2026 Triptych – The Art of Three Competition

2026 Triptych – The Art of Three Competition

Scope of Competition

Develop a visual story through the power of three interconnected images that both stand independently and weave together into something greater than their parts. The triptych format challenges photographers to transcend the single frame, creating sophisticated narratives that invite viewers to linger, discover, and reflect.

Ensure your images have :

  • A natural flow which guides the viewer through your story 
  • Ensure each image holds its own while contributing to the collective impact
  • Transform everyday moments into extraordinary narratives

Check the Triptych Photography Examples and Ideas webpage

For those who have not created a triptych, here are some instructions on who they can be created using Photoshop and Lightroom (English) (French).

The triptych format offers boundless creative possibilities.

We invite you to push the boundaries of visual storytelling and show us how three carefully chosen frames can open windows into whole new worlds of meaning

For Individual members, a maximum of three (3) images can be entered into the Individual category of this competition.  

For camera clubs, a maximum of six (6) images can be entered into the Club category of this competition. All six (6) images must be from six (6) different club photographers.

Competition Process

Competition Coordinator – Sheldon Boles – CAPA Director of Competitions: competitions@capacanada.ca

Questions about the scope of the competition and/or the editing criteria should be directed to the Coordinator well in advance of  the closing day of the competition.

Closing Date of Competition – April 15, 2026 at midnight Standard Time (Ontario).

Check out our – How To Upload Images To CAPA Competition here. 

Special Note : Following a period of 2 weeks after the competition’s closing date, you can access the final competition report by logging into the CAPA website and navigating to the ‘Competition Reports’ under the ‘Competitions’ dropdown menu

Competition Details (click arrow for more details)
Themes

Submitted image must fall within one of the following themes:

  • Differences in  Building Structures – images capture the distinct architectural character of urban, rural, and industrial environments, showcasing how different building styles, materials, and purposes create unique visual narratives. 
  • Human Connection – images that capture the movement of humankind through the world of domesticity, the frenetic pace of public spaces or the hustle and bustle of work environments.
  • Nature Scene – capture three image aspects of nature ranging from dramatic landscapes to intimate details, showing the patterns and transformations found in the natural world.
  • Abstract transformation – transform that turns the familiar into the interesting with everyday objects by revealing unexpected patterns and perspectives.  

Editing Criteria

  • Eligibility Criteria – Prior to submitting any photo in a CAPA competition, all entrants must first read the CAPA Eligibility Criteria relating to images submissions. – READ ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA HERE
  • Permitted Editing Techniques:

All In-Camera Techniques: Any adjustments made directly within the camera during image capture.

On-Camera Techniques: Utilizing on-camera features and settings for image enhancements.

Post-Processing Techniques: Editing the image using post-processing software.

Sky Replacement: Sky replacement is permitted, but the replacement sky must have been captured by the same photographer submitting the image into the competition.

Lightroom and Photoshop presets (including adaptive presets) are permitted as they adjust existing pixels rather than generating content.  See CAPA Eligibility Criteria for details.

  • Editing Techniques Not Permitted:

Images without Photographic Origin: Images that are entirely generated electronically with no photographic origin.

Frames, Borders, Pin-lines, and Mats: The submitted imagemust not contain any decorative elements like frames, borders, pin-lines, or mats.  However, the three interior images are permitted to have frames, borders, pin-lines or mats. ONLY exception is for Tryptych images. 

UPDATED: Submission Authentication Requirements – Dec. 18, 2025

To help photographers understand which AI features are acceptable for our competition submissions, we’ve developed a “List of Approved AI Tools” webpage. 

**For Camera Club Coordinators**: Need a simplified verification process for your club’s submissions? View the CAPA Club Compliance Checklist (ENGLISH) (FRENCH) for step-by-step guidance on pre-submission verification.

Understanding How These Standards Apply

We want to help you prepare for our new AI Authentication Standards, which take effect January 1, 2026.

Here’s what you need to know: These standards apply to any image you submit to CAPA competitions after January 1, 2026, regardless of when you originally captured or edited the photograph.

We recognize that many of you have wonderful images in your archives from years past, and you’re absolutely welcome to enter them! The key is ensuring those images can meet our current submission requirements.

What this means in practice:

    • Planning to enter a favourite image from 2018? Great! Just make sure you still have the original file and can provide the required metadata
    • Recently edited an older photograph? Perfect! As long as you worked from the original and retained the editing files, you’re all set
    • Concerned about images edited before these standards were announced? We understand—just verify you have the necessary files before submitting

Our goal is to maintain competition integrity while supporting your participation. If you’re unsure whether a particular image meets these requirements, we encourage you to check your files now rather than after submission. This gives you time to organize your workflow or choose alternative images if needed.

Original Files and Metadata Protection

For all CAPA competition entries, you must:

    • Retain your original captured images
    • Perform all editing on copies, never the originals
    • Keep originals accessible for quick retrieval if verification is needed

Metadata Requirements

Every submitted image must contain complete metadata from your post-processing workflow, including:

    • Camera settings (ISO, aperture, shutter speed, focal length)
    • Software and version information (e.g., Lightroom 13.1, Photoshop 2024)
    • Editing history and applied operations
    • Date and time stamps

Images lacking complete metadata will not advance to judging. Screenshots are not accepted as they strip essential metadata.

Verification Requirements for Award Candidates

For potential winning entries, the Director of Competitions MAY request:

Original Files: Un-retouched JPEG or RAW files from your camera.  For in-camera merged images: The camera-generated merged file (HDR, focus-stacked, multiple exposure, or panorama) is your original file. Individual source frames are not required.

Working Files (choose based on your workflow):

    • Photoshop users: Layered PSD file with all editing layers intact. Users who require the flattening of their image file for functionality integrity and/or storage reasons must retain a PSD file or a set of PSD files prior to each flattening so that all editing history is retained.
    • Lightroom users:

Preferred: Original RAW file + XMP sidecar file, OR DNG file with embedded edits

Acceptable: Layered TIFF if you didn’t use RAW/XMP/DNG workflow

    • For other applications:

Original RAW file + any proprietary sidecar/settings files that preserve editing history

    • SPECIAL NOTE: Due to the unique nature of this competition, participants may initially submit their triptych without Content Credentials. The following exception applies exclusively to the 2026 Triptych competition.

Should an entrant be selected as a potential winner, I will ask them to provide:

      • three (3) original un-retouched JPG or RAW image files
      • three (3) final processed image included in the submitted triptych image

These files provide a complete audit trail demonstrating compliance with competition specifications.

Compliance

Failure to provide requested verification files within the specified timeframe will result in entry withdrawal and recalculation of competition results.

Accepted Image Types:

– Black & White images
– Colour images converted to black & white
– Infrared images

Image Specifications

Title of Image

When images are uploaded into a competition, you are required to enter the title of your image into the Title Field which is now limited to 32 characters. Title can be in either  English or French.

Do Not: enter your name, the name of the photographer or the club name in the Title Field (that is for the Title of the image)

Do Not: include punctuation or symbols (such as / _  , ; : ‘’ “” ! ? & $%*{} [ ] @ # &) or quotation marks in the Title of your image.

The Image Title should be simple, and introduce or set the mood or perspective for your image.  For example:  Sublime Nova Scotia Sunset

A weak image title, such as ‘pretty flower,’ will fail to stimulate the judge’s interest in the image and may result in a lower score than expected.

Image File Name

The image file name that you create prior to uploading into this competition should also be simple, and could be the same as the Image Title. For example: John Snow-Sublime Nova Scotia Sunset

Image Size – Dimensions

You must ensure your image is re-sized to meet the following two parameters:

    1. Saved as a jpg image with a maximum file size of 1.8 MB.
    2. Dimensions: Maximum horizontal size: 1400 pixels and maximum vertical size: 1050 pixels.

Example of Image Sizing – Double-click to view image

Note: Images smaller than the maximum dimensions will ONLY be accepted when one of the image edges has a horizontal size is 1400 pixels or the vertical size is 1050 pixels.  For example: square image – 1050 x 1050 pixels; 1400 x 800 pixels; or 700 x 1050 pixels.

Note: Images will NOT be rotated by the judges and will scored as submitted.

During the uploading process of your image, our online competition system will verify if the image is less than 1.8 MB and meets the two parameters.

If your image fails this verification process, you will receive an error message and it will appear below the upload image box.

Depending on the error message – you will need to either reduce the file size of the image to be 1.8 MB or less or re-size the dimensions of your image.  After doing so, please re-try uploading your image.

Suggestions – Use sRGB colour space for your image.  For colour accuracy: we strongly recommend that you calibrate your monitor to ensure colour accuracy from your monitor to the image projected to the judges.

Judging Criteria

  • Judges will assign scores primarily based on the Creative Intent of the image maker. Creative Intent refers to the characteristics of originality, expressiveness and imagination in communicating a story or eliciting an emotional response that gives the image a strong and lasting impact.
  • Judges will also take into consideration in their scoring the degree to which the Organizational and Technical Components contribute to or support the Creative Intent.

    *Organizational Component refers to composition/design, use of space, balancing of elements, use of lighting, and presentation of the image.

    *Technical Component refers to the exposure triangle (aperture, ISO, shutter speed), sharpness, in-camera and post-processing techniques such as intentional camera movement, use of colour, monochrome, duo and multi-tone, HDR, focus stacking, or any other technique permitted by the competition rules. 

  • An Image’s title may be used by the judges in evaluating a submission, so entrants should take care in selecting a title that complements or contributes to the vision or message being presented in the image.