The purpose of this competition is to allow photographers to enter photographic prints, CD albums or albums to be judged relative to the 12 Elements of a Merit Print. PPA members are eligible to achieve PPA Exhibition Merits toward the Master of Photography Degree. These rules pertain to still images entered as prints created by traditional photographic processes as well as those captured electronically with a digital camera or scanner.

1. Entrant must have captured and created the original exposure.

2. The entrant’s name shall not appear anywhere in or on the face of the entry.

3. A maximum of four entries may be submitted per entrant.

4. No entry will be eligible that has been made under the supervision of an instructor or as a class assignment.

5. No two entries shall be of the same subject.

6. Entries previously merited at any PPA International Competition are not eligible including any image from a merited album.

7. Entries bearing the PPA Affiliated Exhibition Seal of Approval submitted according to the rules of entry will be automatically accepted for exhibition.

8. Entry media includes photographic prints, CD albums and albums.

9. If an image Merits in any category of PPA competition it may not be entered again in any other category at any time by any entrant. No image that receives a Merit may be entered more than once under any conditions.

1. Print entries must be permanently mounted on standard mount material. e.g. 3x mat board, gator board, ¼" foam or sintra. No masonite, glass, stretcher or conventional frames are allowed.

2. Images of any shape and size are allowed and must be mounted on 16 x 20 mount board. (recommended mounting thickness is 1/8" to 3/8")

3. No material may be added to the front or back of an entry that may damage another entry.

4. Exception: PPA Master of Photography Degree holders may submit images of any shape and size on a mount board a minimum of 80 square inches to a maximum of 480 square inches, with the largest dimension no longer than 24".

Album entries may be submitted in the form of a Traditional Album or a CD Format Album

There are 2 Album Entry Categories, Events and Non-Events

1. Events: Use this category for time-sensitive social events such as weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc.

2. Non-Events: Use this category for portrait and storytelling albums.

NOTE: Starting in 2008, multi-maker and single-maker albums will be judged as one category.

Traditional Album Entry

1. Album cover may not exceed 400 square inches.

2. No multiple volume albums are allowed.

3. Any studio identification or entrant’s name in the traditional album must be covered.

CD Format Album Entry - See TUTORIAL at http://competitions.ppa.com

1. Non-re-writable CDs are required for CD album entries.

2. All files MUST be a horizontal canvas size of 2560 x 1600 pixels color space sRGB, JPEG at Quality setting 12 (That doesn’t mean you can’t have vertical images. See tutorial)

3. Each canvas/file may be a single album side or a spread with as many images as you desire.

4. An entry may contain up to 36 "Canvases/files"

5. Identify Canvas/files in the order to be viewed using two digits i.e. 01.jpg, 02.jpg, 03.jpg, etc.)

6. Canvas/file 01.jpg MUST be blank - filled with BLACK

7. All Canvas/files for one entry Must be in one folder named with your, Entry #, PPA# and Title of Entry in that order. i.e. 1-49881 Endless Love

8. Limit (1) album entry per CD.

9. Entrant’s Name/s plus, Entry #, PPA#/s, and Title MUST be written directly on the CD for identification. NOTE: In order to prevent jamming, NO labels can be affixed to the CD! Use the Official Entry Form and jewel case label.

10. Studio identification or entrant’s name can not appear on any file within the album entry.

NOTE: In the case of any Multi-Maker album entries:

1. The makers of a multi-maker album MUST belong to the same Regional to be eligible for the Seal of Approval. If they do not, the album may only be entered at the International Judging to be eligible for merit.

2. Each entrant must pay the appropriate entry fee.

3. Each album or CD jewel case must have the official entry label with the names and PPA #s for each entrant.

4. Images in the album must be the work of the entrants, with a minimum of 20 images per entrant.

5. Multi-maker albums will be judged as one entry.

1. Entries must be shipped in an approved print case.

2. Album entries must be shipped in a secure, reusable shipping container.

3. Ship entries to: BetterImages by Wes c/o The Professional Photographers of Ohio, 1410 Dayton Xenia Road, Xenia, OH 45385.

4. PPO nor MES assumes no responsibility for damage to entries.

5. Shipping containers and entries will be returned after the Ohio Convention.

Note: Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification of entry. The decision of the Photographic Exhibitions Committee is final.