UPDATED – December 1, 2025

By virtue of submitting a photographic image into a CAPA Competition, the photographer asserts and agrees to the following:

DEFINITION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE

For the purposes of our competitions, a photographic image is defined as being a captured image on a light-sensitive device (e.g. film camera, digital camera, smartphone, tablet, etc.) and recorded on film or in a digital format.

ORIGINALITY AND AUTHORSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Original Capture and Creation

All parts of the submitted image are the creator’s original work, containing no elements produced or captured by others. The entrant must be the copyright holder to submit the work in the competition.

Post-Processing

All editing, manipulation, and post-processing of the image must be performed personally by the entrant. This work cannot be delegated to or performed by any other person(s) or AI-generative system.

Inspiration vs. Replication

It is acceptable to draw inspiration from other photographers or artists. However, if the inspiration results in similarities in colour, composition, elements, perspective, angle, subject, and tone to the original, then the work is not considered the photographer’s original creation.

Street Art and Graffiti

Images featuring graffiti or street art are eligible for our competition ONLY when they demonstrate substantial creative input beyond mere documentation, such as unique perspective, composition, inclusion of external elements or context that transforms the viewer’s experience.

PROHIBITED AI-GENERATIVE TECHNIQUES

Images that have been created or modified using specific AI-generative techniques or AI-systems are not permitted for submission into our competitions. This includes:

• • In-painting: Where AI fills in generated elements not captured by the photographer or removes and replaces elements from a photograph with AI-generated content
  • Out-painting: Where AI extends beyond the original boundaries of the photograph using generated elements
  • Image-to-image AI: Where AI transforms an entire photograph based on text prompts or style references
  • Text-to-image: Where images are generated from scratch based on text entered into a prompt description

These restrictions apply whether or not text prompts are used in the AI generation process.

IMAGE PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

Identification Marks

Entrants must not place identifying text, their signature or any other distinctive mark on the front or facing side of any submitted image.

Trademarks

Trademarks are allowed if not likely to mislead viewers about sponsorship.

DUPLICATE AND SIMILAR SUBMISSIONS

Substantially identical images may not be entered in the same competition category, as both a club and individual submission, or in subsequent competitions if previously awarded. Slight variations are still considered the same image. An image that has been rotated, flipped, re-formatted or converted to monochrome or infrared will be deemed substantially the same image.

LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND LIABILITY

Legal Compliance

The image must not violate any Canadian laws. CAPA and prize sponsors are not liable for any claims arising from the competition outcome or legal/regulatory violations.

Indemnification

The photographer indemnifies CAPA and sponsors against losses from any third-party intellectual property infringement. CAPA accepts no liability for copyright or trademark breaches by the entrant.

IMAGE USAGE RIGHTS

CAPA may use the image for non-commercial purposes like exhibitions, publications, promotions, and education. Permission will be sought before including the image in international competitions or CAPA managed presentations.

COMPETITION ADMINISTRATION

Image Withdrawal

CAPA reserves the right to withdraw an image before, during and shortly after the commencement of judging, if it has been found to have failed to meet the conditions of the competition.

 Judging Decisions

The decisions and scores provided by the Judging Panel are final and cannot be appealed.

Image Replacement

No replacement image will be permitted after the judging process has commenced.