Updated AI Requirements on CAPA Competitions

For all CAPA competition photographers MUST:

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

Verification Requirements for Award Candidates

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

1. Editing Narrative: Describing how the image was edited and what editing programs were used. Upon receipt of these details, the photographer will be provided step-by-step instructions on how to export the image to include the required metadata.

2. Original Files:

• • Un-retouched JPEG or RAW files from your camera
  • For in-camera merged images: The camera-generated merged file (HDR, focus-stacked, multiple exposure, or panorama) is your original file. Individual source frames are not required.
  • For Camera Club entries: The photographer’s original image as submitted to the club, before any club modifications such as resizing, copyright additions, or other editing.

The following administrative modifications by the club are explicitly permitted, provided that the image’s camera and editing details remain unaltered:

• • • Resizing to meet CAPA pixel dimension and file size specifications
    • Adding a copyright to the metadata or club identifier, when exporting from Lightroom to JPEG at the required quality setting
    • Renaming files to comply with CAPA entry naming conventions

Retention of the photographer’s original submission is the responsibility of the individual photographer, not the club.

3. Working Files (choose based on your workflow):

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

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

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

• • For other applications:

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

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

Compliance

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

Authentication Review Process

CAPA’s authentication process relies on a structured, multi-stage forensic approach rather than any single detection tool or automated system. When a submission is flagged for review, the authentication process draws on multiple inputs, including metadata analysis, Content Credentials (C2PA) verification, visual forensic examination, the photographer’s editing narrative, and original working files. No image or file will be disqualified solely on the basis of a single flag indicator.

Detection flags initiate a review, not an automatic determination. When results raise concerns or remain ambiguous, the photographer will be contacted to provide clarification and specific image files. A final ruling will be rendered only after the photographer’s response and all submitted files have been reviewed.