LWRDPC Competitions

LWRDPC AI Guidelines (Updated August 2025)

Purpose

The goal of this policy is to ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity in our competitions while acknowledging the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in photography.

Definitions

Traditional Photography – Images created from light captured by a camera. Standard post-processing (exposure, contrast, cropping, noise reduction, sharpening, color adjustments, dodging/burning, HDR, focus stacking, etc.) is permitted.

AI-Assisted Editing (Permitted) – Tools that use AI to enhance or clean up an image without adding new subject matter. Examples: noise reduction, sharpening, upscaling, lens correction, dust/scratch removal, selective masking, object/people removal, generative expand (expanding canvas).

AI-Generated / AI-Augmented Content (Prohibited) – Any element in an image that was created by AI rather than captured by the photographer. Examples: sky replacement, generated objects, backgrounds, faces, or textures created by MidJourney, DALL·E, Photoshop Generative Fill, etc.

 Competition Rules

1. Permitted

• AI-assisted editing for enhancement (see above).
• Standard digital editing consistent with traditional photography.
• Composites are permitted only if all source images are the photographer’s own captures.

• Fully AI-generated images.
• Adding or replacing elements in a photo with AI-generated text.
• Content that is not the photographer’s own work.

• All visible subject matter must come from your own camera. AI may assist in editing but must not create what you did not capture.

• The Competition Committee may request the original RAW/JPEG file(s) for verification.

In Summary

LWRDPC Guideline:  Per the rules, every part of an image must be the maker’s own work.  Artificial Intelligence or AI cannot be used to add elements to an image that were not taken by the maker.  AI functions such as denoising, healing, sharpening, expanding canvas are allowed, as long as AI generated objects, people, or other elements are not introduced into the image.  Makers may be asked to submit original images prior to approval.

Digital Image of the Month

We have a "Digital Image of the Month” contest every month at the general meetings. Any current member is allowed to enter just 1 photo. Images must be submitted digitally no later than 5:00 PM the Wednesday before the meeting. Monthly themes can be found here. Unless otherwise stated, components used to create an image must be made/photographed by the photographer. Three club members who have been approved as qualified judges, will judge & score photos on a 0-20 pt. scoring system. The club follows the FCCC competition rules and criteria. The criteria used to judge the contest photos are: Impact, Technical Excellence, Creativity, Style, Composition, Presentation, Color Balance, Center of Interest, Lighting, Subject Matter, Technique, and Story Telling. First, second and third place ribbons will be awarded and a fourth place/honorable mention photo will be designated as well.. Judge's comments and critiques will be provided. 

Fall 2025 Salon Competition

Our Salon Competition is an opportunity for you to have your photos critiqued by three qualified judges. Our moderator will be one of our Competition Co-Chairs and no one but you will know that your photo is being judged.

In these Salon Events, your photo will be pre-judged 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 FCCC rules. 

Fall 2025 Salon Themes. More details and examples here.

Architecture

Photographs that showcase the beauty of human-made structures - from entire buildings to intricate details - using light, perspective, and design to highlight form. Color and/or mono.

Motion

Images that capture movement, energy, or the passage of time - whether frozen in an instant or expressed through creative blur. Color and/or mono.

Joy

Photos that convey happiness, delight, or celebration - through people, animals, colors, or scenes that lift the spirit. Color and/or mono.

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.