Feb. 2026 Competition Updates

UPDATED – Discontinuing Pre-screening Image Metadata

Based on our experience with the 2026 Fine Art Competition and feedback received, we will discontinue the metadata pre-screening of image prior to the judging process. All submitted images will advance to judging unless the Pre-screening Committee identifies issues requiring intervention.

Our updated image authentication process is now part of each competition’s Editing Criteria. Find the details under ‘Original Files and Metadata Protection’ and ‘Verification For Award Candidate.’ You can view  these details here.

2025 Monochrome Competition

2026 Ontario Zone Competition

Open Competitions For Image Uploading

Inspirational Colour – closes February 28, 2026 – Check it out here

Atlantic Zone – closes March 15, 2026 – Check it out here

Prairie Zone – closes March 30, 2026 – Check it out here

Triptych – closes April 15, 2026 – Check it out here

Jan. 2026 Competition Updates

Effective January 1, 2026 – New AI Editing Criteria & Authentication Standards

All competition entries must now meet our updated Editing Criteria requirements.
These standards are designed to maintain the integrity of CAPA competitions by prohibiting the use AI-generative technology and ensuring that only authentic photographic images are accepted.

Full details are available by clicking here

Pre-Screening Process:

Our pre-screening committee will review all submitted images to verify that camera and editing details are present in the image metadata. Only images containing the required metadata will advance to judging.
When metadata is incomplete or missing, the pre-screening committee will contact photographers directly with instructions on how to properly save and resubmit their images with the necessary information.

Resources for Clubs and Photographers:

To assist photographers and camera club coordinators with compliance, we have developed CAPA Club Compliance

Full details are available here: (English) (French) 

On December 11, 2025, CAPA and the North Shore Photographic Society co-hosted a YouTube session titled “AI & the New CAPA Competition Rules,” where I presented an overview of the updated authentication standards.

You can view this Youtube video by clicking here

Updated AI Summary – Safe & Flagged (Prohibited) AI Tools

This webpage now includes details on the following post processing applications:

  • Adobe Photoshop Elements 2026
  • Affinity Photo
  • Aiarty
  • Capture One
  • Freepik
  • Foto
  • GIMP
  • Lightroom
  • Luminar Neo
  • ON1 Photo Raw
  • Photoshop – Version 27.2
  • Picmonkey
  • Snapseed
  • Topaz Labs
  • Windows Photo

Clarification on Lightroom/Photoshop Presets

Regular presets are fully compliant with our standards. They’re saved combinations of development adjustments (exposure, contrast, color grading, etc.) that modify existing pixel values. Whether a photographer moves the sliders manually or applies a preset that moves them automatically, the result is identical – no pixels are added, removed, or generated.
 
Use of Presets In Post Processing
 
Lightroom and Photoshop presets are permitted in our competitions as they adjust existing pixels rather than generating content. See CAPA Eligibility Criteria for complete details. 
 

Updated – CAPA Eligibility Criteria: NEW – Previously Awarded Image 

An image, or substantially the same image, that has previously received a CAPA Award (medal, medal certificate, merit award, or honourable mention) in any CAPA competition or salon is ineligible for entry into any future CAPA competition or salon. This restriction applies across all competition categories and types.

2025 Monochrome Competition

2025 Monochrome Competition

2026 Competitions Now Open For Uploading

Dec. 2025 Competition Updates

Competition Clarification

Updated: CAPA Eligibility Criteria

To address enquires about using AI-generative systems to preforming photo post processes, we have updated our Eligibility Criteria to include the following provisions:

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.

Updated: Photographing Homeless Individuals

Our competitions now allow images of people experiencing homelessness, infirmity, or crisis, in line with common international photojournalism and documentary standards. 

Such subjects are acceptable only when photographed responsibly and ethically, with respect for consent, dignity, privacy, and safety, especially for vulnerable individuals. 

We encourage photographers to address social issues in creative ways that do not exploit personal suffering and to approach any such imagery with empathy, respect, and care.

Our Competition Q&A webpage has been updated to reflect the policy revision.

Effective January 1, 2026 – Updated Competition Editing Criteria 

CRITICAL- All photographers review these provisions prior to submitting images into all our 2026 photo competitions.   You can view these updated provisions by clicking here

2025 Nature/Wildlife Competition

2025 Monochrome Competition

New 2026 Competitions Now Open

Nov. 2025 Competition Updates

2025 – 2026 Competitions

View the listing of competitions by clicking here

 

2025 Pacific Zone Competition

Club winning images – view webpage by clicking here

Individual winning images – view webpage by clicking here

 

2025 Nature/Wildlife Competition

We are pleased to announce that final competition reports have been published to our Competitions Report section.

To access these reports, please log into the CAPA website and select Competitions Reports from the Competitions dropdown menu.

Winning images will be published next weekend, and all competition winners will receive notification early next week.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Effective January 1, 2026, all submitted images must include complete metadata, including camera settings and editing details. This requirement supports our new authentication processes to ensure the integrity of all competition entries.

Our pre-screening committee will review all submissions, and only images containing the required metadata will advance to the judging panel.

If your image lacks the necessary details, the pre-screening committee will notify you and provide a brief window to resubmit with the complete information.

This requirement has been added to the Editing Criteria for all competitions beginning January 1, 2026.

 

Now Open For Uploading of Images

Ontario Zone Competition – closes on January 15, 2026 @ midnight – view competition details by clicking here

Fine Art Competition – closes on January 30, 2025 @ midnight – view competition details by clicking here

 

Adobe Announcement – Photoshop (version 27.0)

On October 28, 2025, Adobe announced new and enhanced AI-generative features which adds synthetic elements to Photoshop:

 

  • Generative Fill: Adds or replaces parts of an image with newly generated visual content beyond the original pixels.

  • Generative Expand: Extends the canvas by generating new background or additional objects seamlessly beyond original edges.

  • Harmonize: Although mainly an adjustment tool, it synthetically harmonizes lighting and color in composited elements, subtly synthesizing visual consistency.

  • Generative Upscale: Enhances image resolution by synthesizing extra detail in upscaling, producing new pixel information. It also includes Topaz’s Bloom & Gigapixel

  • AI Assistance in Photoshop (private beta) will enable conversational editing with generative AI that can add, remove, or modify image elements creatively.

  • Upgraded Remote Tool labeled “Remove Tool 3” 

 

Features adding synthetic elements to an image are not permitted in our competitions  In the forthcoming month, we will be updating the Photoshop Pitfalls: Protecting Your Competition Eligibility.

Oct. 2025 Competition Updates

Modification of Our New Authentication Standards Initiative

Following our September 2025 Competition announcement regarding new authentication standards for January 1, 2025, we received valuable feedback indicating this timeline was too aggressive, particularly given that C2PA Content Credentials are not yet universally supported across all post-processing applications.

In response, we’ve revised our approach, our new Content Credential initiative is now optional and educational rather than mandatory. Between now and the end of 2027, we will promote the Content Credential model while photographers and camera clubs explore and adopt these standards at their own pace. The revised implementation can be viewed here (English) (French)

We have created a new AI Info section in the Competitions dropdown menu featuring: 

  • AI-Gen Systems Not Permitted
  • List of approved AI tools (and prohibited ones)
  • Updated editing criteria for all 2026 competitions
  • Detailed guidelines for seven major editing platforms (Photoshop, Lightroom, Luminar Neo, ON1, Topaz Labs, etc.)

Updated AI presentation includes discussion on:

  • AI technology is transforming and challenging photography
  • Photographic Associations & Societies face new challenges
  • CAPA is implementing clear, fair standards

Clubs interested in hosting this AI presentation, please email the Director of Competitions at competitions@capacanada.ca.

2025 Four Nations International Competition

CAPA once again won this competition – you view the details and our winning images by clicking here

Watch the Youtube view here to view all the submitted images into this competition.

We thank Allen Bargen and Cheryl Bramble in selecting our to 80 images, for submission into this competition. Congratulations to all our 80 photographers in this notable achievement.

2025 – 2026 Competitions

Now Open For Uploading of Images

Sept. 2025 Competition Updates

Balancing Innovation and Stability – CAPA’s Strategic Response to AI

As software companies continue to introduce AI-generative features on unpredictable timelines, we must maintain ongoing awareness while ensuring photographers receive the information necessary for competitive planning. Our new AI strategy  addresses these challenges and is available in both (English) and (French).

We encourage photographers and camera clubs to review this documents during the transition period leading up to the implementation date.  Between now and January 1, 2026, CAPA members and camera clubs are encouraged to review this document.

New AI Authentication Standard

Based on recent changes to Adobe Firefly AI algorithm, it has become necessary to implement a new AI Authentication Standard.  You are encouraged to review this document here (English) (French).

IMPORTANT NOTE – We seek your support and acceptance of these standards for the benefit of our photographic community.

New Photography Guidelines  

To support the new AI Authentication Standard and Content Credentials requirement, we’ve created five AI Pitfalls – Protecting Your Competition Eligibility guidelines for photographers entering our competition. These guidelines clarify which AI features are acceptable in submissions and which are not:

Adobe Photoshop – (English) (French) 

Lightroom Desktop – (English) (French)

Lightroom Classic – (English) (French)

Lightroom Mobile – (English) (French)

Luminar Neo – (English) (French) 

ON1 Photo RAW – (English) (French) 

Topaz Labs – (English) (French) 

AI Tool Guideline Summary – Permitted vs Flagged Features

Check out this listing if AI tools that are permitted and not permitted in our competitions – (English) (French)

CAPA Competition Policy Update – September 2025

Clarification on the use of large learning models (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude AI, etc…) in analyzing images. View policy update here – (English) (French)

2025 – 2026 Competitions

Now Open For Uploading of Images

June 2025 Competition Updates

2025 – 2026 Competitions

You’ll now find our upcoming 2025-2026 competitions listed in the Current Competitions section of our dropdown menu.

You can view this listing of competitions by clicking here

 

2025 Annual Photo Competition 

Winning images – view webpage by clicking here

 

May 2025 Competition Updates

Updated CAPA Eligibility Criteria webpage

As of May 15, 2025, the following provisions in our CAPA Eligibility Criteria webpage comes into effect:

  • Image(s) 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. 

 

2025 Curves & Lines Competition

Club winning images – view webpage by clicking here

Individual winning images – view webpage by clicking here

 

2025 Atlantic Zone Competition

Club winning images – view webpage by clicking here

Individual winning images – view webpage by clicking here

 

2025 Prairie Zone Competition

Club winning images – view webpage by clicking here

Individual winning images – view webpage by clicking here

 

Enquiries Received On How To Create a Triptych

Triptychs are popular in Europe and they provide means of storytelling in a series of three images.

We have had enquiries on how triptychs can be created in Photoshop and Lightroom. Based on these enquiries, we created these instructions.

 

Guideline to Creating Stunning Triptychs English French

These instructions have now been incorporated into our 2026 Triptych photo competition and on our website’s Members Resource webpage.

 

Re-Cropping Of Image That Previously Received CAPA Award

Question – I wonder if some flexibility might be considered in cases like re-cropping. For example, an original 4:3 image that has been thoughtfully re-cropped to a 16:9 panoramic format may offer a different visual impact or compositional interpretation. Might this be treated as a separate entry, provided the change is substantial and creatively justified?

My Response – While I understand your point about how re-cropping can significantly alter an image’s composition and visual impact, our current policy considers such modifications to still be ‘substantially the same image.’ This rule exists to encourage the submission of truly distinct photographic works and to ensure fairness across all participants.

The specific language in our criteria stating that ‘slight variations are still considered the same image‘ was designed to include modifications such as re-cropping, regardless of how dramatic the crop might be.

We invite photographers to submit new work that hasn’t previously won recognition in our competitions. This practice preserves the artistic integrity of each contest while ensuring all participants have an equal chance to highlight their most recent photographic accomplishments.

Images that haven’t received a CAPA Award may be submitted again in future competitions, as long as they meet all required specifications.

April 2025 Competition Updates

CAPA 2025 CAPA Salon

In accordance with Canada’s Personal Information Protection Act, we have created a comprehensive Privacy Statement for our 2025 Salon. You are encouraged to read this document prior to submitting images into our 2025 salon.

English
French

2025 Global Chinese Photography Association Exhibition

CAPA members may wish to consider participating in this Exhibition 

Total USD15,000 Cash Prizes, 257 awards! 5th GCPA-DAJIANG Cup International Exhibition 2025 Call for Entries !

GCPA is inviting you to participate at the 5th GCPA-DAJIANG Cup International Exhibition 2025. 

Please get your images ready and submit them before the deadline on May 27,2025 (http://www.gcpa.club).

Altogether 257 awards and USD15,000 Cash Prizes are here to be claimed!

Total 7 digital categories, 6 categories (except AI Creative section) are under the patronage of  GPU: L210153 and CAPA Canadian Association for Photographic Art.

Open Color, Open Monochrome, Nature, People-theme & Portrait, Landscape color(General & Drone), Street & City life and  AI Creative, up to 28 photos per entrant. 

LOW ENTRY FEE Only USD10 for all 7 categories!

Closing date：May 27,2025

Country-Canada

E-Acceptance & Catalog

You can join at : http://www.gcpa.club

All awarded entries will be exhibited during the DALI International Photography Exhibition and an awards ceremony will be held.

Questions? Write to contest2020@gcpa.photo

Entry rules:  GCPA

2025 Annual Photo Challenge

Now open and closes on May 15, 2025 – You can view this competition webpage here

Updated – CAPA Eligibility Criteria

To provide appropriate clarification, the following narrative has been added to our CAPA Eligibility Criteria webpage:

  • Image(s) 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.

Understanding RAW Files, DNG Conversion and Competition Requirements

  • To address confusion among photographers regarding image file requirements, this document has been developed to provide clear guidelines and specifications. Document is available is both official languages

English
French

2025 – 2026 Competitions

As of April 1, 2025 our competitions for 2025-2026 are now posted to our Current Competitions listing, on our website 

The following notable updates have been included in all our 2025-2026 competitions:

Image Metadata Required:

All submitted photographs should maintain complete, unaltered original metadata (EXIF). Preserving this information facilitates verification of potential winning entries.

Submissions must include full metadata from post-processing applications to ensure competition integrity. Screenshots and screen captures are not accepted as they remove essential metadata needed for fair evaluation.

The Competition Director will request original un-retouched JPEG or RAW files for potential winning images to verify compliance. Only images with intact metadata will be accepted for verification and authentication purposes.

Photographers of potential winning entries may be required to submit all original files, including unretouched JPG/RAW files, XMP files, and any other image files incorporated into the final submission.

If a photographer fails to provide requested image files when asked by the Director, their potential winning entry will be withdrawn and competition results recalculated.

These requirements aim to ensure transparency and verify adherence to the competition’s specifications regarding image authenticity and compliance with the editing criteria.

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.

For all Zone competitions

The following narrative has been added to all Zone Competitions:

CAPA medals will be awarded to entrants with the highest aggregate scores across their submitted images in both club and individual categories. Additionally, the top three highest-scoring images in each skill level will receive merit award e-certificates.

Questions Raised & Responses Provided

Question Raised: I am looking at doing some reflection photos with shiny objects and possibly using something like wallpaper samples or pre-printed scrapbook paper from Michaels, etc.  I might also use some postage stamps.

I will of course use a camera to take a photo of the reflective object and the purchased printed material will be in the photo.

How does one decide if the pre-printed material is considered clip art which would be forbidden? If I take a photo of graffiti that isn’t mine but is part of a larger scene, I would assume I can include it.  Obviously, a postage stamp is not my original work so what is the difference with graffiti?

Would it make any difference to take a photo of the wallpaper or stamp and then print it to use? 

Our Response: The key distinction we make is between using pre-printed materials as physical elements within your photograph versus digitally inserting clip art or stock images after taking the photo.

When you photograph reflective objects alongside physical items like wallpaper samples, scrapbook paper, or postage stamps, these are considered physical props in your composition – similar to photographing graffiti as part of a street scene. These elements are being captured through your original photography, even though the designs themselves weren’t created by you.

What would not be permitted is:

  • Digitally adding clip art or stock images during post-processing
  • Using digital templates or frames that weren’t physically present when the photo was taken

Your approach of photographing physical objects and their reflections, including commercially printed materials as props, is perfectly acceptable within our competition rules.

Question Raised: Are border or frame permitted in CAPA competitions?  If not, why not? 

Our Response: Unfortunately, all our photo competitions contain the following restriction:

Frames, Borders, Pin-lines, and Mats: Photograph must not contain any decorative elements like frames, borders, pin-lines, or mats.  This includes the edges and markings of scanned film.  When the frame is integral to the captured image, for instance a window frame or door frame that has been captured by the camera, these elements are permitted.

The rationale for this restriction is based on the focus that the competition aims to evaluate the photograph itself, not decorative additions.  Frames and borders can distract from or enhance an image in ways that aren’t part of the original photographic skill.  

With this restriction, all photographers compete solely on their photographic merits rather than their framing or presentation skills, ensuring fairness.  As such, this restriction emphasizes fundamental photography elements like composition, lighting, subject matter, and technical execution rather than post-processing embellishments.  

Finally, decorative elements can create unconscious bias among judges.  Without these elements, judges can evaluate all entries with the same visual baseline.

March 2025 Competition Updates

Join the 2025 CAPA International Salon: Now Open For Submissions!

We’re proud to announce the 2025 CAPA 2nd Annual International Salon is now open for submissions!

This prestigious event transcends traditional competitions, creating a global platform where photographers from diverse backgrounds converge to share their unique perspectives and style in photography. 

Our inaugural salon was an extraordinary success, featuring over 4,300 photographs from entrants representing 45 countries across six continents. From Austria to Vietnam, both established masters and emerging talents united in a celebration of photographic excellence.

Join us this year as we continue to expand our global community of visual storytellers. Submit your work and become part of an international dialogue that honors photography in all its forms.

Why Participate?

  • Global Recognition – show case your talent on an international stage
  • Professional Development – enhance your portfolio and artistic credibility
  • New Horizons – open doors to other salons, exhibitions, and publication

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an enthusiastic newcomer, your unique images deserve to be shared. Let your images join this worldwide celebration and help demonstrate the rich diversity of the Canadian photography community on the global stage.

 

Check out our salon website here – https://www.capasalon.ca

Salon opened on February 15, 2025 and closed on May 15, 2025.

 

Identifying Generative AI Elements in Adobe-Edited Images

As the Director of Competitions, I am seeing a significant number in photographers seeking ways to verify whether their Adobe-edited image contain generative AI elements.

This concern is legitimate and growing, particularly for our competitions which have strict authentication requirements.

If you’re concerned about inadvertently including AI-generated content in your photography work, these complementary free tools can help validate your images:

  • Metadata2go.com (free) – metadata2go.com – This free online tool allows you to easily check your image files for AI-generated content. Simply visit metadata2go.com, upload your image, and review the displayed metadata. Look specifically for any entries containing “c2pa” references, as these indicate the presence of Adobe Firefly AI generative features, which are not permitted in our competitions.
  • Adobe’s Content Credential (free) – https://contentcredentials.org/verify – Upload your image to the website by dragging it into the large window on the left side. The website will automatically analyze the image to detect any AI enhancement. If the image has been modified using Adobe Firefly’s AI algorithm, the analysis box on the right will display two specific messages:
  1. This image combines multiple pieces of content. At least one was generated with an AI tool
  2. AI tool used: Adobe Firefly

In the event, Adobe Firefly AI metadata has been altered with an EXIF Editor then the Content Credential website will present a message of “This file may have been tampered with.  Its Content Credentials can’t be verified or viewed.”

*Special Note – For our 2025-2026 competitions, all Editing Criteria Sections have been updated with the following requirement:

  • All competition entries must include complete metadata from the original post-processing application. This requirement ensures competition integrity and fair judging.
  • Images must be properly exported from your editing software, preserving all processing information. Screenshots and screen captures are not acceptable, as these methods strip essential metadata.

 

2025 Fine Art Competition

2025 Quebec Zone Competition

 

2025 Curves and Lines Competition

Now open and closes on March 30, 2025. You can view this competition webpage here.

2025 Atlantic Zone Competition

Now open and closes on April 15, 2025. You can view this competition webpage here.

2025 Prairie Zone Competition

Now open and closes on April 15, 2025. You can view this competition webpage here.

2025 Canada: My Country

Now open and closes on April 30, 2025. You can view this competition webpage here.

February 2025 Competition Updates

Strategy To Address Generative AI in Photography

We have documented our current strategy on addressing Generative AI through keeping pace with technological advancements and education photographers on what artificial intelligence is accepted in our photo competitions.

You can review this document here – (English) (French)

February 1, 2025 – CAPA Stance on Artificial Intelligence in Photo Competitions

This document has been updated to include the most current details regarding about what artificial intelligence features are approved in photo competitions and what are not.

You view this document here –  (English) (French)  

2025 Ontario Zone Competition

2025 Photojournalism Competition

This competition is now open for the uploading of images.  

You are strongly encouraged to review the competition details before  uploading your images into the competition details and ensure your submitted images fall within one of the noted themes.  Competition closes on March 15, 2025 (midnight).  You can view this competition webpage here. 

2025 Curves and Lines Competition

Competition is also now open for the uploading of images.

Prior to uploading any images into this competition, it is recommended that review the competition details and ensure your submitted images fall within one of the noted themes. Competition closes on March 30, 2024 (midnight). You can view this competition webpage here.

January 2025 Competition Updates

Updated (January 1, 2025) CAPA Stance on Artificial Intelligence

We’ve expanded our Artificial Intelligence guidelines to include several new photography enhancement tools. This update, effective January 1, 2025, now addresses:

 

New AI Tools:

  • Adobe Photoshop’s Neural Filters
  • Additional text-to-image Generative AI applications
  • Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Raw’s “Enhanced” feature
  • Reflection removal tools in both Adobe Camera Raw and Adobe Lightroom

 

Special thanks to Greg Aldous of the London Camera Club for his valuable input regarding the Photoshop Neural Filters.


This policy revision supersedes our previous version from December 13, 2024.

You can view this new document here (English) (French)  

 

A hyperlink to this document is also included in the Editing Criteria Section for each of our forthcoming photo competitions.

 

Competitions Open For Uploading of Images

 

  • 2025 Ontario Zone Competition – closes on January 15, 2025

  • 2025 Fine Art Competition – closes on January 30, 2025

  • 2025 Quebec Zone Competition – closes on February 15, 2025

  • 2025 Colour Competition – closes on February 28, 2025

December 2024 Competition Updates

Important Update: AI Guidelines in Photo Post-Processing

Due to recent advances in AI-powered photo editing software, we’ve revised our CAPA position on artificial intelligence in photography. The updated guidelines provide detailed clarification on which AI features are acceptable and which are prohibited in our competitions.

You can view this document here (English) (French)  

*You can also find this updated guideline in all Competition Editing Criteria sections.

Updating Advanced & Intermediate Skill Levels In All Zones

We’re currently reviewing and adjusting all Zone Skill-levels using results from:

  • 2024 CAPA Salon 
  • 2024 Four Nations
  • 2024 Pacific Zone
  • 2024 Nature
  • 2024 Black & White

Advanced and intermediate skill level updates will be completed by December 15, 2024.

Please review all competition details before submitting images to any zone competitions.

Updated CAPA Eligibility Criteria webpage

This webpage has been updated and now include details on “image-to-image AI” as shown below in bold:

Images that have been created or modified using specific AI generative techniques 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); and

Image-to-image AI (where AI transforms an entire photograph based on text prompts or style references)

Text-to-image (generated images 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.

In the area of Generative AI images, there are three categories:

Text-to-Image:

  • Generates images from scratch based on text entered into a prompt description 
  • Complete creative freedom but less control over the specific details produced by the system

Photo Enhancement – Fill / Expand Boundaries:

  • Modifies existing photos by filling or modifying specific areas or expanding the boundaries of the photo 
  • Focuses on blending with existing content
  • Maintains consistency with original image (photograph)

Photo Image-to-Image:

  • Transforms an entire photo based on text prompts or style references
  • Preserves basic structure while changing style, content, or attributes
  • More control over output compared to text-to-image

2024 Black & White Competition

2025 Quebec Zone Competition

This completion is now open for the uploading of images.  Key point that entries will only be accepted by Quebec residents. Competition closes on February 15, 2024 (midnight).

You are strongly encouraged to review the competition details before uploading your images into this competition.  The details of this competition can be reviewed here.

2025 Colour Competition

Competition is also now open for the uploading of images.

Prior to uploading any images into this competition, you are wise to review the competition details and ensure your submitted images fall within one of the noted themes. Competition closes on February 15, 2024 (midnight).

You can view the competition by clicking here.

November 2024 Competition News

2024 Four Nations Competition 



2024 Pacific Zone Competition



2024 Nature Competition

 

2025 Ontario Zone Competition 

Both the club and individual categories of this competition are now open for uploading.

 

Special Note – Images will be judged individually, with CAPA awards going to the highest-scoring photographs. This is a photo-by-photo competition – we will not calculate overall scores for either camera clubs or individual photographers.

 

Judge’s Feedback:

  • Novice photographers can receive judges’ comments only if they select ‘comments requested‘ during submission
  • Advanced and Intermediate photographers will not receive judges’ comments
  • No comments will be provided if ‘comments requested‘ is not selected



2025 Fine Art Competition

 

Both the club and individual categories of this competition are now open for uploading.

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:

 

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.

June 2024 Competition News

Enhancements to the “CAPA Stance on AI-Generated Images in Photo Competitions”

This document has been and now identifies new applications that contain Generative features which are not permitted in our photo Competitions. List includes:

  • Canva – contains – Generative Expand, and Generative text-to-image creation.
  • Lightroom (includes beta 13.3) – now contains – Generative Remove.
  • Luminar Neo – contains – GenErase, GenSwap & GenExpand.
  • Photoroom – contains – Generative Expand, Generative Fill, Generative Background and Generative text-to-image creation.
  • Photoshop 2024 (includes beta 25.10) – Generative Fill, Generative Expand, Generative background, and Firefly AI Generative text-to-image creation.
  • Picsart – contains – Generative Replace and text-to-image creation.
  • Pixlr – contains – Generative Fill, Generative Expand, and Generative text-to-image creation.
  • Stylar AI – contains – Generative Fill, Generative Expand, and Generative text-to-image creation.

 

Zone Competitions

All of our five (5) Zone competitions for 2024-2025 have been updated to include the following:

  1. Photographers can request to elevation to a higher skill-level with supporting rationale. Request to lower skill-level will only be undertaken in exceptional cases.
  2. Rationale for the change – Our Zone Skill-Level assignment of a skill level for the Intermediate and Advanced is based the recognition of achievements in our Association.
  3. We do recognize that photographers have received accolades and recognition from other reputable photographic associations, societies, and competitions. For these photographers, they may choose to submit a request, along with appropriate supporting documentation to have their skill level elevated to either Intermediate or Advanced, to better align their proven abilities.
  4. To proceed with the skill elevation, the entrant would need to forward me (competitions@capacanada.ca) an email outlining their achievement and sources where these achievements can be verified.

For Zone competitions only, judges will score all of the images, and additionally one judge will ONLY provide comments on each image submitted into the novice skill category.

Rationale for the change – is that photographers in the Intermediate and Advanced skill levels have already received recognition for their photographic skills and abilities. Consequently, constructive feedback from judges is most beneficial for those in the Novice category, as they are still developing their skills and abilities.

By allocating dedicated commentary from one judge specifically for Novice entrants, we aim to provide valuable guidance and insights to support their growth and improvement as photographers.

 

Annual Photo Challenge

The final competition report can be viewed by first logging into the CAPA website then navigating to the Competitions Report option from the Competitions dropdown menu.

If the Competitions Report option is now visible then your login was not successful. Please try again.

Winning images can be viewed by clicking here. 

May 2024 Competition News

Clarification On Role of Pre-Screening Committee

Given the heightened concerns regarding the potential misallocation images be
allocated the wrong theme, I have revised my instruction for judges as follows:

For our CAPA competitions, we established a Pre-screening Committee tasked with
reviewing all submitted into a competition prior the closing of a competition. Their role is to address any potential issues based on specific criteria:

  • Ensure image falls within the competition
  • Check for ‘hand-of-man’ in the Nature/Wildlife competition
  • Check for any sexually explicit content
  • Verify no photographer/club names are visible on the surface of the image
  • Check that the image titles are not just “no-title”
  • Determine if judges have entered their images into a competition they are judging
  • Check for images that may appear as a trademark owner-sponsored image any
    potential trademark violation
  • Identify any images that contain clues of an AI-generated images or images enhanced
    with generative features

If any issues are discovered, the committee contacts the entrant for corrections before the competition closes. Once the judging begins, no re-submissions or are permitted.


The Pre-screening Committee may occasionally miss a questionable image or ‘hand-of-
man’ because of the sheer volume of images being reviewed.


When an image is deemed to be in the ‘gray-area’ of compliance with the Scope of
Competition then the entrant will be given the ‘benefit-of-the-doubt’ and image will
advance to the judging process.


Regarding theme validation, I’ve instructed the committee not to proceed with it. My
rationale is as follows:

  • Entrant bears the responsibility to carefully read and comply with the competition rules, including theme selection.
  • By not validating themes, we encourage entrants to thoroughly read and comprehend
    the rules. Validating themes creates an expectation of hand-holding, which may
    undermine the learning process.
  • Themes can be subjective and open to interpretation, leading to potential inconsistencies and disputes if validated. Leaving the interpretation to the judges encourages a more objective and unbiased evaluation.
  • The Competition team will not amend submitted image themes without the entrant’s
    approval to avoid potential disputes.

 

As the Director of Competition, I have repeatedly encouraged entrants to contact me for
clarification on all aspects of our competition which includes theme selection.

Judges may deduct 0.5 to 1.0 point for images entered into incorrect themes, rather than
disqualifying them outright. Disqualification by judges is reserved for exceptional cases
provided that two or more judges are in agreement.

During the judging process, CAPA aims for fair evaluations without overly penalizing
entrants. If significant score variance occurs, judges are encouraged to re-assess and
discuss the image with fellow panel members. This process fosters consistency across
judgements, though judges aren’t obligated to alter their original scores.

CAPA’s priorities are maintaining competition integrity, fostering learning opportunities for
entrants, and providing proper guidance.

 

Delayed Closing For 2024 Four Nations Competition

The 2024 competition, hosted by the Australian Photographic Society is undergoing
some adjustments. Traditionally, the deadline for submissions has been June 24 of
each year.

However, due to unforeseen circumstances, their competition coordinator had to
step down at the end of March 2024.

A replacement coordinator has requested a two-month extension for the deadline to
allow for a smooth transition and to permit their society to select their top 80 images.
This request has received unanimous support from all Four Nations Committee
members.

A panel of CAPA judges has already selected the top 80 images from 80
photographers, selected from submissions to our 2024 – 2024 competitions.

 

Atlantic Zone Competition

Winning images can be viewed here:

 

Prairie Zone Competition

Winning images can be viewed here:

 

Canada: My Country Competition

Winning images can be viewed here:

April 2024 Competition News

Artificial Intelligence Question/Response

Question: Why is CAPA taking a firm stance against admitting AI-generative art images into CAPA competitions?

Response: The traditional definition of photography is closely tied to the process of capturing images via a camera or other light-sensitive device that records the real world. AI-generated art, despite its potential to create visually striking imagery, fundamentally differs from this process as it does directly record light from physical reality.

For the photographic community to potentially consider AI-generated art under a broader definition of “photography” as a new form of artistic expression, all concerns and issues surrounding AI generative images would need to be comprehensively addressed to their satisfaction first.

If the definition of “photography” was expanded, the only conceivable way for photographic competitions to incorporate AI-generated art would be through distinct, separate categories from the traditional camera-captured photographs. This segregation would be necessary to uphold the integrity of camera-based photography, as integrating AI art and photographed images into the same category would unfairly disadvantage the latter given the vastly different generative processes involved.

From the current perspective, it does not appear that the photographic community has plans to make accommodations for AI-generated art in competitions anytime soon, likely awaiting further resolution of outstanding issues around this new art form.

Photographs enhanced with AI-generated features occupy a ‘gray-area’ between traditional camera-captured images and purely AI-generated art. The crucial difference is that the AI-generated elements in these enhanced photographs did not originate from the photographer’s camera; instead, they were sourced from an AI’s dataset.

As photographic societies and associations consider whether to accept AI-enhanced images into their competitions, they will need to implement processes to distinguish between camera-captured photographs and those augmented with AI components. Such processes are necessary to prevent AI-generated content from unintentionally or deliberately entering and dominating competitions intended solely for traditional photography.

The implementation of these distinguishing mechanisms will depend on third-part AI detection software, as most photographic societies lack the resources to develop such tools independently.

For details on the issues surrounding AI-generative images – please see our article entitled “CAPA’s Stance on AI-Generated Images In Photo Competitions.

You can view this document here – (English) (French) 

 

Updated CAPA Eligibility Criteria Webpage

The following details have been added to our CAPA Eligibility Criteria webpage:

  • A photographer will NOT capture a screen image or photograph an image found on the internet and incorporate it in a composite image that is later submitted into our competition. All aspects of the post-processing for their submitted image were undertaken by the entrant with the exception of scanning of their negatives and printing of the image.

March 2024 Competitions Update

March 2024 Competitions Update

Updated Eligibility Criteria and All Competition Editing Criteria

In order to enhance clarity regarding Artificial Intelligence, we have revised the following statements across both our CAPA Eligibility Criteria webpage and all competition editing criteria:

  • Images that involve the use of AI generative techniques like in-painting (where AI generates pixels to fill in missing parts or removes and replaces selected element from the original photograph then using replace it with pixel element from the AI’s generative dataset) or out-painting (where the AI extends the image beyond its original boundaries by generating new elements) are not permitted for submission into CAPA competitions, regardless of whether text prompts were used or not.
  • The Director of Competitions has the right to request and receive the original un-retouched JPEG or RAW file for a potential winning image in a competition for the purposes of verifying competition compliance.
  • Upon notification that their image is a potential winning entry, photographers may be required by the Director of Competitions to submit all original images, such as un-retouched JPG or RAW files, along with other image files that were integrated into the submitted image.
  • Failure to comply with the Director’s request for image files will result in the potential winning image being withdrawn from the competition and the competition results will be re-sorted.

These requirements are designed to promote transparency and validate compliance with competition’s specifications regarding image authenticity and adherence to the editing criteria. 

Furthermore, I have created a document entitled “CAPA’s Stance on AI-Generated Image in Photo Competitions.”  This document serves as a comprehensive response to numerous inquiries we have received concerning artificial intelligence in the context of oru photographic competitions.  You can view this document here – (English) (French) 

 

Competitions Now Open For Uploading Images

Images can now be opened to the following competitions:

 

Artistic Competition

Winning Images can be viewed here:

Music Competitions

Winning Images can be viewed here:

Colour Competitions

Winning Images can be viewed here:

 

Competition reports have been posted to the Competition Results.  To view them, you must log into the CAPA website and navigate to the Competition Report option located on the Competitions dropdown menu.  If the Competitions Report option is not displaced in this dropdown menu, you are not logged into the website.

 

2023 CAPA Survey Suggestions Related to Competitions and Our Responses

In a proactive approach to carefully evaluate and implement a multitude of suggestions aimed at improving our competitions and processes, we will created documents which summaries suggestions and our responses.

The following is a listing of suggestions and response which are now available for your review: