Instructions and Guidelines for Photo Sharing
For years, BIPC has been a place where members can share their experiences and knowledge of photography to improve their skills and enjoyment.
The Board determined that it would be helpful to provide our members with a guiding statement about the content of images that they submit as well as a process for dealing with any photos that may be considered "controversial”.
Statement of Board Guidelines for Sharing Images
We believe that submitted photos should contain subjects appropriate for all ages. Those that contain sexually explicit, obscene, violent, demeaning, racially or religiously biased or other objectionable or inappropriate content, as determined by the BIPC Board in its sole discretion, are ineligible for submission. It is also the responsibility of our photographers, if they have a question about photos that may fall into any one of these categories, to contact one of the Board members to discuss this.
Please refer to "Guidelines for Using Artificial Intelligence" page for details regarding BIPC AI policy.
Monthly shared images are automatically posted on our website, excluding images of children. Members may request in writing that an image not be put on website or shared beyond our meeting.
Photo Sharing
There are three categories of entries: General, Special Monthly Theme and slideshows and video.
The Special Monthly Themes are selected by the BIPC Board of Directors.
Each Sharing Meeting focuses on a specific theme, (such as landscapes, still life, complementary colors, etc.)
The themes selected for 2025 are as follows:
People/Portraits - March 12th
Bridges - May 14th
Panning - July 9th
Minimalism - September 10th
Macro and Closeup - November 12th
Geometric Shapes - Jan 14th 2026
General Rules for Submitting Images
Members may submit up to 2 photos per meeting or one slideshow or video, not to exceed five minutes.
Photos may be either digital, print or one of each. All print images must be submitted in digital form and print is then displayed at the meeting.
You may submit a “Before and After” image to illustrate processing and these count as one submission.
When a member’s photo is shown, the member should come prepared to talk about their image. We usually have pre-assigned commenters who will offer a critique. Any member at the meeting is encouraged to make additional comments.
For some guidelines in evaluating images see “helpful hints.” (add link)
You must be an active member of BIPC in order to submit images.
Note: Club members may choose to participate in various competitions such as for The Northwest Council of Camera Clubs (NWCCC) or other competitions. Tom Hansen coordinates the submissions for NWCCC and informs members when and how to submit images.
How to Prepare and Title Your Images
For Digital Images:
File format should be JPEG (jpg).
File size should not exceed 3000 pixels on the long side. Downsize if needed. For best image quality try to avoid using images that are under 2000 pixels on long edge.
For panoramas the size should not exceed 4000 pixels on the long edge.
When titling your images use underscores as separators and submit images as follows. Spaces are allowed between first and last names. Try to avoid using long titles.
Start with M or G for the category: M for monthly theme and G for general.
Following category, underscore followed by your initials, then a number from 1-4 after your initials to designate the order you want them shown, underscore again and add title of image, underscore and add your name followed by .jpg
Example:
G_JD1_Rain Forest_John Doe.jpg
M_JD2_Lake Chelan Canoers_John Doe.jpg
For before and after images, use the same title using number to designate order. Generally the before is shown first but your choice.
Example for Before and After Images:
M_AA1_Moonrise Over Hernandez_Ansel Adams.jpg
M_AA2_Moonrise Over Hernandez_Ansel Adams.jpg
Instructions For Prints:
You must submit a digital version as well as bring you print to the meeting.
For digital version use the same above instructions with the addition of the word “print” preceding .jpg as in the following example.
G_JD1_Rain Forest_John Doe.print.jpg
Mount prints on mat board or foam board no more than 1⁄4 inch thick. 16” x 20” maximum. Print size is up to the individual (such as 12 x 16 or 8 x 10). Top mats are not required but will help protect the image when prints are stacked together. No frames allowed.
The print’s identification must be provided indicating your name, title, category and arrow (to indicate which is “up”) on the back of the print.
Bring your prints to meeting by 6:45 pm.
Submitting Slideshows and Videos for In-person meetings:
Bring the slideshow or video on a thumb drive in an MP4 format at least 20 minutes before the meeting.
Intent to show a slideshow should be sent to images4bipc@gmail.com by the same deadline as other images.
The presentation should have continuity such as a theme, a series of related images, a trip, a subject of particular interest, a study or project, etc.
No additional images may be submitted at the same meeting.
Final Step:
Once images are completed images should be sent to images4bipc@gmail.com and the subject line should be “Photo Sharing”. Images must be submitted and received by midnight of the Friday before the Photo Sharing Meeting. If you plan to show a slideshow your intent to do so should be sent to this email by the deadline.
If you are submitting images but are unable to attend the meeting in person, please include a statement about your photo. This will be shared at the meeting.
You should get an email back confirming that your images were received.
Helpful Hints
BIPC Critique Guidelines
Critiques are meant to help our members improve their photographs – they are not meant to be a competition or to discourage member’s photographic efforts.
Critiques should point out what works well in a photograph, not just what doesn’t work.
Any criticism should be offered in as constructive a manner as possible.
Recognize that appreciation of a photograph is very subjective for both the photographer and the viewer. Commenters should keep an open mind and put aside personal biases when evaluating an image.
Each of the points below do not need to be discussed for each photograph, pick a few on which to focus.
Emotional Impact
What is the visual impact of the photo?
How does the photograph make you feel?
What emotions does it evoke?
What mood does the photo convey?
Does the photo tell a story?
Can you suggest how the photo could be changed to increase its emotional impact?
Is the photograph unique and/or especially creative without being gimmicky?
Most importantly, do you like the photo, why or why not?
COMPOSITION
Composition should not be reduced to an algorithm in a spreadsheet, but these should be considered some guidelines to assist the photographer in creating a better photo.
Centered vs. Rule of Thirds
Effective use of symmetry
Balance
Elements of Design: Line, Shape, Form, Texture, Pattern and Color
Are there Fore, Middle and Background elements (especially in landscapes)
Cropping and Framing – would a tighter crop tell the story better or would a wider perspective give more context
Are there distracting elements, especially near the edge of the frame
Does the background distract from the main area of interest
Does everything in the frame add to the photograph
Are there unfortunate mergers in the photo – e.g. trees coming out of someone’s head
Effective use of Color including complementary colors
Curves, Lines – Diagonal and S-Curves, Leading Lines can be very powerful, are they used effectively
Dark Areas and Light Areas – balanced appropriately
Negative Space – if any, was it used effectively
Where does the viewer’s eye go, do we know what the photographer wants us to see, is your eye drawn to the subject
Effective use of contrast (dark/light, colors, sharp focus/blurred, old/new, etc.)
TECHNIQUE
Technique should be discussed not as an end in itself, but as a means to help create a meaningful photograph.
Exposure
Focus – appropriate for the situation, is the main subject sharp? If not, was it intentional
Depth of Field – is the DOF appropriate for what the photographer was trying to do
White Balance/Color
Focal length – would a different focal length provide a better perspective for what the photographer was trying to show.