Capture Oakville FAQ

General Questions & Answers​

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Do I have to be a member of the Oakville Camera Club (OCC) to enter this Competition?

No, the competition is open to any person who is a resident of the province of Ontario, Canada.​​

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Where do I get a full set of the Competition Rules?

The rules can be found above. Click the 2026 Competition Rules & Process button at the top of the page.

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Do all the images have to be taken in Oakville?

No, images can be of anywhere in the world, EXCEPT for the Streets of Oakville category, which must be taken within the geographic confines of the Town of Oakville.

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Must the image be recent?

All images must have been taken within a specified time frame; any time between January 1st, 2025 and March 1st, 2026, except for the Moments that Endure category, where images can be within the last 20 years.

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How many images can I enter?

You can enter a maximum of seven (7) entries; however, you cannot enter more than one (1) image into a single Competition Category.

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What is the deadline for submitting?

To be eligible, an entry must be submitted electronically by midnight on March 2nd, 2026.

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Where do I submit my image electronically?

Purchase your entries here, and you will be directed to submit the image file(s) along with your completed Entry Form. We recommend you download and complete the Entry Form (here) before purchasing and submitting your entries. 

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When is payment due?

Payment is due upon submission of your electronic entry. Go to the Capture Entry page, and follow the instructions to complete your Competition entry. OCC members can use the same account they use to log into the OCC website.  If you don't have an account, you will be prompted to create one. 

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How do I pay for my entry, and what is the cost for multiple entries?

You can pay online along with your electronic submission. The first entry is $15 and each additional entry is $15 more. So for example, if you were entering the following:

• all seven categories you will be paying $105

• six categories $90

• five categories $75

• four categories $60

• three categories $45 

• two categories $30

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I am a Student under 18 years of age. How much will it cost me to enter the competition?

We are pleased to offer students 18 and under a 50% discount on the competition entry fees.​ ​Students are to use the coupon code STUDENT2026 at checkout. Anyone 19 and over using the coupon code will be disqualified.

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How large a file should I submit for judging?

The file must be in a JPG format, no smaller than 250KB, and no larger than 60MB.

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I see a reference to "hand of man" in the category definitions. What does that mean?

Any human-made elements or intervention in an image. "Hand of man" is limited in photography contests to ensure the subject matter is purely natural and untouched by human intervention, promoting the preservation of wild environments. Examples of "hand of man" include the barn where barn swallows may be purched, owls on fence posts, birds on a wire, even though such inclusion may be minimal in relation to the image.

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I see a reference to ‘decisive moment’ in the Capture Oakville category – what does this mean?

Decisive moment is a phrase first used by French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1952. Henri Cartier-Bresson, a founder of modern photojournalism, proposed one of the most fascinating and highly debated concepts in the history of photography: “the decisive moment.” This moment occurs when the visual and psychological elements of people in a real-life scene, spontaneously and briefly, come together in perfect resonance to express the essence of that situation.​​​

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What happens after I submit my images?

The organizing committee reviews all submissions for data accuracy (e.g. appropriate naming, file resolution, EXIF data). Judging occurs in two steps:  

• Step 1 - Electronic Submission and Pre-Selection Screening – Entrants submit digital Images, which are reviewed and pre-selected for category and technical qualifications.

• Step 2 - Printed Image Submission and Judging – having been selected via Step 1, Entrants are requested to submit printed Images, which will be judged for category and overall winners, and to be exhibited during the Gala and following year.

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How do I know if my image was accepted for Step 2?

Entrants will be notified of their selections by e-mail, on or around March 19th 2026.  Once you have received the invitation to print, printed images must be submitted by the print deadline of April 7th, 20206.

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If my image is selected, when do I submit my print(s)?

The deadline for submitting prints is Tuesday April 7th, 2026

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Where can I get my images printed?

Images can be printed at home or at a print lab. Two popular locations for printing and Capture Oakville sponsors in the past are​

• Art Printing Studio - 88 Lakeshore Rd West, Oakville

• Burlington Camera - 489 Guelph Line South, Burlington 

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​Where do I submit my print(s)?

Prints can be dropped off at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC), 2302 Bridge Road, Oakville, during scheduled OCC meetings on Monday, March 23rd or Tuesday, April 7th 2025 from 6:30 - 9:00 PM. 

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What size of prints should I submit? 

Your image will be custom-matted in a 20" x 24" frame for display (either landscape or portrait).  The physical dimensions of the printed Image area can be any size from 4” x 4” up to a maximum of 16” x 20” size.  Submit a print size that shows your work at its best. 

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Do I have to arrange to have my print(s) framed for the Exhibition?

No, OCC will arrange for your print to be professionally dry-mounted, matted, and framed for the Exhibition.

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How are the winning images selected?

A panel of independent judges, professionals in the photographic industry, will judge the final print entries.

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Are there sponsorship opportunities for this competition and Gala event?

Yes! We welcome new and returning sponsors and are grateful for their support. Please review the sponsorship package here.​

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Where is the Exhibition of the winning and accepted prints? 

The Exhibition opens with an in-person Awards Gala on Friday, May 22nd, 2025.

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Can I come to the Gala even if my image did not get accepted? 

Yes, and please bring others who would enjoy an evening of photography. The event is free of charge, and no pre-registration is required.

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If I need to get help, or need more information, who do I contact?

Send an e-mail with your questions directly to [email protected].