North Shore Challenge History

A CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE IN PHOTOGRAPHY
FROM THE PAST TO THE PRESENT

 

After a brief hiatus in 2024 to regroup, the North Shore Photographic Society (NSPS) is proud to present the 40th North Shore Challenge in 2025.  Over the years, the North Shore Challenge has come to be recognized as one of the premier club competitions in British Columbia and the Yukon, with roughly 30 clubs and 125 individuals participating.

The North Shore Challenge is a celebration of excellence in photography with opportunities to participate, view and learn.  It is an open-themed event for clubs and individuals in B.C. and the Yukon.  Non-AI generated entries can be submitted starting November 1, 2024.  A gala evening on Zoom on Saturday March 1, 2025 will showcase Challenge entries, reveal results and hear competition judges discuss the merits of selected and winning images.  The event attracts attendees from around the world.  

As this is the 40th edition of the Challenge, a little background on the North Shore Challenge, the brainchild of Susanne and Alfons Muller, might be of interest.  The Mullers, now in their 80s and living in Courtenay, BC, are active photographers and honorary members of the NSPS.

While residents of South Africa, Susanne and Alfons Muller joined the Jabula Camera Club (Jabula is the Zulu word for Joy) and in the 1980s had an opportunity to hear, in-person, renowned Canadian photographer Freeman Patterson.  When they emigrated to Canada shortly after, a destination influenced by having met Freeman, Alfons and Susanne were unable to find a camera club similar to Jabula.  They decided to start their own camera club based on the successful Jabula model, which included having an annual challenge to promote competition and artistic excellence among clubs.  Only 6 people attended the first club meeting, and with the perseverance and dedication of the Mullers and some other early members, the future NSPS grew.  

In 1984, the first year of the North Shore Challenge, only North Shore and Burnaby photography clubs participated, with each club submitting about 100+ slide images.  The following year, 7 clubs entered about 45 images each.  In 2007, the Challenge moved from a slide format to a digital one, and in 2014 an individual photographer category was added.  By 2023, roughly 30 clubs and 125 individuals took part. 

In 2020, the North Shore Challenge moved from in-person to online on Zoom, and continues to attract widespread interest from photographers and camera clubs around BC and the Yukon.  Participating clubs can submit 6 images from 6 different photographers.  Individuals can submit up to 3 images from which one will be chosen by a panel of judges to move forward to the final round.  

At the gala evening on Saturday March 1st all final round images, approximately 265 in 2023, are shown, scores announced and winners declared.  However, it doesn’t stop there.  One of the most anticipated parts of the evening then takes place … the competition judges discuss the strengths of selected and winning images. 

NSPS extends a big ‘Thank You’ to Susanne and Alfons Muller for their vision.  Photographers and non-photographers alike are excited for the return of the North Shore Challenge celebrating photographic excellence.  

For further information on Challenge 2025, please check out the website, nsps.ca, or contact the Challenge 2025 co-chairs, Geri, Kathryn and Randy, at challenge2025@nsps.ca. 

2024 Quebec Cup

One of the objectives of CAPA is to encourage and promote the participation of its members in photographic exhibitions, guided tours, competitions and other similar activities at the regional, national and international levels. The Quebec Zone subscribes to this objective, which promotes the development of photographers and promotes their photographic talents.

CAPA annually offers competitions to its members at the national level. In recognition of excellence, CAPA awards medals, honourable mentions and awards of merit for each of its competitions.

The Quebec Zone also wishes to recognize excellence by awarding the Coupe du Québec annually to an individual member and a member club.

To determine the recipients, the Zone will count the scores obtained for individual members and for member clubs for competitions starting in October 2024 and ending in May 2025.

We encourage you to participate in the various competitions as they are an excellent means of development at the national level.

Tamron – 2024 November

Discover the NEW Tamron 90mm F/2.8 Di III 1:1 VXD Macro Lens!

Experience stunning clarity and fast autofocus like never before. This groundbreaking lens features Tamron’s first 12-blade aperture for beautifully soft bokeh. Plus, enjoy compatibility with Tamron’s TLU software for personalized customizations.

Available at your local Authorized Tamron Americas retailer now.

 

Check it out by clicking here.

Tamron is an official sponsor of CAPA.

CAPA Facebook Photo Group Turns 8

This September, we celebrated the 8th anniversary of our vibrant and buzzing CAPA Photo Group on Facebook.To mark the occasion, we hosted an open-themed contest for our online community. Facebook Members were invited to share their favorite image along with a short explanation of why it holds special meaning to them. And to make it even more festive, in honor of our 8th birthday, a surprise prize to the winning image, would mark the occasion.


We are thrilled to announce, Trevor Reeves of British Columbia, is the winner of #capacelebration8 photo contest, for his captivating image entitled: Islands, Fog And Mountains; Trevor shared, “When I first met my wife in 1975, her family had a Tony Onley watercolour. Not of a scene like this, but I liked the painting enough to check into the artist, and he has done similar scenes. It was always in my mind to emulate those. Finally, the opportunity arose (49 years later), on a cruise to Alaska this summer”.


Congratulations, Trevor! Enjoy your Amazon gift card.


Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make our anniversary celebration a success… in pictures!

Special thanks to Board Members: Stella d’Entremont (CAPA President), Lorna Scott (Treasurer), Sheldon Boles (Competition Director) and Cathleen Mewis (Facebook Admin Assistant).

 

View the top five images entered, here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/c9KDCRLTpzi33dCK/?

 

If You Are Not Already Following Us On Social Media, Please Join Us. 

 

FACEBOOK:

CAPA Photo Group:

www.facebook.com/groups/CAPAgroupphotos

CAPA Clubs: Www.facebook.com/capaclubs

 

YOUTUBE:

https://youtube.com/@capacanada?si=PL2-6uoJWHQ16h7-

 

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/capacanada?igsh=a255NmdoOTd0MGFy&utm_source=qr

 

Faithfully yours,

Shiree Jetha MCAPA ACAPA
First Vice President/Social Media Chairperson

Toronto Camera Club – Oct24 – Upcoming Presentation

 

Tickets for non-Toronto Camera Club members are $15 and the links are all listed in the information below.

All the info can be found on the Toronto Camera Club website under Talking Photography 

Oct. 17th – Todd Murrison – Zoom and In-person – 7:30pm.

 

Todd Murrison currently lives with his family in Durham Region. Before retiring in 2020, he spent 36 years in advertising as a freelance illustrator working with numerous North American ad agencies.

His specialty was drawing storyboards for TV commercials. In 1998, Todd traded in his markers, pencils and paint brushes and went 100% digital, drawing with a Wacom tablet using Corel Painter and Adobe Photoshop. He is the author of ‘Marker Rendering’ (Walter Foster Publishing, 1994) and was a part-time art instructor at different colleges in Toronto including Ontario College of Art and Design (OCADU), George Brown College, Humber College and the International Academy of Art and Design.

Todd purchased his first DSLR in 2013 and his preferred genres of photography are Photoshop composites, landscape, and architecture photography. His motto is “Trying to see things differently”.

Oct. 26th – Gérard Uféras – Zoom-only – 11:00am. 

*Note this is a Saturday.

 

Gérard Uféras is a French photographer living in Paris, France. He began his photographic journey in 1984 working with the French newspaper Liberation, for which he produced numerous reports and portraits, and which organized his first exhibition.

He participated in the creation of the Vu agency in 1986, and he regularly publishes in the French and international press. In addition to photojournalism and his portrait work he participates in advertising campaigns and pursues personal research projects which are exhibited in many countries.

He published more than sixteen books, and is a recipient of numerous international awards, including World Press Photo Award in 1997.

He has exhibited his work around the world, from Europe to Asia and North America. He counts Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Givenchy and many others as his clients and collaborates with numerous publications including, among others, Paris Match, Libération, Le Figaro, and The New York Times.

Oct. 31st – Zeeshan Gul – Zoom and In-person – 7:30pm

 

Zeeshan’s passion for photography began at a young age and has only grown stronger with time, leading him to explore different corners of the globe in search of unique moments and stories to tell.

He believes in the power of storytelling. Through his images, he hopes to share the diverse and beautiful stories of the world with others, inspiring them to see things in a new light and to appreciate the beauty in the ordinary.

London Camera Club – Oct24 – Upcoming Presentation

The London Camera Club is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year

 

 

October 10. 7pm-9 pm EDT Mike Moats – The Properly Equipped Macro Photographer
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mike-moats-the-properly-equipped-macro-photographer-tickets-1001362099997?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

October 17 7pm-9 pm EDT Richard Martin -Learning To See: Exploring Abstract Composition
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/richard-martin-learning-to-see-exploring-abstract-composition-tickets-1000224296797?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

You can have more details by clicking here.

The London Camera Club is offering a Lightroom Classic Beginner-level course

All sessions are on Zoom on Wednesdays 7:00 – 9:00 pm EDT


$20 for LCC members / $30 for guests


Beginners (2 weeks apart)

Session 1 – October 16, 2024

Session 2 – October 30, 2024

Session 3 – November 13, 2024

Session 4 – November 27, 2024

Register at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lcc-lightroom-classic-beginner-2024-25-tickets-1028496269027?aff=oddtdtcreator

October 2024 Competition News

Board Approved – New – Competition Policies & Procedures document

The Board of Directors have approved our new Competitions Policy & Procedures document. Some of these enhancements include:

    • Photographer’s copyright protection and rights
    • Conflict of interest
    • Competition infractions
    • Competition Planning and Administration
    • Appeal process
    • Duties and responsibilities of our competition team
    • Pre-screening of submitted competition images
    • Scoring values and corresponding definitions
    • Selection of competition judges
    • Allocation of awards

In line with our commitment to transparency, this document is permanently accessible to all CAPA members and authorized camera club representatives through our Members’ Resources webpage. The Resources webpage is found under the Members tab on our website. We strive for openness, access to this webpage is restricted to ensure the privacy and security of our members’ information.

To access the Resources webpage, camera club representatives or Association members must first log into our website using their username and password.

You can also view this document here

 

UPDATED – Stance on Artificial Intelligence in Photo Competitions Document

Recent announcements of three photo processing applications have introduced new Generative AI features. In response, we’ve revised our CAPA stance on artificial intelligence in our photo competitions (dated October 1, 2024). The changes are highlighted in red.

We’ve updated the Editing Criteria for all our competitions to include a hyperlink to this updated document.

You can view this document here.

 

Competition Judging Process For CAPA

CAPA has documented our current competition judging process for the information of all competition participants and judges too.

Over the past two years, we have implemented a judge’s review process to maintain integrity and foster continuous improvement.
While we acknowledge the inherent subjectivity in photography assessment, these measures help us maintain high standards and build trust among participants and judges alike.

In line with our commitment to transparency, this document is permanently accessible to all CAPA members and authorized camera club representatives through our Members’ Resources webpage. The Resources webpage is found under the Members tab on our website. We strive for openness, access to this webpage is restricted to ensure the privacy and security of our members’ information.

To access the Resources webpage, camera club representatives or Association members must first log into our website using their username and password.

You can also view this document here

 

Fall 2024 – Photo Competitions Open For Uploading

Both of our remaining fall competitions are now open for uploading of your images:

 

Richmond Photo Club Society – 2024 September Update

Once again, The Richmond Photo Club Society participated in Richmond’s Culture Days. This event in Richmond BC runs from September 20th to October 13th. This year Richmond is hosting over 80 diverse digital and in person events celebrating the diversity and importance of arts and culture in communities across Canada. Richmond, BC is one of the biggest participants in Canada!

The Richmond Photo Clubs contribution this year was to photograph the Community Arts Council of Richmond’s sponsored event, the Camilli String Quartet as they performed at the Steveston Town Square Park, Sunday, September 22nd from 2 to 4 PM. Club members Gerry Boretta and Laurie Lirette graciously provided their expertise to this very well attended event.

Gerry and Laurie’s photos of that day are attached for your enjoyment!

You can reach more informations by clicking here.

The CAPA Judging Program

A question often asked is how does CAPA ensure consistency in judging?

The CAPA Judging Program is designed to provide training and ongoing monitoring to ensure a high standard in our judging process.

This can’t be done without the help of CAPA’s competition team. Sheldon Boles, Director of Competitions, works closely with Bill Hall, Director of the Judging Program to provide tools for judges to self-evaluate after each time they judge a CAPA competition.

This also allows the Director of the Judging Program to see anomalies that can identify coaching and training needs. To learn more, see the article Judging Process for CAPA Competitions found on CAPA’s website under the Judging tab.

You can also read more info by clicking here

Bill Hall 
judgingdirector@capaccanada.ca

 

Intellectual Property Presentation

The education committee is pleased to announce the following presentation:

“Cameras, Copyright, and Criminals: Legal Concerns in Public Photography”

In this presentation, Halifax lawyers Nolan Little and Thomas Panther provide an overview of copyright law in Canada with special attention to legal issues potentially faced by photographers in public spaces. They will discuss the basic regime for creating copyrighted works, licensing those works to others, and remedies that photographers may use if they believe their photographs have been copied without permission. They will then cover issues specific to public photography, such as copyright infringement, voyeurism, trespass, and invasions of personal privacy. We hope that you’ll gain a better appreciation for your rights to photographs, how they can be used (and cannot be used), and how to avoid causing problems for yourself or others when taking photographs in public spaces.

This presentation is offered online, Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 04:00 pm (Pacific Time)

Please join us on Zoom for this presentation. Access to the Zoom link is provided through the member section of the CAPA website.

Etobicoke Camera Club – Sept24 – Upcoming Presentation

September 9, 2024 – 7:00-9:00 PM EST – Brooks Jensen”Those Who Inspire Me and Why” – We can receive inspiration from lots of areas both inside and outside photography.

Brooks Jensen and his late wife (Maureen Gallagher) are the owners, co-founders, editors, and publishers of the award winning LensWork, one of today’s most respected and important periodicals in fine art photography.

 

 

September 30, 2024 – 7:00-9:00 PM EST – Kate Hailey
“The Art of Mobile Photography”Kate will discuss composition, light, and storytelling.

As well as highlight a few tips to get more from your mobile phone’s camera.

 

 

October 7, 2024 – 7:00-9:00 PM EST – Seth Resnick
“Unleashing Creativity: Mastering the Art of Visual Storytelling”Revolutionize your creative process and unlock new artistic perspectives.

Change your thinking and creative process, discover new ways of thinking creatively and achieving your artistic vision. Seth is a Lightroom expert.

 

 

October 21, 2024 – 7:00-9:00 PM EST – Angie McMonigal
“Abstract Architecture Photography: Creativity in Composition”Creative approaches to architectural subjects.

Emphasis will be on architectural details and creating abstracts of the built environment.

 

 

November 4, 2024 – 7:00-9:00 PM EST – Hans Arnold
“Expressive Image Style – Bringing Your Photography To The Next Level”

Visual dynamic images of the Natural World. An engaging interplay with digital enhancement techniques, resulting in a fusion of reality and a painterly-like quality in fine art pieces.

 

 

November 18, 2024 – 7:00-9:00 PM EST – Todd Murrison
“Composite Photography”

Creating Composite Images

 

 

December 2, 2024 – 7:00-9:00 PM EST – Peter Baumgarten
“Seeing Differently – Creating More Interesting Compositions”


Landscape, macro and natural abstract images.

 

 

You can have more details by clicking here.

 

You can register by clicking here

 

 

Speakers Series – Nov.2024 – Peter Steeper

CAPA presents via Zoom : Peter Steeper

English presentation : November 20, 2024

Pacific 4:00 PM – Mountain 5:00 PM – Central 6:00 PM – Eastern 7:00 PM – Atlantic 8:00 PM (Canada)

Theme/topic of the presentation: Road trip! From Nova Scotia to Utah

In 2023 I drove from Nova Scotia to see Arches and Zion National Parks in Utah. Along the way I visited Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water House and the St. Louis Arch. As I travelled I discovered some interesting places from the people I met.

Due to bad weather and a change of plans I arrived in Moab for Jeep Week. This was an interesting trip with some unexpected opportunities for great photography.

 

Available to Individual CAPA members via the members only section of the website. Please login, go to Members > Zoom Invitation, copy and save the Zoom link before the presentation.

Speaker's Bio

Peter has been a photographer for 25 years and organized many field trips and workshops for the clubs in Nova Scotia.

He has been published in several magazines and participated in gallery shows. Since retirement he has travelled to many places in Europe and North America. He also enjoys being a maker and woodworker. He recently won SmallRig’s DreamRig 2023 Best Product Design.

He is currently working with SmallRig on more new camera rigs.

Enjoy a selection of his works below.

Speakers Series – Oct.2024 – Nikki Harrison

CAPA presents via Zoom : Nikki Harrison

English presentation : October 16, 2024

Pacific 4:00 PM – Mountain 5:00 PM – Central 6:00 PM – Eastern 7:00 PM – Atlantic 8:00 PM (Canada)

Theme/topic of the presentation: Painterly Portraits

These images are not just “Painterly” but actually painted using a very simple, but very powerful technique.

Anyone can do this, all it takes is imagination.

Nikki will touch on how to shoot for the best types of images to use, but really any types of portrait photography can work.
Nikki will cover:

  • Making your own patterns for use with this technique.
  • Making brushes that will work in correlation with this process.
  • Putting it all together with a demonstration.

You can see her work by clicking here.

Available to Individual CAPA members via the members only section of the website. Please login, go to Members > Zoom Invitation, copy and save the Zoom link before the presentation.

Speaker's Bio

Nikki Harrison is a Portrait Artist with a focus on digital art and painting techniques. She has been a professional photographer for 16 yrs and is currently based out of Kelowna, BC.

Now retired from her portrait business, she focuses on teaching other photographers her style of shooting and editing to create painterly portrait art. Feel free to join in on the platform here if you might be interested in learning more

Enjoy a selection of her works below.

Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia – Sept24 – Upcoming Presentation

Celebrating its 77th year as a club, the Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia is pleased to extend an invitation to join us for our Fred & Edie Greene Speaker series. There is no charge to attend these webinars, but donations to support the speaker series are gratefully accepted.

 

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Shades of Grey: The Subtle Art of Monochrome Conversion with Jeff Hirsch takes place on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 7:30 PM ADT. A photographer and photo-educator, Jeff Hirsch is an Adobe Certified Expert in Lightroom and Photoshop.

In this webinar, Jeff will discuss how to “see in monochrome” and how to get the most out of your captures in order to advance your black & white shooting and processing skills.

You can register by clicking here

 

Sunday, October 20, 2024

Rescheduled from its original date of January 8,2024, Underwater Photography: Getting the Shot with Scott Bennett takes place on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 7:30 PM ADT.

The Arts have always played an important role in Scott Bennett’s life working in the animation industry. His interest in photography has been combined with a passion for diving.

Specializing in underwater photography, Scott works with governmental tourist agencies, magazines, and resorts to promote awareness of the uniqueness, beauty, and diversity of locales. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottbennett362

Come and learn about the wonderful world under the sea as Scott discusses the unique challenges of underwater photography.

You can register by clicking here

 

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Tanzania: Crater and Plain with Gerry Emmerich takes place on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 7:30 PM AST. Specializing in Nature, Landscape, Travel and Sports Photography Gerald H. Emmerich Jr, HonFPSA, GMPSA/P is a member of the Image Makers Camera Club in Waukesha, Wisconsin and received the PSA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

Join us and learn from Gerry about Tanzania’s wildlife that can be found in Ngorongoro Crater National Park, Tarangire National Park and the Serengeti/Ndutu area.

You can register by clicking here

London Camera Club – Sept24 – Upcoming Presentation

The London Camera Club is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Details of our history and of our celebrations will appear in a later Newsletter.

 

Sept 19 Bill Hall: How CAPA judges judge competitions
Contact Wes Smith, Programme Director
programslondoncameraclub@gmail.com

Sept 26 7PM EDT Leeann Cotton: The Art of Abandonment
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/leann-cotton-the-art-of-abandonment-tickets-998651321987?aff=oddtdtcreator

Oct 3 7PM EDT Arni Stinnissen: Bird & Wildlife Photography
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/arni-stinnissen-bird-and-wildlife-photography-tickets-998641101417?aff=oddtdtcreator

Oct 10 7PM EDT Mike Moats: The properly equipped Macro Photographer
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mike-moats-the-properly-equipped-macro-photographer-tickets-1001362099997?aff=oddtdtcreator

Oct 17 7PM EDT Richard Martin: Learning to See. Exploring abstract composition
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/richard-martin-learning-to-see-exploring-abstract-composition-tickets-1000224296797?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

You can have more details by clicking here.

September 2024 Competition News

Your Progress in Photography Hinges on Continual Learning Article

Our latest article outlines the many benefits of our photo competitions for emerging artists, going well beyond simply winning an award. Our competitions serve as a key developmental method for your personal development, offering opportunities for skill enhancement, creative expansion, and community integration.


Our article highlights seven key advantages: practical skill improvement, creative growth through diverse challenges, networking opportunities, personal progress benchmarking, goal-setting and motivation, professional feedback, and the chance to push creative boundaries. The article clearly outlines how photo competitions can play a crucial role in a photographer’s journey from novice to accomplished artist.


We would encourage you to review this new article. You can read the article here

 

Updated CAPA Eligibility Criteria Webpage

Our CAPA Eligibility Criteria webpage has been updated to include provisions from the FIAP Booklet:

“Not place identifying text, their signature or any other distinctive mark on the front or facing side of any submitted image”.

 

Updated Editing Criteria For All Competitions

The Image Metadata Required subsection of all competition Editing Criteria Sections has been updated to include the following:

“For all submitted images, the photographer must preserve intact with no alterations, the original metadata (EXIF) of images. It is recommended that photographers leave the metadata in submitted image files intact in order to ease the analysis of potential winning images.”

“The Director of Competitions will request and receive the original un-retouched JPEG or RAW file for a potential winning image in a competition for the purposes of image verification and authentication of competition compliance”.

 

Questions Why Different Submission For All Zone Competitions

For the 2024-2025 competition cycle, we’re introducing a new ‘Skill-Level’ model competition, refined based on testing in the Atlantic, Prairie, and Quebec Zones.

Currently, zone competition entry limits are based on the number of camera clubs per zone. For example:

  • Atlantic and Prairie Zones: 6 clubs each
  • Quebec Zone: 7-9 clubs
  • Ontario Zone: 20 clubs
  • Pacific Zone: 16 clubs

To ensure judges can provide meaningful feedback, we’ve set limits on submitted images. Judges have agreed to offer supportive comments on up to 50 images each. In competitions with 150 total submissions, each judge would comment on one-third of the entries. For events exceeding 150 submissions, we’ll add one or two judges to the team.

Importantly, judges’ comments will only be provided to entrants not identified as intermediate or advanced photographers.

After the 2024-2025 cycle concludes, we’ll evaluate and potentially expand the number of entrants for these competitions. We hope this explanation offers a clearer understanding of our new initiative.

 

Updated “CAPA Stance on Artificial Intelligence in Photo Competitions”

This document has been updated on August 15, 2024 and will remain in effect until Generative AI details come to light. Each competition’s Editing Criteria section has a hyperlink to this updated document.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding artificial intelligence, please email me at competitions@capacanada.ca.

 

Updated “How To Upload Images Into CAPA Competition”

Based on suggestions received, we have updated our “How To Upload Images Into CAPA Competition” PDF document which is located under the Competition Process section of each competition. You can view this webpage here.

 

Updated Competitions Q&A webpage

We have updated our Competition Q&A webpage to reflect questions raised and the responses we have provided. You can view the Competitions Q&A webpage by selecting it from our Competitions dropdown menu. You can also view this document here.

 

2024 Four Nations Competition

The Australian Photographic Society anticipates completing the judging process for the 2024 Four Nations Competition by late September.

Upon receiving the results, we will promptly notify all 80 participating photographers and publish the outcomes on the CAPA website.

Your Progress in Photography Hinges on Continual Learning

Your Progress in Photography Hinges on Continual Learning

By Sheldon Boles – FCAPA
CAPA Director of Competitions

Are you contemplating entering photography competitions but feeling uncertain? You’re not alone.

The prospect of showcasing your work alongside talented photographers can be intimidating. However, competitions offer far more than the thrill of winning; they serve as significant stepping stones in your artistic journey.

Entering competitions can elevate your skills, inspire you to push creative boundaries, and connect with a support network of fellow enthusiasts.

 

Your Progress in Photography Hinges on Continual Learning

  • Track Your Progress: Think of competitions as checkpoints in your photographic adventure. By regularly entering photo competitions, you’ll gain valuable insights into your skill development over time. Think of these competitions as a means to assess your progress and compare your work to that of your peers in a supportive environment.
  • Learn from the Community: Remember, becoming an accomplished photographer is a marathon, not a sprint. Competitions are not about instant gratification or winning at all costs. They’re about steady and incremental growth. With each competition you enter, you’ll have the opportunity to refine your technical abilities, explore new creative avenues, and push your boundaries as an artist.
  • Set Achievable Goals: Instead of aiming for the top prize right away, why not challenge yourself to have one or more of your images scored in the top 30% of the competition? As you gain experience and confidence, you can gradually raise the bar. 
  • Receive Valuable Feedback: Our zone competitions offer a unique opportunity for novice photographers to receive constructive feedback from experienced CAPA Certified Judges as well as supportive suggestions you receive from your fellow photographers and camera club members. This collaborative environment allows you to gain diverse perspectives on your work, helping you to refine your skills and enhance your artistic vision. The valuable feedback you receive will help you grow from a novice (beginner) photographer, to intermediate and advance and even master photographer.

 

Push Your Creative Boundaries: Competitions are your canvas for creative experimentation. Each competition presents a unique opportunity to:

  •  – Push beyond your comfort level
  •  – Explore unfamiliar techniques
  •  – Capture subject you’ve never attempted before
  •  – Develop your distinctive photographic style

 

While competitions spark creativity, structured education can refine it. Consider enriching your competition experience with:

  •  – Photography courses that deepen your technical knowledge
  •  – Hands-on workshops let by experienced professional photographers
  •  – Specialized seminars focusing on specific genres or techniques

This powerful combination of competitive challenges and formal instruction creates a robust framework for your artistic growth.

 

Elevate Your Photographic Expertise

In the world of photography, the most rewarding competition is one you wage with yourself. Our competitions provide a structured, supportive environment that serves as a catalyst for your personal growth journey.

Whether you’re aiming to refine your technical skills, explore new genres, or simply gain confidence in sharing your work.

 

Celebrating Your Achievements

We believe in celebrating your progress and accomplishments. Here’s how we recognize outstanding work in our competitions:

 

Zone Competition Awards

Our zone competitions are designed to provide a supportive environment for photographers at all levels, especially those new to competitions. Awards include:

  • Medals: Awarded to the three highest scoring individual images
  • Honourable Mentions: Awarded to 8% to 10% of the highest scoring individual images

To enhance fairness and broaden participation in our zone competitions, we’ve implemented a tiered skill-level model that groups photographers into three skill levels: novice, intermediate, and advanced.

A photographer’s skill-level is based on their CAPA award history, which helps prevent top performers from dominating across all categories. Each tier has its own set of awards, ensuring participants to compete against others of similar experience.

For all zone competitions, novice-level entrants will receive constructive feedback on each of their submitted images from at least one judge.

 

National Competition Awards

For our national competitions, we recognize both consistent performance and individual excellence:

  • Medals: Awarded based on the three highest cumulative scores
  • Merit Awards: Awarded to the three highest scoring individual images
  • Honourable Mentions: Awarded to 8% to 10% of the highest cumulative scores

These award structures ensure that exceptional work receives appropriate recognition while maintaining our competition standards.

 

A New Way to Measure Your Success

Starting October 1, 2024, we’re introducing an enhanced feature within all our competition reports. This enhancement will include a distribution chart showing the top 20% and 30% thresholds in each competition. Achieving an individual image scores in the top 20% is a significant accomplishment – it means your work is of superior quality and in contention for awards. Use this knowledge to set meaningful goals and celebrate your progress.

Example of an updated competition report’s distribution chart with 20% and 30% thresholds.

 

Embrace Your Growth in Photography

As you embark on your photographic journey, remember that entering competitions offer far more than accolades. Each competition offers a unique opportunity to challenge yourself.

Select a competition that aligns with your skill level or interest, prepare your best work, and submit them with confidence. Each competition challenges you to refine your technical skills, explore new creative directions, and view your work through fresh eyes.

Remember, the true success in your photographic journey lies in your artistic growth and the connection you’ll forge within the photographic community.

Your journey is just beginning – embrace it with open eyes and an eager spirit.

If you have any questions about our competitions, please email me competitions@capacanada.ca.

 

*All images are courtesy of Sheldon Boles

Victoria Camera Club – 80th Anniversary

Victoria Camera Club (VCC) is holding an 80th Anniversary Exhibition of juried prints during the month of September. The event, held in the downtown Bay Centre, includes over 100 images from members. The Exhibition also includes selected images from a 24-hour photo shoot held on June 8th, 2024 – “A Day in the Life of Victoria”.

Last fall our Club created a $1000 scholarship to be awarded to a deserving student in the Visual Arts program at Camosun College, with an emphasis on photographic arts. The inaugural recipient of the VCC Award for Excellence in Photography was Jeannie Chipps; she was presented with her award at the college’s graduation ceremony held on June 19th, 2024.

You can have more informations by clicking here.

Laval Camera Club – 15th Anniversary

In January 2010, seven photography enthusiasts from the City of Laval in Quebec got together and founded Laval Camera Club, a club dedicated to amateur photographers.

The goal of this group of founders was to set up a photography club with the philosophy of promoting the development of a purist practice of photography by improving photography skills.

In September 2010, Laval Camera Club held its first official evening for its members. From September to May, photography enthusiasts meet weekly.

Since its founding, Laval Camera Club has always advocated the same philosophy of improving photography skills. Major retouching and photo montages in post-production are not valued within the organization.

Since its inception, the Club has offered its members more than 120 conferences presented by more than 60 photographers, including some of the highest caliber such as Guy Boily, Bernard Breault, Lucie Gagnon, Michel Proulx, Serge Froment, Sophie Thibault.

A member of the Société pour la Promotion de la Photographie au Québec (SPPQ) since its inception, Laval Camera Club joined the Canadian Association of Photographic Arts (CAPA) in 2022.

The 2024-2025 season represents the 15th anniversary of Laval Camera Club. A host of activities will mark this anniversary throughout the season.

You can have more informations by clicking here.

Contest Open to Individual CAPA Members 2024

Calling all Individual CAPA Members! We are having a CAPA Promo Card Contest. CAPA is going for a new look and you have a chance to be part of it.


Any questions please contact: Carla Hamilton at 2nd-vice-pres@capacanada.ca