SUBMIT DIGITAL IMAGES
TO CHARTER OAK PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY (COPS) COMPETITIONS

Revised 9/9/2025

All entries must conform to COPS Competition Rules.

These submission requirements and procedures apply to both digital and print images. Although physical prints are judged in a print box, their digital versions may be projected for the entire audience’s benefit.

Image Preparation

ParameterRequirementsRestrictions
Color spacesRGB for color
Gray Gamma 2.2 for untinted monochrome
Image size11920 wide x 1080 high NEWNo images larger than 2MB
Image resolution2Up to 300 dpiNo images larger than 2MB
File extension.jpg or .jpeg
Submission title3Short title, 40 characters max.
(e.g., South-Western Red Cactus #2).		No maker’s name, date, or other data.
NAT designation4If an image complies with PSA Nature
Photography rules, include NAT at the end of
the title.
-ST designationA makeup image in the Specified Topics
type should include -ST at the end of
the title.
  1. Image size rules are subject to change.
  2. Select a resolution that produces an image file size no larger than 2 MB.
  3. File name and submission title can (but need not) be identical.
  4. For PSA Nature Photography rules, see Competition Rules, Appendix D.

SUBMITTING DIGITAL IMAGES

Where To Submit Images

Images must be submitted to the COPS Competition Website located at …
https://charteroakphoto.visualpursuits.com

How To Log In To The COPS Competition Website

Download Log In Instructions Video of Log In Instructions

Each club member has received an email message from the Visual Pursuits – COPS Competition Website containing a user name and password specifically for submitting images to competitions. (NOTE: Your user name and password for competitions may be different from the login credentials you use on this COPS website.)

If you have lost your login credentials, click the ‘RESET PASSWORD’ button on the ‘Login…’ page, fill out the form, and the website will email new credentials to you. MAKE A NOTE OF YOUR USERNAME & PASSWORD, as you will need them to submit images to competitions.

When To Submit Images

Monthly competitions: The submission period begins 3 weeks before and ends 1 week before the competition date.

Year-End competitions: The submission period, usually announced in late April or early May, is 1 week long.

How To Submit Images To Monthly Competitions

COMPETITION TYPES & RULES


Open entries may be manipulated as long as the final result appears realistic. Open comprises all subject matter. Digital Image entries that properly belong in Wildlife, Monochrome, or Creative are excluded from Open.


Wildlife entries may be manipulated as long as the final result appears realistic. Wildlife comprises all non-domestic creatures including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, shellfish and insects. The subject matter must predominate. Monochromatic wildlife images are entered in Wildlife, not Monochrome.

COPS Wildlife entries need not conform to PSA Nature Photography rules. However, if one does meet PSA Nature criteria (Competition Rules, Appendix D), please include the designation “NAT” in the image title. (“NAT” enables that image to be entered into NECCC Digital Nature competitions, which adhere strictly to PSA Nature rules.)


Monochrome entries may be manipulated as long as the final result appears realistic. Monochrome entries are not restricted to black and white or sepia and may be of any single monochromatic hue. Monochromatic wildlife images are entered in Wildlife. Monochromatic infrared images are entered in Monochrome, but multicolored infrared images are entered in Creative.

Specified Topic entries may be manipulated as long as the final result appears realistic (for potential restriction, see note below). Specified Topic encourages the photographer to learn new skills or capture new subject matter. The specified topic must predominate. The list of monthly specified topics will be made available to the membership.

Specified Topic entries may not consist of images that properly belong in Wildlife or Monochrome unless either of those is the specified topic of the month (e.g., PSA Nature rules, zoo photography, black-and-white photography). If an image fits Specified Topic as well as Open, the maker has the option of entering it in either (but not both). (E.g., if the specified topic is architectural elements, the maker may enter a color image of a gargoyle in either Specified Topic or Open.)

Note: When the specified topic is a PSA type (e.g., PSA Nature, PSA Photo Travel), manipulation of the image is restricted to what PSA rules allow (Competition Rules, Appendix D & E).


Creative comprises composites, abstracts, or obviously altered reality. The preponderance of the image must derive from the maker’s optically captured image. Computer-generated elements or effects that enhance or distort the optically captured primary subject(s) are allowed. The use of textures, patterns, and/or brushes is allowed, whether purchased or created by the maker.

Creative includes, but is not limited to (1) predominantly monochromatic images with portions in color, (2) multicolored infrared images, (3) abstract shapes or designs produced by twirling, distorting, or warping, (4) images rendered non-realistic by means of in-camera and/or post-processing filters, (5) images in which the use of textures, brushes, or patterns is more than subtle, (6) images with borders composed of more than simple, narrow lines.

Creative entries may not include (1) clip art, (2) images downloaded from the Internet, (3) another maker’s image, painting, or drawing as the basis for the maker’s further revisions or enhancements.

Images of this type will be composites that include computer-generated AI elements chosen by the maker using written prompts, and also at least one element made by the maker using traditional means. All parts of the final image must be the concept of the maker and assembled by the maker. You can’t use a cool picture you found on the internet as part of the final product, as that is not AI generated fill. Open, monochrome, wildlife, creative will all be lumped together in this type. Images will be judged individually on their merits and the skill in creating it. Composition, lighting and impact will all be part of the judging process.

Members will be able to enter up to two images a month. There will be one level only, with no Salon or Masters levels for this type. We also expect those who earn first place in our competitions to share with the membership just how their winning image was made. At present, we do not anticipate compiling scores month to month; this type will be for fun only.

The submitted image must be in .jpg format and it can not be edited either in the camera or with post-processing software. This type will be experimental, like the AI type. Only two images per maker may be submitted monthly into the Un-edited type. They will be scored by the judges, but the scores will not count toward the yearly point totals. Submitting images into this type does not affect the maximum number of submissions allowed for other types, such as Digital Open, Digital Wildlife, etc.


Makeup images are permitted but must be submitted in the monthly competition immediately following the competition being made up. (Therefore, a maker could enter as many as six digital images in a monthly competition: three entries for the present month and three makeups from the previous month.) Makeup images receive scores but are not eligible for ribbons. When uploading via the COPS Competition Website, be sure to select the Makeup competition type.

For 1 Digital Open, 2 Digital Wildlife, 3 Digital Monochrome, 4 Specified Topic, 5 Digital Creative: A total of 3 images may be submitted in this group.

For 6 Digital AI: Up to 2 images may be submitted.

For 7 Digital Un-edited: Up to 2 images may be submitted.

For 8 Makeups: Up to 3 images may be submitted.

Download Submitting Instructions Video of Submitting Instructions

Competition Levels: Your Competition Level (Salon, Masters) is associated with your log in account, so there is no need to stipulate or choose a Competition Level during the image submission process.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  • The Competition Chair reviews submitted images for adherence to club rules and appropriateness to the Competition Types selected. If an image is incorrectly designated, the maker will be notified by email. The maker may resubmit the image into the proper Competition Type via the usual upload procedure (not verbally or through email). If re-submitted before the submission deadline, the image will be judged that month. If not, it will be disqualified. Properly designated, however, that image may be entered in a future competition. Make-up entries for disqualified images must be entered in the next month’s competition.

    Note: During competitions, the rules committee reserves the right to deem an image “out-of-category.” Any such image will not be scored but can, in its proper Competition Type, be entered in a future competition. Make-up entries for ineligible images must be entered in the next month’s competition.

  • During the submission period, you can log in again to view, add, edit, or delete entries.

  • Address issues or questions regarding your submitted images to … competitionchair@charteroakphoto.org.

How To Submit Images To The Year-End (YE) Competition

COMPETITION TYPES

YE 1 Digital Open
YE 2 Digital Wildlife
YE 3 Digital Monochrome
YE 4 Digital Creative
YE 5 Rich Nature
YE 6 Sibley Travel

RULES

FOR ALL COMPETITION TYPES (except the Sibley Travel type), SUBMITTED IMAGES MUST HAVE BEEN ENTERED PREVIOUSLY IN THE SEASON’S MONTHLY COMPETITIONS. ALSO, SUBMITTED IMAGES AT YEAR-END MUST BE IDENTICAL TO THOSE ENTERED PREVIOUSLY – NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES (E.G. CROPPING, ENHANCEMENTS, ETC.) ARE ALLOWED.

For YE 1 Digital Open, YE 2 Digital Wildlife, YE 3 Digital Monochrome, YE 4 Digital Creative: A maximum of 5 images may be submitted in any one of these competition types, not to exceed a total of 10 images in this group. Each image must have been previously submitted during the monthly competitions of the season.

For YE 5 Rich Nature: A maximum of 5 images may be submitted. Each image must have been previously submitted during the monthly competitions of the season.

For YE 6 Sibley Travel: A maximum of 2 images may be submitted. Images may have been previously submitted during the monthly competitions of the season, or they can be new images (not previously submitted).

INSTRUCTIONS

Download YE Submitting Instructions

Address issues or questions regarding your submitted images to … competitionchair@charteroakphoto.org.

How To View & Manage Your Submitted Images in Your Image Library NEW

View your image library to

  • Check that a newly submitted image uploaded properly and was entered into the appropriate competition.
  • Choose library images to submit to the Year-End Competition by reviewing a list of images submitted during the past club season.
  • Remove certain older images from your library.
Download Instructions to View & Manage Submitted Images