Altered Reality photography is an opportunity for those who dare to explore the experimental and creative forms of photographic expression. These will include, but not be limited to derived images, ultra-high contrast, black light, bas-relief, solarization, multi-images, trick lenses and filters, and other ways to alter the image to produce a new abstract effect. Just about anything goes. The important thing is the result, not the means to create it. This area of photography bridges between photographic realism and creative art. It is very difficult to judge and there are literally no rules to follow. Generally, concentration on form and color rather than detail in the image will help you succeed.

The Homework category refers to the monthly subjects determined by the OCC members during a business meeting each November.  One subject is listed for each month of competition. Subjects are selected for 12 months at a time and allow members a minimum of 12 months to capture.  For instance: whatever the current month and year you are submitting a homework photo for, you can use a photo that was taken anytime from the preceding year up to the present day. If you were submitting a photo today it could have been taken as early as January 1 of the preceding year.

Journalism Photography or Photojournalism means simply the telling of a story by the use of a picture, or a sequence of related separate pictures arranged for presentation as a single entry. The type of photograph that one sees in the newspaper or magazines that depicts some event or activity is what is meant. The caption is important, but the best journalistic photographs tell their own stories and don’t always need a caption. A good picture is, after all, worth more than a thousand words. An element of human interest is important and virtually essential for pictures to succeed in competition. Interest is paramount, but good composition and technique will often make the difference that decides the winners.

• Special note for Nature Images and Journalism Images
  The only digital editing that can be allowed must fit with the N4C definition for acceptable Journalism or Nature images. In the interest of credibility, photographs which misrepresent the truth, such as manipulation to alter the subject matter, or situations which are set up for the purpose of photography, are unacceptable. No elements may be moved, cloned, added, deleted, rearranged, combined or changed in any way that affects the integrity of the image content. No manipulation or modification is permitted except resizing, cropping, selective lightening or darkening, and restoration of original color of the scene. No special effect filters can be added or applied, and any sharpening must appear natural.

•  Nature photography is simply the recording of our natural world by some photographic means.  Included are all branches of nature except Archeology and Anthropology.

•  No photograph is worth the distress or injury to any wild creature.

•  Nature photographs may be either black & white or color. 

• The hand of man shall not be present in any nature entry except where wild animals have adapted to the built environment (e.g., fence posts and other man-made objects freely adapted for use by wild creatures). 

• Banding or tagging on nature subjects is acceptable. Photographs at bird feeders are not acceptable if any part of a man-made feeder is shown in the photograph.

• Photographs taken in zoos, animal farms or game farms are acceptable as long as the setting remains natural, and the hand of man is not visible.

• Domestic animals and pets are not acceptable and should be entered in other categories.

• Adjustments must look natural. The use of HDR, exposure blending, focus stacking, stitching, and related techniques that combine more than one image is acceptable, provided the resulting image is natural in appearance.

​Special note for Nature Images and Journalism Images
The only digital editing that can be allowed must fit with the N4C definition for acceptable Journalism or Nature images. In the interest of credibility, photographs which misrepresent the truth, such as manipulation to alter the subject matter, or situations which are set up for the purpose of photography, are unacceptable. No elements may be moved, cloned, added, deleted, rearranged, combined or changed in any way that affects the integrity of the image content. No manipulation or modification is permitted except resizing, cropping, selective lightening or darkening, and restoration of original color of the scene. No special effect filters can be added or applied, and any sharpening must appear natural.

In pictorial photography we are concerned with the artistic quality of the presentation of the subject rather than with the subject itself. Literally, all subjects qualify, but since “Interest” accounts for one-third of the score, subjects that catch the viewer’s eye will have an advantage. The judges will be seeking answers to the question, “Did the photographer simply record the subject, or did he/she through the photographic process enhance the viewer’s interest in the subject?” Pictorialism may be accomplished by meticulous photographic technique, proper presentation, careful composition, or most likely all of these factors.​

Travel implies going to some place other than one’s customary environment, and photo-travel photography suggests the photographic depiction of that new environment or the means used to get there. There is no definition of how far away that environment must be to qualify as “travel” or how different that new environment must be. However, the judges will generally award prizes to those photographs that depict more exotic and unfamiliar places, even though such places are “home” to someone. Good photographic technique and particularly the ability to convey the feeling and flavor of the place visited will help you be a winner. Try to emphasize the character that makes the place unique from other places. Be sure to state the state or nation in the title where the picture was made on the slide or print.

B&W Category Definition
The Monochrome category is similar in character to Pictorial, except that the category is for black & white images. Images are limited to monochromatic hues or shades of gray, although filters may be applied to give a hue or tint. Different photographic processes and toners give a different hue to a black & white photograph, for example, selenium, sepia, and split toning (duo-toning). No fraction of the image shall be given a special color treatment. Black & White prints and digital images may be created from:

• black & white film, 

• digital black & white captures, or 

• digital color images converted to black & white. 

The use of HDR, exposure blending, focus stacking, stitching, and related techniques that combine more than one image is acceptable.