awarded to the member scoring the highest number of points in all classes combined, subject to the Rule 3.
If the member with the highest number of points in all classes combined has already been awarded the F-Stop Trophy for the year, then the Bodicote Trophy shall be awarded to the member with the second highest number of points in all classes combined.
The points awarded to each competition entry shall be accumulated by entrant, both by class and for all classes together.
If there is only one entrant in any one class, in any competition, then the points awarded shall be accumulated towards that entrant's total, but the placing shall not be used to resolve a tie as per the Rules 7.
No picture shall be awarded points more than once (other than "Commended" entries scoring 1 point).
In the event of a tie for either trophy, the member with the highest number of first places shall be awarded the trophy. If there is still a tie, then the member with the highest number of second places, then the highest number of third places. If there is still a tie the trophies shall be shared.

Jack Keen Cup for prints (colour or monochrome)

Jack Keen Cup

Competition Rules

The following rules shall apply to all of the club competitions, except where explicitly stated herein or by the rules of a particular competition.

All images, including digital images, must be produced by a recognised photographic process.
Digital images will be accepted in all club competitions, and should be identified as such on entry, as records are kept for information.
All prints and slides may be home or commercially processed.
The copyright of an entry must belong to the entrant.
Prints should be mounted. Unmounted prints are acceptable for monthly competitions.
Prints should preferably be of a minimum of 5" x 7" (13x17cm) in size. Mounted prints should preferably not exceed 16" x 20" (40x50 cm) in size.
Colour prints may be produced from colour negatives or slides, from digital images, or by the manipulation of a monochrome image.
In members' competitions, a member may submit up to two print entries in total - either two colour, two monochrome or one of each; third or fourth entries may be accepted depending on the overall numbers. For slides, up to two in total may be submitted, with third or fourth entries depending on numbers.
For annual competitions, each member may submit up to three entries in each competition
Photographs entered in members' competitions are eligible for entry in the annual competitions.
Photographs entered in club event annual competitions are eligible for entry in the open annual competitions.
Photographs which have been placed (first, second or third) in members' competitions are not eligible for entry into following members' competitions, in the same or any other year.
Photographs entered in annual competitions are not eligible for annual competitions in following years.
Competition entries should reflect the photographer's current work and interests.
Entries for the members' competitions, especially set subjects, may not necessarily be current, but should be no older than two or three years.
The film for annual competition entries must have been processed, and/or the original digital image captured, within the twelve months preceding the date of the competition.
A title is required for each competition entry, and the title should be put on the back of each print.

Definitions

Monochrome⁽¹⁾

A monochrome image is defined as being one of the following:

An image which consists purely of black and white and intermediate shades of grey (a black and white image).
A black and white image which has been toned with a single colour.
A black and white image to which a single colour has been added by toning, dyeing etc.
A black and white (grey scale) digital image to which a single colour has been added.

Colour⁽¹⁾

A colour image is defined as being one of the following:

Any image originating from colour film or on colour paper.
A toned black and white image in which one can see at least two differently coloured surfaces.
A black and white image to which two or more colours have been added by toning, dyeing etc.
A digital image in full colour or containing at least two colours in addition to any grey scale image.

Nature⁽²⁾

Includes all observations of facts and phenomena from all branches of natural history including botany, zoology, geology, physics, chemistry, meteorology, palæontology, anthropology etc. A well-informed person should be able to identify the subject material. The human element, if present, should be unobtrusive. Cultivated plants, still life studies, domestic animals etc., are not acceptable.

Wildlife⁽²⁾

Should depict one or more living organisms free and unrestrained in a natural or adopted habitat. Photographs taken at zoos are not acceptable.

Contemporary⁽²⁾

The concept which stimulates the mind of the viewer to interpret the message through the creative use of line, form and colour.

Based upon FIAP⁽¹⁾ and MCPF ⁽²⁾ definition

Annual Exhibition

Michael Heseltine Gallery, Chenderit School

Since 2004 the club has held an annual exhibition, open tothe public, in the splendid Michael Heseltine Gallery. All members are invited and encouraged to exhibit two prints(a third reserve may be possible). There is no selection process; each member makes his or her own choice, thoughadvice and help are available if needed. We use standard 20 x 16 in (50 x 40 cm) black frames with white card window mounts, giving a very professional presentation. Frames and mountboard can be purchased from the club, and frame scan also be borrowed. Members of the cub will cut mounts and help with framing as necessary. The sale of prints from the exhibition (both framed prints from the display and unmounted photos from a “hayrack”) beneﬁts a local charity.

Framing and mounting your photographs

The following are a few hints for preparing your picturesfor the exhibition. If you follow the guidelines below, the volunteers who catalogue and hang the exhibition will not bewasting their time on basic chores which the exhibitor shouldhave done beforehand.

Are you sure that you want to exhibit the pictures you have entered? Do you want to change your mind? Please decide before the programme is printed.
Please make sure that the pictures and mounts are clean and free from dust specks and that the glass is clean inside and out.
If you are using standard club frames please make sure that they are assembled the right way up and that the hanging tabs are correctly positioned before the pictures are put in the frames. Twisting the tabs into position on the day of the hanging can cause damage to the photos and wastes a lot of time. If you are using non-standard frames, they should be similar in appearance to the club’s standard and the hanging cords should not protrude above the tops. The suspension points should be 65 mm from the tops of the frames.
Please see that there is a label on the back with your name and details of the photo.
If you have any problems with printing, mounting or framing your photos, please let a member of the committee know before the day of the hanging and another member of the club will gladly come to your aid.
Please let the secretary know whether or not your picture is for sale. There is a space for this on the entry form.
If your picture is for sale is it a “One-off” or are you prepared to make another print for another purchaser?
The prints in the “Hayrack” are usually sold in aid of a charity. They are usually mounted but unframed. Please ask a member of the committee about the ﬂorist's “Cellophane” for wrapping them in. If you have any nice prints, which might sell, please donate them.
Are you prepared to supply a “bespoke” mounted print to suit an existing frame? We could offer this option (at a price) to a prospective purchaser.

Photographic Organisations

The major photographic organisations within the UK are the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) and the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB), to which are affiliated the regional photographic federations.

The RPS, founded in 1853, was the first photographic society in the world. It is a recognised Learned Society and the major organisation for individual photographers. It is able to award to individual photographers qualifications, by examination, which entitle the holder to use the appropriate abbreviations after their name. These qualifications are Licentiate (LRPS), Associate (ARPS) and Fellow (FRPS). There is also an Honorary Fellowship which is awarded for outstanding service to photography. The RPS runs two major international competitions each summer, for prints and slides. There are galleries, with continual exhibitions, and a bookshop at the Bath headquarters.

The PAGB is effectively the governing body for amateur and club photography in the UK. It is composed of ten Federations, covering the whole of the UK. It organises inter-federation competitions, maintains lists of approved judges and lecturers, and can award an Associateship (APAGB) for service to photography. The PAGB also awards patronage to the major open photographic competitions held by the clubs and federations, and provides medals to be awarded to winners.

The federations are themselves composed of individual camera clubs and photographic societies. They maintain lists of approved local judges and lecturers, and hold competitions both between member clubs and open to all photographers.

Banbury Camera Club is affiliated to the Chilterns Association of Camera Clubs (CACC).

Internationally the national photographic organisations are members of the Féderation Internationale de l'Art Photographique (FIAP). This body also organises international competitions and exhibitions, awards patronage to competitions, and can make awards for service to photography (EFIAP).

The American equivalent of the RPS and PAGB is the Photographic Society of America (PSA). Many international competitions are judged using PSA judging rules. The PSA can also award patronage to competitions, and qualifications to photographers.

There are two organisations for professional photographers in the UK. These are the Master Photographers Association (MPA) and the British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP). For users of cine and video there is the Institute of Amateur Cinematographers (IAC), who are also the only body which can provide licences for the use of pre-recorded music in audio-visual shows, without which it is illegal to use pre-recorded music in public shows.

Slide Spotting and Print Mounting

All slides should be spotted to enable the projectionist to load them into the magazine so that they will be correctly projected. To spot a slide, hold it up to a light source, in such a way that you view the image as it should appear on the screen. Then mark the lower left-hand corner of the mount with a spot, either with a permanent marker pen or a small self-adhesive coloured label. When the slide is placed in the magazine for projection, it will be positioned with the spot in the top right-hand corner, facing the rear of the projector. The slide will then be correctly projected.

Prints should be mounted, both to provide a suitable surround to enhance the subject, and to protect the print. A print is mounted by fixing it to a piece of stiff card, preferably using a spray adhesive, such as Scotch PhotoMount, although double-sided tape may be used. The print may be left surface-mounted, or a second piece of card, containing a cut-out window, with bevelled edges, may be positioned over the print. This is known as a mat, and the first piece of card is then attached to it with adhesive tape. More complex effects can be achieved with multiple layers of card. For a stronger, more durable, mount, the use of mounting board, obtainable from art supply shops, is advised.