Rules for the OMC Photographic Competition 2026

Wednesday 3rd June 

Stirling County Cricket Club

Deadline for entries: Friday 29^th May sent by email to

ochilsmc.gallery@gmail.com

Aims

There are two aims: firstly, to encourage members to record their activities, and secondly to allow members to view pictures they might not otherwise see. Each member is encouraged to submit up to two pictures in each category.

A third aim is to win one of the prizes!

Philosophy

As a mountaineering club, our primary concern is not photographic excellence, but one of capturing the spirit of some aspect of our broad range of activities.

Categories

There are four categories. 

• 1 – Action – OMC members in action in the hills/outdoors. The winning entry for this section will be used on the membership card for the following year.
• 2 – Landscape – Mountain/outdoor pictures. These can contain people, but this will not be the main focus of the picture.
• 3 – Nature – Animals and plants.
• 4 – President’s Prize – Amusing or interesting OMC-related picture. The aim is to encourage entries that might not otherwise be submitted including historical entries.  All entries may be added to the OMC website photogallery and winning entries may be featured in the newsletter unless a member specifically requests an exemption from this.

Eligibility

• Members may submit up to two entries in each category.
• The same picture may not be entered into more than one category.
• The person submitting the picture must have taken it.
• There is no limit to the age of an entry, but previous entries cannot be re-submitted.
• There is no restriction on software manipulation of images. However, entries should be authentic and adhere to the aims and philosophy of the competition.

Submitting Entries

Members must submit digital entries in jpg format prior to the competition no later than the Friday before the day of the competition. Late entries and entries on the night of the competition cannot be accepted. The file images should be identified by the member’s name followed by the category ( Action / Landscape / Wildlife / President) for example Keith R-Action1.jpg.  Please limit the filesize to 4Mb.

Entries are to be submitted to the email address: ochilsmc.gallery@gmail.com

Judging by members and voting 

Each category will be shown on screen in a block. The pictures will be numbered and shown twice, time and numbers permitting. On the first run each will get a showing of five seconds with its number clearly identified, then this will be repeated for another showing of five seconds. 

Club members will be given voting slips and will choose their favourite and second choice in each of the Action, Landscape and Nature categories. The President’s prize is determined by the President alone.

The voting slips will be collected and the votes for each image tallied within each category.  Two points will be awarded for a favourite and one point for the second choice.  The image with the highest total score will be the winner and that with the second highest score will be the runner-up in each category.  In the event of a tie for first place, members shall vote to determine the winner. 

The Rosebowl is awarded to the most popular image of the evening. The three winning images for Landscape, Action and Nature will be shown again, before the winners are named, and members will vote by a show of hands for the favourite.

The winners will then be declared and prizes awarded.

Prizes

The winner in each of the four categories will receive a prize.

The Rosebowl will be awarded as a separate prize to the most popular image of the evening.  All prizes will be presented by the President.

Adopted by the Club 7 June 2018; minor amendment by committee March 2020, updated for 2026 by Keith Ratcliffe OMC Photo Editor