Qualifications
- Entries must have been taken since the closing of the last PILOTS and must be the sole work of the student.
- Entries must be 8" x 10," mounted and backed on an 11" x 14" mat that is not thicker than 3/16" or thinner than 1/16". No hangers are necessary.
- Entries may be processed by commercial labs or by the student.
- Contestants should refrain from using AI tools, programs, or templates to generate or modify their photos. If these are suspected of being used, judges will reserve the right to disqualify the entry.
- Subjects in Photography must meet all PILOTS Convention standards as far as dress codes and suitable subject matter are concerned. Nothing in the photo, whether in the background or out of focus, should violate Christian standards.
- Students may participate in more than one category, but each photo may be entered in only one event.
- The PILOTS staff is not responsible for lost or damaged entries.
- For judging criteria see form MDF3-9 (shown on each event's page).
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Scenic (Nature/God-made) | A picturesque scene of nature; color only |
| Scenic (Man-made) | A picturesque scene of a building, monument, or anything architectural; color only |
| Still Life | A picturesque arrangement of objects; color or black & white |
| Animal Wildlife | - Pictures must be taken of animals, birds, insects, etc. - No domestic animals allowed including caged zoo animals - Pictures must be color only |
| Plant Wildlife | - Pictures must be taken of any type of plant life - No indoor plants permitted - Images must come from nature - Pictures must be color only |
| Portrait | - Pictures must be taken of a person, domestic animal, or both - Creativity is welcomed; pictures do not have to be a face-shot from the shoulders up - Pictures must be color only |
Checklist
- Entries must arrive for judging in satisfactory exhibition condition.
- Contestants may name their pictures in a caption mounted on the backing.
- Students must clearly and legibly write on the back of or affix a typed address label to the back of the photo mat with the following information:
- Date picture was taken
- Location
- Name/type of camera used
- Megapixels
- Lens attachment used (if applicable)
The entry will be disqualified if this information is not included.
- The judge should be able to flip the mounted photo over and clearly view the above listed information.
- The contestant’s name or school name should not appear anywhere on the entry. The entry will be given a number and a corresponding label during registration.
- The photograph must be entered in the correct category. Once an entry is submitted, it must stay in that category even if it is the wrong category.
Tips:
- Judges will pay close attention to the technical qualities of the photograph.
- One technical quality is composition, which includes the number of subjects, their arrangement, and the background of the picture.
- When composing, students should keep the photograph simple. Too much symbolism or clutter is distracting to the viewer.
- Students should avoid placing the main subject "dead center" since it produces a dull, static effect.
- After composing the photo, students need to carefully check the background for distracting, objectionable elements.
- Finally, students should pay close attention to the finishing touches. An entry should be clean and free of scratches, dust specks, or wrinkles, and should be matted attractively. Judges suggest using a single simple mat (white, beige, black, etc.) to avoid distracting from the photograph.