Showcasing the team of Canadian photographers and the 24 images selected to represent our country in the annual World Photographic Cup competition. View image galleries and submission information.
Seeking 30 Exceptional Images to Represent Canada in the World Photographic Cup
WPC International
The World Photographic Cup is a competition in which a team of photographers represent their home country.
The photography family (or Camera-derie!) is a bond that transcends language, culture and geography. That’s the foundation behind the World Photographic Cup, a one of a kind international team competition. The WPC was founded in 2013 as a cooperative effort by the Federation of European Photographers (FEP) and the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Its singular goal is to unite photographers in a spirit of friendship and cooperation. A Governing Committee has been created to conduct the ongoing affairs of the international competition and includes the United Asian Professional Photography (UAPP) and Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP).
Each country may be represented by only one team. Teams generally are created by a national photographic association. Each team is responsible for determining its own methods and criteria for choosing the individuals and images which will comprise its team submission in each category.
WPC Team Canada
WPC Team Canada creates our country’s submission
Team Canada’s volunteer committee, consisting of photographers from our supporting associations, are tasked with the job of selecting the images to represent Canada in the World Photographic Cup competition. This is done through a curation process.
The top three images in each category that demonstrate the highest level of IMPACT, Vision, Composition, and Technical ability will represent Canada and be entered in the World Photographic Cup.
Up to 30 images and Photographers become Team Canada.
As a group our goal is to put Canada on the podium and showcase our photographic talent to the world!
Entry fees in excess of expenses are used to create grants to help our Canadian Top 10 World finalists travel to the WPC ceremony.
Timeline
Sure, there are lots of other competitions, but there is just one World Photographic Cup.
Canadian Photographer Submissions
July / August
In order to enter the World Photographic Cup, Team Canada has to select images the year prior. Canadian entry opens in July with the entry deadline typically being August 31st.
All Canadian photographers are welcome to enter whether you are a professional or amateur.
You must hold (or be able to hold) a valid Canadian passport to represent Canada in the WPC.
Each photographer may enter as many images as they wish.
There are 10 categories in which you can submit.
You can enter all your images in the same category if you like but you cannot qualify as a finalist more than once per category.
Canadian Curating
September / October
After the deadline, a panel of qualified curators will view all the submitted images and the top 3 images in each category will be selected to represent Team Canada at the World Photographic Cup. The curating process is done on-line and is completely anonymous. Curators choose images based upon the criteria for each category. There are three rounds to the Canadian selection process.
Round 1
Submitted images are reviewed with the WPC scoring criteria as the main focus – of which IMPACT plays the strongest role.
Images are shortlisted by specialist curators who have a strong depth of experience in that specific category.
Round 2
In the second round specialist curators meet as a group to discuss and re-evaluate all shortlisted images.
Specialist feedback will be forwarded to all round 2 image makers. A select few will be asked to improve their images (if necessary) and resubmit for the final round.
Round 3
In the final round ALL Team Canada curators consider the remaining images and indicate their top choices.
The three top images in each category will be declared WPC Team Canada.
Team Canada entry sent to WPC
Early October
Successful photographers will be notified early October and are required to provide a headshot, bio and image story for future promotion.
WPC Team Canada’s photographers will be announced to the public.
Team Canada hosts a virtual meet and greet for team members
Photographers are encouraged to herald their achievements, but are asked to wait until after the international judging has completed before showing their image along with any WPC announcement.
Team Canada’s submission is entered in the World Photographic Cup
World Photographic Cup International Judging
November / December
IMPACT
VISION
COMPOSITION
TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
Canada’s images are judged online by the WPC international judging panel and compete for Canada against the best from countries around the world.
Images are judged by a selection of judges from each participating country.
One Canadian curator will be selected by WPC Team Canada to represent Canada in this process.
Scores from judges of the same country as the image are not counted in the final tally.
The WPC judging system is based on a number system of four scores for IMPACT, Vision, Composition, and Technical Excellence
Once international judging is complete Team Canada’s images may be promoted.
All TEAM CANADA members will be sent Canadian certificates of participation.
Top 10 World Finalists and Best of Nations
January
At the annual Imaging USA conference the World Photographic Cup announces the Top 10 World Finalists and Best of Nation Awards.
Team Canada hosts a virtual awards watch party for team members that do not attend in person.
Top 10 finalists in each category are announced and will receive a certificate.
The top-scoring image from each country is declared their Best of Nation and will receive recognition and a World Photographic Cup certificate.
Press release is sent on the Canadian Wire service announcing Canada’s Top 10 finalists who are now eligible to win WPC medals and help Canada win the cup.
Medalists and WPC Awards Ceremony
March / April
The World Photographic Cup Awards Ceremony is held at a host country’s photographic conference.
All Team Canada members are invited to attend the awards ceremony in person.
They are also welcome to attend the photographic conference and workshops.
Top 10 finalists are encouraged to attend in person and travel grants are available, the actual amount depends on that year’s entry numbers.
Team Canada members, committee and past members attending the awards in person, show their Canadian pride, and celebrate together.
Team Canada hosts a virtual awards watch party for current and past team members
If Canada wins medals a press release is sent on the Canadian Wire service.
