Technique
Focus, exposure, color, tonal quality, and control of the photographic process.
1–5 points per judgeEffective September 2026
Make the photograph.
Enter with confidence.
A plain-language guide to choosing the right category, preparing your entry, and understanding how SCCC competitions work.
9maximum entries per month
3competition categories
5 PMsecond Saturday deadline
45highest possible score
Start here
Which category fits?
Choose the description that best matches the finished image. The guide will point you toward the most likely category.
Best match
Color Pictorial
A color photograph whose visual impact comes from subject, light, timing, composition, and photographic technique. Normal editing is welcome.
Good fit
Landscapes, wildlife, portraits, sports, architecture, still life, and close-ups.
Watch for
If the result looks intentionally unreal or substantially transformed, consider Altered Reality.
Entry desk
Prepare a digital entry
Use the checklist, then build the exact filename. Your progress stays on this device only.
Ready to submit0 of 6
Filename builder
Build it in the right order
01,SE000,DP,Beautiful_Sunset.jpgUse underscores instead of spaces. Keep the commas exactly as shown.
Monthly limit: 9 entries totalUp to 3 entries in each category: Color Pictorial, Black & White Pictorial, and Altered Reality.
Behind the score
How judging works
Three judges evaluate every image. The photographer’s identity stays confidential, and the title has no bearing on the score.
Composition
Visual organization, balance, viewpoint, cropping, and how the eye moves through the image.
1–5 points per judgeInterest
Impact, originality, storytelling, mood, and the image’s ability to hold attention.
1–5 points per judgeCombined score9–45
Comments should be constructive, respectful, and educational. Awards are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mention; HMs may represent up to 25% of entries.
2026–2027 season
Competition calendar
Finish line
Monthly winners move forward
Every monthly 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place image automatically qualifies for the annual Best of the Best competition. Honorable Mentions may be entered again in a future monthly competition.
Photographer of the YearPrint Maker of the YearDigital Image Maker of the Year
Altered Reality standard
Creativity begins with your photographs.
Substantial image content—subjects, objects, and backgrounds—must originate from photographs made by the entrant. Generative AI imagery is not permitted. The Club may request original, RAW, or layered files to verify eligibility.