Monthly Image Competition

Monthly Image Competition Rules

The Monthly Image Competition (MIC) started in 2004 as way for members to share photographs they had made, in friendly competition. University of Houston photographer Jeff Shaw originated the idea and the competition has grown from a few images in the early days to over 300 monthly entries. Throughout the life of the competition, manufactures have offered prizes for the Best of Show each month, and for the overall winner at the end of the year.

  • The MIC takes place during the academic year, August to May.
  • A member may enter a maximum of 4 images per month.
  • The categories are the same as the Annual Print Competition and members rate each image on a one to seven scale with seven being the highest rating.
  • Each image receives a score that is calculated by multiplying the average by 100 to arrive at the final monthly score.
  • Those monthly scores are then added together to determine the overall winner, who is recognized at the Annual Symposium in June.

Not only does the MIC provide a friendly competition, it also provides a tool to foster creative ideas and to see what others in the profession are doing. Because fellow university and college photographers judge the images, winning participants know their images are appreciated and valued by their counterparts at some of the best college and universities around the world.

Many photographers have commented on how the MIC has improved their daily work. In a lot of institutions there is only one photographer and the MIC provides a means to gather information on photos that are being made at other schools.

Glenn Carpenter, President of the UPAA

 

Past Winners

2023 February Monthly Image Competition 2021 September Monthly Image Competition 2019 December Monthly Image Competition 2018 MAY MONTHLY IMAGE COMPETITION 2017 January Monthly Image Competition
2023 January Monthly Image Competition 2021 June Monthly Image Competition 2019 November Monthly Image Competition 2018 April Monthly Image Competition 2016 December Monthly Image Competition
2022 December Monthly Image Competition 2021 May Monthly Image Competition 2019 October Monthly Image Competition 2018 March Monthly Image Competition 2016 November Monthly Image Competition
2022 November Monthly Image Competition 2021 April Monthly Image Competition 2019 September Monthly Image Competition 2018 February Monthly Image Competition 2016 September Monthly Image Competition
2022 October Monthly Image Competition 2021 March Monthly Image Competition 2019 June Monthly Image Competition 2018 January Monthly Image Competition 2016 Summer Monthly Image Competition
2022 September Monthly Image Competition 2021 February Monthly Image Competition 2019 May Monthly Image Competition 2017 December Monthly Image Competition 2016 June Monthly Image Competition
2022 June Monthly Image Competition 2021 January Monthly Image Competition 2019 April Monthly Image Competition 2017 November Monthly Image Competition 2016 May Monthly Image Competiton
2022 May Monthly Image Competition 2020 December Monthly Image Competition 2019 March Monthly Image Competition 2017 October Monthly Image Competition 2016 April Monthly Image Competition
2022 April Monthly Image Competition 2020 November Monthly Image Competition 2019 February Monthly Image Competition 2017 September Monthly Image Competition 2016 March Monthly Image Competition
2022 March Monthly Image Competition 2020 October Monthly Image Competition 2019 January Monthly Image Competition 2017 June Monthly Image Competition 2016 February Monthly Image Competition
2022 February Monthly Image Competition 2020 September Monthly Image Competition 2018 December Monthly Image Competition 2017 May Monthly Image Competition 2016 January Monthly Image Competition
2022 January Monthly Image Competition 2020 April Monthly Image Competition 2018 November Monthly Image Competition 2017 April Monthly Image Competition 2015 December Monthly Image Competition
2021 December Monthly Image Competition 2020 March Monthly Image Contest 2018 October Monthly Image Competition 2017 March Monthly Image Competition 2015 November Monthly Image Competition
2021 November Monthly Image Competition 2020 February Monthly Image Competition 2018 September Monthly Image Competition 2017 February Monthly Image Competition 2015 October Monthly Image Competition
2021 October Monthly Image Competition 2020 January Monthly Image Competition 2018 June Monthly Image Competition

Annual Photo Competition

Annual Photo Competition Rules

In 2019 the Board of Directors voted to change the The Annual Print Competition to the The Annual Photo Competition (APC). This competition is the flagship competition of the UPAA. Judging the APC occurs online each year around the time of the Annual Symposium. Images are judged on a scale of 1 to 7. This is a unique process allowing all members to have voice in choosing the very best in higher ed photography. It also insures consistency and understanding of the effort required to make an exceptional photograph. The APC in conjunction with the Monthly Image Competition determine the highest award of the UPAA, Photographer of the Year (POY). The POY is chosen by the board based on the scores in both the APC and the MIC, 65% APC and 35% MIC.

 

Nikon Shoot Out Competition

The Nikon Shoot Out brings together creativity, interpretation, and timeliness into a fun and competitive exercise. Each year at the symposium the Nikon representative gives an assignment that must be completed in a specified place and time. All those participating are on equal ground as they make one image and submit it without post processing for judging by the Nikon Representative in attendance. This exercise has real world implications to what a university photographer experiences each day.

Annual Publications Competition

A committee of designers, editors, and marketing professionals from the college/university hosting the Annual Symposium judge each entry. They look to see how photography is used in the publication. Awards are given to the institution in this competition and are presented at the symposium.

2022 Publication Competition Rules

Annual Narrative Series Competition

The Annual Narrative Series Competition Competition is designed to allow our members to enter videos and projects like Exposure and Adobe Spark to be judged by their peers. There are three categories in this competition.

Annual Narrative Series Competition Rules

Quarterly Narrative Series Competition

 The Quarterly Narrative Series Competition is designed to allow our members to enter videos and other projects like Exposure and Adobe Spark, to be judged by their peers. The board realizes the additional time that is required for these type of production and this is the reason for a quarterly competition.

Quarterly Narrative Series Competition Rules