On October 21, 2025, Lancaster Photography Association is having a Nature General Competition at the Antelope Valley Senior Center. Nature General is a reality-based class with limitations on editing and borders. See below. 

Our judge will be Christine Pence. She is an active member of PSA, IEPPV (Inland Empire Professional Photographers and Videographers), and the Redlands Camera Club, and has won awards for her travel and wildlife photography. We are looking forward to her constructive critiques!

We encourage all our members to participate, as this is an opportunity to get feedback on your images from an accomplished judge. Attending the competition is a very educational experience because the judge's comments will help you learn more about what constitutes a great nature photograph and how you can improve your own photographs in the future.

DEADLINE: October 14, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. - ENTER HERE

ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84430846247?pwd=Bab1gepuX2XGaz2jP743nog9HObRaq.1

NATURE DEFINITION:  The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality.

Human elements shall not be present, except where those human elements are integral parts of the nature story such as nature subjects, like barn owls or storks, adapted to an environment modified by humans, or where those human elements are in situations depicting natural forces, like hurricanes or tidal waves. Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars are permissible. Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement. Something that exists in nature: insects, butterflies, spiders, trees & leaves, etc., Nature can have landscapes, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with the subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food. [SEE: Note], [SEE: Borders], [SEE: Checklist and Explanations of Nature Definitions]

Photographs of all flowers and plant blossoms, hybrid or not, in any stage of development (including buds, seedpods, fruit, etc.) are ineligible - unless they are acting as an adopted habitat for eligible living organisms that are the main focus of the image*. However, small flowers may be included provided they are incidental to the main subject of the image. – Such as a bee in the wild pollinating in a flower, its adopted habitat for the purpose.

SEE Alterations: As with all reality-based divisions, (Nature, Photo Travel, and Photojournalism), techniques that add, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image, except by cropping, are not permitted. The only allowable modifications are the removal of dust, scratches or digital noise, restoration of the existing appearance of the original scene, sharpening that is not obvious, and complete conversion to grayscale monochrome. Other derivations, including infrared, are not eligible. All allowed adjustments must appear natural.

SEE Note: “Restoration of the appearance of the original scene” may include techniques such as HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning provided they do not alter the contents of the original scene and the result looks natural.

SEE Border: Borders are optional, but must be 3 or 4 pixels in width and must be white or a shade of gray.

More information regarding Nature General entries is available on our website under "Checklist and Explanations of Nature Definitions".

On July 15, 2025, Lancaster Photography Association will be having our first competition of the new year! We will meet at the Antelope Valley Senior Center at 6:00 p.m. for the judging.

All members are encouraged to enter up to three images for the $5.00 entry fee. It is a wonderful way to get feedback on your images and to improve as a photographer. Our judge will give helpful critiques for each image.

Deadline: Friday, July 11, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

ENTER HERE

If you have any problems entering, let Kathy know. 

 

The Class is Monochrome. The definition is as follows: An image is considered to be Monochrome only if it gives the impression of having no color (i.e. of containing only shades of gray whcih can include pure black and pure white); OR it gives the impression of being a grayscale image that has been toned in only color across the entire image (sepia-toned, etc.) 

A grayscale or multi-colored image that gives the impression of having been modified by partial toning, multi-toning, or by the inclusion of spot coloring does not meet the definition of Monochrome. 

Pictorial Monochrome images are judged both for their technical and pictorial merit. The image must be properly exposed, be in focus, and have an appropriate depth of field. A Pictorial Monochrome image should have strong composition, pleasing quality, and texture, pattern, and/or tone impact. The content is unrestricted.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89133821506?pwd=Y3IZL718RjuRAPwzNVOeXJjdUbl9zy.1

On March 18, 2025, Lancaster Photography Association will be having an Action Competition, open to all active Members of the club. You may enter up to 3 images for the $5.00 entry fee.

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO: March 14, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. 

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

ACTION DEFINITION - Motion being portrayed as the dominant theme, includes sports. This is a pictorial competition, so any type of editing is allowable.  

We encourage our members to participate in our competitions, as it is a great way to see what others see in your images. Constructive feedback is important to growth as a photographer. 

Our judge will be Paul Speaker. See below for his bio

On January 21, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., Lancaster Photography Association will be having our first competition of 2025! Entering our competitions is a wonderful way to learn more about creating great photographs and what makes a strong image.

The Theme is Aviation, which includes anything related to mechanical flight. We are looking forward to seeing all of your amazing images, so make sure you get your entries in before the deadline!

The deadline for Entries is: January 14, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Each member may enter up to three images for the competition for the Entry fee of $5.00. Each image should be sized 1400 x 1280 max. This is a pictorial competition, so any amount of editing is allowed. However, remember no AI components may be included.

Our judge is Hutch Hutchison, a long-time friend of the club who has judged with us a number of times! We are looking forward to his great critiques.

ENTER YOUR PHOTOS HERE

Zoom link for watching online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86836995044?pwd=MCbKtAzXwerTr7rcL3L3dXMSVZ2JK5.1

LPA will be having a Human Interest Competition for our members on October 15, 2024. It is a reality-based competition, so make sure to read the rules regarding any editing you do. 

Each member may enter up to three digital images for the Entry Fee of $5.00. Set the maxiumum dimension in pixels to 1400 wide by 1280 high and save as a jpeg.

Please upload your entries by October 8, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Click HERE to enter.

We encourage all our members to participate in the competitions, as it is a great way to get feedback on your photography and learn ways to improve. 

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87588618819?pwd=yaqZdKpUVKbd5gcNSsY6w2ZFexBunG.1

HUMAN INTEREST – Human Interest is defined as an image depicting a person or persons in an interactive, emotional or unusual situation, excluding recreational or organized sports action.

Guidelines for Human Interest Images:  As with all reality-based divisions, we do not permit techniques that add, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image, except by cropping. The only allowable modifications are removal of dust, scratches or digital noise, restoration of the existing appearance of the original scene,

sharpening that is not obvious, and complete conversion to grayscale monochrome. Other derivations, including infrared, are not eligible. All allowed adjustments must appear natural.

“Restoration of the appearance of the original scene” may include techniques such as HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning provided they do not alter the contents of the original scene and the result looks natural. Borders are optional, but must be 3 or 4 pixels in width and must be white or a shade of grey.

On July 16, 2024, Lancaster Photography Association will be having our first competition of the new year 2024-2025. Our Class is Macro/Close-Up.

DEADLINE: All photos must be entered by July 9, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

All members are encouraged to enter. It is a great way of getting feedback on your photography and learning ways to improve. You can even use some of your images from the recent Macro workshop!

The entry fee is only $5.00 and you may enter up to three JPG images, sized 1400 x 1280.

DEFINITION OF MACRO/CLOSE-UP: Photographs of small subjects or close-up views of sections of large subjects. Think of this Class as "close up" to the subject.

A photo of a faraway galaxy appears closer using a telescope, but it is not a close up image. A close-up on a face is good, but maybe better is a close-up of an eye. This class is expecting some level of magnification. 

Our judge will be our own Helen Henry!

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85849607851?pwd=9JBPCjnZsWXxQ7euN6BNNlmML2MkJp.1

Entries are closed

On May 21, 2024, Lancaster Photography Association will be having our last Themed Competition of the year - TRAINS. Entries may include trains and train-related subject matter. This is a pictorial competition, so any editing is allowed. Remember - No AI-generated images or parts of your image are allowed. 

Entries are due by May 14, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ENTER HERE  

LPA members may enter up to three images for your $5.00 entry fee. Digital files must be sized 1400 high x 1280 wide pixels. You may pay online via Paypal, or bring $5.00 on the night of the competition. 

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83976056541?pwd=SjF5dXZSZ3VIWllFcVVNblJjODgzQT09

 

DEADLINE: January 9, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

On January 16, 2024, Lancaster Photography Association will have our first competition of the new year at 6:00 p.m. at the Antelope Valley Senior Center.

All members are eligible to enter. This is a great way to get feedback about your images.

Crystal Olguin will be our judge. She excels at creative photography and will be a wonderful judge!

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81394014748?pwd=NTkvN3hIT1pJZWRYNXh0Wk9tTHNSQT09

CREATIVE DEFINITION: Creative is defined as altered reality that is apparent to the viewer. This definition includes alterations utilizing: Colored lights and gels, black light, Mylar, double exposures, projected images, camera or lens movement, lithograph, birefringence, and computer manipulation. The image should have strong composition, pleasing quality, and color, texture, pattern, and/or tone impact. The appropriateness of the technique selected and pictorial merit is considered in judging. Small amounts of manipulating images (changing opacity, using filters, adding text, fantasy or textured backgrounds, etc) is NOT considered Creative. The content is unrestricted.

Sizing: 1400 high x 1280 wide pixels

Entry Fee: $5.00 for up to 3 images.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER