BNC Photography Categories

Judged on:

Presentation (focus, clarity, cropping) (20 pts), Overall Impact (10 pts), News or Feature Value (10 pts), Originality (10 pts) – TOTAL 50 pts

1. Best Photo Essay
   This entry must tell a story of a single event in pictures. A well-presented storytelling photographic essay is an important communicator. This award recognizes photographic excellence, attention to composition, communication, quality of pictures, presentation, graphic display and completeness of the message. Cutlines are used only to clarify facts. Any image created or manipulated beyond basic lighting and cropping with computer software is not acceptable. Photo credit must appear in the paper.
   
2. Best Spot News Photo
   Each newspaper entering this category must select a single photo, depicting an event or scene of a hard news occurrence. It must contain emotion, expression of interest, action or illusion of movement, with good exposure, composition and reproduction. One picture of a single subject will be accepted for judging. Any image created or manipulated beyond basic lighting and cropping with computer software is not acceptable. Photo credit must appear in the paper.
   
   For the purpose of this competition “hard news” is news that deals with up-to-the minute news and events that takes a factual approach: What happened? Who was involved? Where and when did it happen? Why? Hard news differs from routine or soft news, which contain more background information such as feature stories or human interest stories.
   
3. Best Sports Photo
   A sport photo must convey emotional impact of the moment to sum up a sports event displaying quick forethought and ingenuity on the part of the photographer. One picture of a single subject will be accepted for judging. Any image created or manipulated beyond basic lighting and cropping with computer software is not acceptable. Photo credit must appear in the paper.
   
4. Best Feature Photo
   A feature photo must contain imagination, initiative and technical skill. One picture of a single subject will be accepted for judging. Any image created or manipulated beyond basic lighting and cropping with computer software is not acceptable. Photo credit must appear in the paper.
   
   For the purpose of this competition “feature photo” has the following definition. A feature photo has no compelling ‘news’ reason to run, but can illustrate a positive life moment, completely un-staged. Feature photos typically contain an eye-catching subject matter and storytelling qualities that can elicit an emotional response from the viewer.
   
5. Photographer of the Year
   A photographer who consistently shows a high degree of quality in their photographs, is willing to go beyond the average to get the photo that will tell the story. Entries must consist of a minimum of three and a maximum of six photographs (you may submit original prints also) of different events and times that exhibit the talent of the photographer with a brief outline of each photograph. Work submitted to other premiere categories may also be submitted to this category.