2015 INPA Photographer of the Year Contest

Contest Deadline: Monday, February 15, 2016 (02/15/2016), noon (Eastern Standard Time)
Contest Judging: Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Indiana University. Judging room and time TBA.
Contest Chairperson: James Brosher, james@brosher.com, 765-744-0865

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of the INPA Photographer of the Year contest is to promote excellence in news photography; to persuade the general public that news photographers are instrumental and important in the reporting of news and the recording of daily life in their communities; to teach beginning photographers about photojournalism; and to help working news photographers improve their photo-reporting abilities.

ELIGIBILITY

I. DEFINITION OF MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING

INPA members in good standing are eligible to enter the contest. A member in good standing is someone who has paid his or her dues and lives in Indiana or works for an Indiana-based news organization. If you were a member in good standing during the calendar year preceding the contest entry deadline date (2015) but have since moved, you may enter by paying a contest entry fee equal to annual dues, currently $35. This is good for entry into the INPA POY/Multimedia contest only.

II. ELIGIBLE WORK

Photographs taken or initially published between January 1 and December 31 of the year proceeding the contest entry date (2015) are eligible for entry in the contest. (Exception: The John Ahlhauser Award photos may be taken over a number of years.) Only photos taken while a resident of Indiana or while employed by an Indiana-based news organization are eligible for entry. Screen grabs from a video are not eligible for the still photo competition.

RULES

I. ETHICS

Entrants certify that they practice ethical photojournalism, and subscribe, whether an NPPA member or not, to the principles outlined in the NPPA Code of Ethics. The content of an image must not be altered. Only retouching which conforms to currently accepted news industry standards, and is able to exist in the framework of the NPPA Code of Ethics, is allowed. The Judges may disqualify images they feel go beyond the allowable limits and may at their discretion request the original, unretouched file. Illustration (ill) is the only category in which sandwich negatives, radical darkroom or computer alterations are permitted.

II. NUMBER OF ENTRIES

An entrant may submit a maximum of 30 single entries. The maximum number of pictures for the portfolio and multiple (picture stories) categories are as follows: Photographer of the Year Portfolio – 20, Community Awareness Portfolio – 15, Sports Photographer of the Year Portfolio – 15, News/Sports/Feature Multiple – 15.

Each multiple (picture story) counts as one entry. Entries for Photographer of the Year Portfolio, The John Ahlhauser Award, Sports Photographer of the Year Portfolio and Community Awareness Portfolio do not count toward the 30 single entries limit. A picture can only be entered in one individual singles category. Exceptions: a single may be pulled from a picture story, the Community Awareness Portfolio, or the Sports Photographer of the Year Portfolio and entered in a different category. In addition, parts of a John Ahlhauser Award entry which were shot in the preceding calendar year are eligible for other categories.

III. ENTRY CLASSIFICATION

Classification is the responsibility of the entrant. Contest officials will not reclassify entries before or during the contest.

IV. TEAMWORK

All entries must be the work of only one person with the exception of The John Ahlhauser Award entries.

V. PARTICIPATION

In all singles and portfolio categories, a minimum of three entrants must enter for the category to be judged.

VI. DEADLINE

All entries must be uploaded by Monday, February 15, 2016 (02/15/2016), at noon Eastern Standard Time. All entries must be uploaded by the deadline. Deadline extensions will not be given. Late entries will not be accepted.

VII. DISCLAIMER

Entrants who do not follow the rules will be disqualified. INPA will take every precaution in handling entries, but cannot be responsible for loss, damage or non-receipt of entries.

VIII. JUDGING

The contest will have three judges as selected by the annual contest chairman. Judging is open, which means spectators are invited to watch and listen as the judges make their determinations. Spectators must not talk to the judges or make loud comments, which could be overheard by the judges. After each category is judged, spectators are encouraged to ask questions and discuss the category with the judges, only in general terms. Discussion of specific images should be held until all judging is complete. Judges will award the following:

  • Individual singles and multiples categories: First, second, third
  • Photographer of the Year Portfolio: First (Photographer of the Year), second (Runner-up Photographer of the Year) and third place.
  • Community Awareness Portfolio: First, second
  • Sports Photographer of the Year Portfolio: First, second, third
  • The Ahlhauser Award: At least a first

Judges may award honorable mentions at their discretion.

CATEGORIES

Note: Category codes proceed the name of the singles,multiples and portfolio category descriptions below (e.g. spn, ggn). These codes will be used in the IPTC category field and as a prefix to the filename when preparing the entry for submission.

I. INPA PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR PORTFOLIO (poy)

This category determines the INPA Photographer of the Year, second (Runner-up Photographer of the Year) and third place. The portfolio is a body of work by one photographer from the previous year (2015) displaying photographic excellence, versatility, technical quality and originality. Portfolio requirements:

  1. Portfolio entry may contain no more than 20 picture entries. A multiple (picture story/essay) counts as one picture entry. (For example, 15 picture stills and 5 photo stories would be within the 20 picture entry limit.)
  2. Portfolio must contain pictures from at least three competition categories, one of which must be general news, spot news or news story.
  3. Portfolios will be judged on the basis of photographic excellence, subject matter, versatility, technical quality and originality.
  4. Portfolio pictures will not be broken down into individual categories by the contest chairperson. If the portfolio contains an image or story the entrant wants to enter into individual categories, the entrant must separate the images before uploading.
  5. Pictures can be arranged in any order but multiples (picture stories/essays) must be last. Each multiple must be proceeded by a blank/black frame.
  6. Only still pictures may be entered in Photographer of the Year Portfolio entries.
  7. Each entrant is limited to only one Photographer of the Year Portfolio entry.

II. SINGLES CATEGORIES

  1. spn – Spot News: A picture of an unscheduled event for which no advance planning was possible and a picture taken in the course of daily coverage. (Examples: fires, accidents, and local natural disasters.)
  2. gnn – General News: A picture of a scheduled political, social or cultural event for which advance planning was possible. (Examples: demonstrations, staged entertainment and promotional events.)
  3. fea – Feature: An unposed photo that celebrates life. Respect for the dignity of the subject is important.
  4. pic – Pictorial: Photo which exploits the graphic, aesthetic qualities of a subject with emphasis on composition and creativity, and a graphic image that expresses beauty, tension, harmony, chaos and other abstract concepts through composition, tonal and color relationships more than through human interaction.
  5. ppy – Portrait/Personality: A picture of a person that reveals the essence of the subject’s character.
  6. spa – Sports Action: A photograph that emphasizes the athleticism and skill of the players/participants.
  7. spf – Sports Feature: An unposed sports-related photo that celebrates the role athletics play in the lives of amateur and/or professional athletes and fans.
  8. ill – Illustration: A non-reportorial photo produced from a preconceived idea and intended to dramatize a concept or a photo dealing with food or fashion. This is the only category in which sandwich negatives or other radical darkroom or computer alterations are permitted.

III. MULTIPLE CATEGORIES

  1. nes – News Story: Multiple picture story, series or sequence of a spot or general news event as defined above. (15 photo limit per story)
  2. fes – Feature Story: Candid multiple picture story or essay  that celebrates life. Respect for the dignity of the subject is important. (15 photo limit per story)
  3. sps – Sports Story: Picture story or essay that increases understanding and appreciation for individual and team sports and/or the role that athletics play in the lives of amateur and/or professional athletes and fans. (15 photo limit per story)

IV. COMMUNITY AWARENESS PORTFOLIO (caa)

A body of work that demonstrates an unusual understanding of and appreciation for everyday life. Entries must have been produced entirely within the photographers home community. The purpose is to encourage greater attention to the small events in life, which often are overshadowed by the news of the day and to celebrate those photographs that remind us that the world turns mostly on the work and dreams of the common woman and man. Requirements:

  1. Each entry may contain no more than 15 pictures. This includes stories: no more than 15 total pictures.
  2. All entries must have been taken between January 1 and December 31 of the proceeding year (2015).
  3. The portfolio may contain individual photographs and/or stories and essays.

V. INPA SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR PORTFOLIO (spp)

A portfolio showing versatility in shooting action and feature sports. Requirements:

  1. Each entry may contain no more than 15 pictures.
  2. Only single images are allowed; no picture stores are allowed within a sports portfolio entry.
  3. At least four different sports must be represented in the portfolio.
  4. Each entrant is limited to only one Sports Photographer of the Year Portfolio entry.

VI. THE JOHN AHLHAUSER AWARD (jaa)

This award, formerly the INPA Understanding Award, is named for Dr. John Ahlhauser, a past president of The National Press Photographers Association, former staff photographer at the Milwaukee Journal, and retired professor of photojournalism at Indiana University-Bloomington. We are looking for photographs, which help us to better understand each other and ourselves. This quotation expresses the underlying theme of the Ahlhauser Award:

“Barney (Cowherd) told me what a photographer is a man with a camera who loves people and tries to make them feel for one another.” – Bill Strode, from Preface to BARNEY COWHERD, PHOTOGRAPHER, Copyright 1973 by The Louisville Courier-Journal and Times.

This category encourages in-depth and long-term projects, which help us to better understand each other and ourselves. The work can be compiled over a number of years, can be presented in any form, and can be a team effort.

  1. The category is loosely structured.
  2. An entry may consist of one photograph or many related photographs taken in one year or over a number of years.
  3. The work does not have to be published.
  4. Two or more photographers may work as a team on an entry.
  5. The entry may be a newspaper or a magazine clip, a mounted print or prints (all prints must be mounted), a book, or whatever form the photographer feels is the best way to present his or her work.
  6. In the case of clips, books, and other media where the photographer’s name appears, the name must be removed or covered.
  7. This category is separate from the rest of the INPA annual contest and has no bearing on the selection of INPA Photographer of the Year.

Entries in this category will be kept intact and will not be judged in other categories. If a contestant wishes to enter a portion of his or her Ahlhauser entry in the traditional contest, he or she may do so by making and entering separate images. Please note, however, that any image or story entered in the traditional contest must adhere to the annual contest rules. All electronic images in this entry are to be places in a separate folder as required in the “entries” section below. Note: When entering the Ahlhauser category with a digital entry please use the same numbering system as with the POY entries. This again ensures the correct sequence.

ENTRY FILE REQUIREMENTS

I. IMAGE SIZING

All entries must be saved as a JPEG file with IPTC standard captions and file information. Files should be sized no larger than 2400 pixels on the longest side. Files should be saved at a JPEG compression level of 8 or 9 (high). Images deemed too large may be resized at the discretion of the annual contest chairperson.

II. IPTC FIELDS

Each entry must have the following IPTC fields filled out:

  • Description/Caption: The photo caption. This field MUST NOT include the photographer’s name or affiliation. It is recommended that picture story entries include a paragraph explaining the package before the caption of the first photo.
  • Creator/Photographer/Author: Photographer’s name
  • Creator/Author Job Title: Email address of photographer
  • Source: Publication or Employer
  • Category:
    • spn – Spot News
    • gnn – General News
    • fea – Feature
    • pic – Pictorial
    • ppy – Portrait/Personality
    • spa – Sports Action
    • spf – Sports Feature
    • ill – Illustration
    • nes – News Story
    • fes – Feature Story
    • sps – Sports Story
    • poy – Photographer of the Year Portfolio
    • caa – Community Awareness Portfolio
    • spp – Sports Photographer of the Year
    • jaa – John Ahlhauser Award

An introductory paragraph about the story should be included in the caption field on the first image of all multiple (picture story/essay) entries. Please put the introductory paragraph first and then the caption for the first image. This will allow more space for the intro paragraph. Try to keep it to two or three sentences. Failure to fill these fields out properly will result in disqualification.

itpc-example
Example of IPTC fields. Click photo to enlarge.

 

III. IMAGE FILENAMES

Entry images must be renamed using the following format: category_photographers name/city initials_seq.jpg. Note: the entire filename must be lowercase. The only non alpha numerical (a-z, 0-9) character allowed in the file or folder names is an underscore. It is important to note that computers recognize the number 0 before the number 1 so writing 01 with your first frame is essential (Example: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09). The category code for the beginning of each file is the same as the single categories descriptions section above. Filename examples for John J. Doe of Springfield:

  • spn_jjds_01.jpg – Spot News
  • gnn_jjds_01.jpg – General News
  • fea_jjds_01.jpg – Feature
  • pic_jjds_01.jpg – Pictorial
  • ppy_jjds_01.jpg – Portrait/Personality spa_jjds_01.jpg – Sports Action
  • spf_jjds_01.jpg – Sports Feature
  • ill_jjds_01.jpg – Illustrations

IV. FINAL ENTRY ORGANIZATION

  1. All entries must be placed inside a folder with the photographers name/city initials. (For example, John J. Doe of Springfield would place his entries inside a folder titled jjds.)
  2. Singles must be place within this root photographers name/city initials folder.
  3. Each multiple entry (picture story or portfolio) must be inside its own folder. This folder is to be named using the above category codes, photographer’s initials, and first letter of their city.
  4. For categories that allow more than one multiple (picture story) entry, a folder should be made for each entry followed by a number. (For example, fes_jjds1 and fes_jjds2 would be folder names for two different feature story entries.)
  5. Numbering of the portfolio entries filenames must start with the first image with 01 and continue consecutively through the last image of the last picture story.

V. EXAMPLE ENTRY

Here is a hypothetical entry for John J. Doe of Springfield: file-structure-example

Your final entry must be saved as a zip file named with your initial+city code (e.g. jjds.zip).

VI. ENTRY UPLOAD

The contest entry period has ended.

AWARDS

All awards are contingent upon sponsor participation and financial soundness of the INPA. Winners of the following will receive awards:

  1. Photographer of the Year
  2. Sports Photographer of the Year
  3. Community Awareness Portfolio
  4. The John Ahlhauser Award
  5. Clip Contest Photographer of the Year