Lakewood Ranch Digital Photography Club |
LWRDPC Competitions
Upcoming Competitions
AI (Artificial Intelligence) GUIDELINES Images must originate as photographs captured by the entrant. Standard editing is allowed, including AI-assisted tools that do not generate or otherwise add new content to the image. No portion of any image may include AI-generated content, stock images, clipart, or any other third-party content. The club may request original files for verification. Quick decision test
PROHIBITED - NOT ALLOWED AI-Generated Content
PERMITTED - ALLOWED AI-Assisted Processing Tools
Traditional Processing
Composites
HELPFUL CLARIFICATIONS: Q: What's the difference between AI-assisted and AI-generated? A: AI-assisted enhances YOUR photograph (denoise, sharpen). AI-generated creates new content (objects) that didn't exist in your capture. Q: Can I use Lightroom's new AI features? A: Yes, if they enhance your photo. No, if they add new content. Q: Can I use Photoshop's Content-Aware Fill? A: Yes, for Open/Creative categories to remove small distractions. No for Photojournalism. The key is it must not add significant new content or alter the truth of the scene. Q: What about smartphone computational photography? A: Allowed if captured in standard photo mode. Not allowed if using AI modes that generate significant content in the image. Q: Can I composite multiple of my own photos? A: Yes, in Open/Creative categories, as long as ALL elements are from your own photographs. | LWRDPC Opportunities for Image Sharing and Competition (Click to download PDF file)
The Digital Image of the Month competition is held monthly at our general meetings and is open to all current members. Each member may submit one (1) image per month. Images must be submitted digitally no later than 11:00 PM on the Wednesday prior to the monthly meeting. Monthly themes are published in advance and can be found here. Unless otherwise stated, all elements used to create an image must be photographed or created by the submitting photographer. Use of purchased or externally generated image components is not permitted. Images are judged by three club members approved as qualified judges, using our competition software Pixoroo. Beginning January 2026, images are evaluated using a 100-point scoring system based on the following five judging criteria:
Awards will be given for First, Second, Third Place, and Honorable Mention. Judges’ comments and critiques are provided to support learning, growth, and continuous improvement. Our Salon Competition is an opportunity for you to have your photos critiqued by three external qualified judges. Our moderator will be our Competition Director and no one, but you, will know that your photo is being critiqued. In these Salon Events, your photo will be pre-critiqued and the images that gain a merit score will be projected on a screen long enough for the judges to discuss, in some cases, what they liked about the subject photo or things to change to improve it. Image requirements will be the same as Image of the Month. Fall 2025 Salon Themes. More details and examples here.
All photos must be original work from the artist. All added elements used for compositing or replacing parts of the entry must be the artist’s original work. If the artist wants to replace a background or sky, the replacement must be the artist’s original work. Photo Critiques These are feedback sessions and a great opportunity to receive advice from some of our advanced members on how you can improve the pictures you are considering entering into the Salon, FCCC or any competition. This is a learning opportunity you should take advantage of as many of our club ribbon winners are a result of these sessions. Digital Image of the Month Competition Ribbon Winners |
