General Information for Prospective/New Members

Committee

The MCC committee meets once a month to discuss the affairs of the club. The 2020/2021 committee is as follows:
Chair : Des van Tonder
Competition Steward : Bertie Price
Treasurer : Tracey Rhodes
Other members: Terry Burne, Heidi Taylor, Connell Adey

Club Meetings

The Club meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the MOTH Hall, Alan Paton Avenue. All meetings commence at 19h00. The evening ends at approximately 20h30.

Fees

Joining Fee: R50.00
Individual membership: R440.00 per annum
Scholar membership: R220.00 per annum
Family Membership: R660.00 per annum
Country Membership: R300-00 per annum
Please pay to: Maritzburg Camera Club
Banking Details - Current Account
Bank - First National Bank, Midlands Mall
Branch Code: 257 355
Account Number: 6219 0777 543

Please use your name as a reference.

Monthly Entries

    • Entries for the Monthly Competition are submitted via PhotoVault Online by midnight on the 10th of each month for the next month's competition.
    • The Competition Steward compiles all entries and delivers them to a judge for judging prior to the Club meeting.
    • Technical Challenge and Westville Challenge entries are also to be submitted via PhotoVault Online by midnight on the 10th of each month for the next month's competition.
    • A member must have paid subscriptions for that competition year, in order to enter any competitions. Should subscriptions not be paid, the Competition Steward will disqualify entries.

 

Rules for Competitions

Check out the document here containing all the accepted categories and respective rules for each category, for the Monthly Competitions. Technical Challenge monthly subjects can be accessed here. Westville Challenge is here.

Grading

    • Members are graded into one of the following: 1 star, 2 star, 3 star, 4 star, 5 star. 1 to 3 stars are called "Juniors" and 4 to 5 stars are called "Seniors".
    • Extra gradings have been added beyond 5 star: 5 Star Bronze, 5 Star Silver, 5 Star Gold, 5 Star Platinum, 5 Star Diamond and Master.
    • New members, who do not hold a star rating, start at 1 star. Those members, who transfer ratings from another club, are required to submit a panel of 10 images and a reference from their previous club's Chairperson, to the MCC committee for assessment.

Awards

The judges at their absolute discretion will rate the image and make the awards. The decision of the judge in all competitions is final. The Competition Steward will credit members with the appropriate number of points on the Club database.

Promotion in Grade

    • Within a star rating, promotion to the next star rating shall be based on the accumulation of points, Golds and Merits and Salon Acceptances (where applicable) - (See table below).
    • Promotion is effective from the next time that the member submits an entry. (E.g. in March the member received sufficient awards to be upgraded, only when they enter again the new grade applies).
    • Points are cumulative, but fall away upon promotion;When you reach 5 Star, points are accumulative, as well as Salon Acceptances, which are carried forward to the next rating.
    • An image may only have 3 Salon acceptances. (However, an image can be submitted for Salons more than 3 times). It is the responsibility of the member to communicate Salon Acceptances to the Competition Steward. You must forward the acceptances as received from the Salon Director.

 

Points awarded summary

Points are earned for each award you gain at regular Monthly, Technical Challenge and Westville Challenge competitions. The table below shows the points and awards:

    • 0-3 No award

 

    • 4-6 Bronze

 

    • 7-9 Silver

 

    • 10-12 Gold

 

    • 13-15 Merit

 

Star Progression

 

Bonus Points

Additional competitions may award points at the discretion of the Committee. The following is a list of current competitions:

 

Competition Points AWARDED Additional
Any Interclub: Acceptance 5 none
Interclub: Winner 6 Gold/Merit
National/International Salons: Acceptance 5 Salon acceptance
National/International Salons: Certificate of Merit 6 Salon acceptance
National/International Salons: Medal 7 Salon acceptance

Annual Awards

All 12 Golds and 13-15 Merits are automatically entered into the competition for the Image of the Year Senior/Junior. Awards are given to the member receiving the most Golds and Merits from February to November of that year (Junior and Senior). The member with the highest total scores from the Technical Challenge Subjects is also recognised (Junior and Senior).

MCC Photo Circuit

MCC hold this event annually. A suitable venue is chosen. A photo circuit can be held over a weekend or one day. Other clubs may be invited. A set number of subjects are chosen before the event, but are only given out at the photo circuit. These photographic images are only taken at the event. Judging and viewing takes place a month or two after the circuit and prizes are awarded.

MCC and Westville CC Challenge

This is an annual event. The two clubs choose a subject alternately. The members have approx 9 months to collect images. The committee chooses the final 20 junior images and 20 senior images to submit for judging. The winning club receives a trophy.

Salons (National and International)

A Salon is an exhibition of images. A panel of judges assess images accepted into the Salon. Salons are held at various venues. These Salons are advertised on the PSSA website www.pssa.co.za and this website. Entry forms and rules are available on this website, from Photovault and on the PSSA website.

Technical Challenges (Club)

These challenges are to facilitate members learning and practicing new techniques. Outings are arranged when needed, sometimes with the Challenge in mind, so that members can learn from experienced photographers. This will also encourage members to become more involved in club events. These images will be viewed at the Workshop meetings. Points will be awarded per the above schedule.

PSSA

The Photographic Society of Southern Africa is the officially recognised body representing photographers of Southern Africa. It is affiliated to the Photographic Society of America (P.S.A.) and the Royal Photographic Society (R.P.S.) and affords members contact with international photographic affairs.

PSSA aims to weld together the associated efforts of individuals and the clubs into one strong unit. They provide medals for, and participate in, the organisation of National and International Salons.

Honours are bestowed and awards are made by the society. These honours are respected throughout the world.

A photographic congress is held each year in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting of the Society. The congress affords photographers a platform to meet fellow photographers from around the country, and hear speakers who are recognised as leading authorities in their particular field.

PSSA publishes a magazine called IMAGE, which covers all aspects of the Society's activities and photography in general.

Honours/Awards - Photographic Society of Southern Africa

    • LPSSA - Licentiateship of the Photographic Society of Southern Africa

 

    • APSSA - Associateship of the Photographic Society of Southern Africa

 

    • FPSSA - Fellowship of the Photographic Society of Southern Africa