CAPA

CAPA: The Canadian Association for Photographic Art

 

CAPA Competitions Webpage

 

About CAPA

 “About CAPA.” Canadian Association for Photographic Art, capacanada.ca/what-is-capa/.ues. 

The Canadian Association for Photographic Art (CAPA) is a national organization of Canadian Camera clubs and individual members from Canada and around the world who have a common interest in photography. Our clubs can be found across Canada, all of whom are always eager to welcome new members. We have almost 90 member clubs and over 1,000 individual CAPA members. Our members range from amateurs to professionals, many of whom are recognised among the best photographers in Canada.
 
Frequently, CAPA members receive international acclaim through their published photographic work, articles and their courses. New photographers can quickly build their skills through interaction with other CAPA members, who will share their experience and techniques.T he Association operates under a charter from the Federal Government as a non-profit charitable corporation, registration No. 119051415 RR0001. All officers of the Association are elected and are unpaid. Their major interest is to serve Canadian photographers.
 

Our objectives are:

  • To promote the art and science of photography in all its forms throughout Canada and the world, and to further public interest therein
  • To encourage and promote participation by its members in photographic exhibitions, circuits, competitions and like endeavors on regional, national and international level
  • To promote the organization and encourage the affiliation of camera clubs, councils and similar groups
  • To promote international, national and regional exhibitions of photography
  • To compile and disseminate information relating to photography in all its forms for the use and benefit of the individual members and the Association’s affiliated or associated groups

 

CAPA Competitions Benefits

“CAPA Competitions.” Canadian Association for Photographic Art, capacanada.ca/capa-competitions/.

When you enter a CAPA Competition, you have opportunities to grow and enhance your photography skills:

  • Increase your confidence in your photographic skills, abilities and artistic style by trying new ideas and techniques
  • Determine what changes or enhancements you need to make to be considered competitive
  • Receive an assessment of your image from a panel of independent judges by way of a collective score
  • Increase your exposure as a photographer

Judging of images is subjective and rarely do all judges award the same scores for an individual image.  Consequently, an image can receive a different score by different judges on a different date. However, judges do agree that the top 20% of submitted images contain the elements of being a competitive image.  Therefore, all photographers should strive to place in the top 20% of every competition they enter instead of being solely focused on winning a CAPA award.

 

When an image doesn’t place in the top 20% then it becomes a self reflecting moment to analyze your image to identify what elements or techniques could be enhanced.  This process may include comparing your image with that of the winning images. Most competitions are open to both CAPA individual members and members of more than 84 camera clubs that are members of CAPA. 

CAPA Certified Judge

“National Judging Course.” Canadian Association for Photographic Art, capacanada.ca/national-judging-course/.

As a photographic society, one of CAPA’s most important roles is to nurture and encourage photographers at all levels to increase their knowledge and expertise in the art. Historically, one of the very significant ways we did this was to ensure that members received evaluation through judges with wide experience and knowledge of all aspects of photography. CAPA provides nation-wide courses teaching the fundamentals of judging, so that those who enter our competitions, can be assured of consistent and well-informed evaluation and commentary of their work. CAPA has trained judges since its inception to provide skilled competent judges and commentators at CAPA sponsored competitions, club events and international exhibitions. CAPA clubs particularly seek the help of CAPA judges for their own in-house competitions on a regular basis, and look to us to provide a consistent standard of judging across the country.