Showcasing the team of Canadian photographers and the 30 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 prestigious, Olympic-style competition
WPC brings together national photography teams from around the globe to compete in a spirit of excellence, friendship, and artistic collaboration. Canada participates by submitting a full team of images every year.
Each country may be represented by only one team. Teams generally are created by a national photographic association and we are grateful that the Professional Photographers of Canada started this process back in 2013. 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, is tasked with handling the Canadian process to select the images which will represent Canada in the World Photographic Cup competition.
This is done through a curation process. Three images in each category 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 travel 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 in the fall. Canadian entry opens in July with the entry deadline typically being August 31st or early September.
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 or permanent resident card 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 photographic 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 WPC 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 a select number of Canadian curators.
Round 2
In the second round curators meet in groups to discuss and re-evaluate all shortlisted images.
Curator feedback will be forwarded to all images makers whose image is moving on.
Some makers will be asked to improve their images (if necessary) and resubmit for the final round.
Curator feedback is available for other Round 2 participants upon request.
Round 3
In the final round ALL Team Canada curators consider the remaining images and indicate their top choices.
The top three images in each category will be declared WPC Team Canada.
Team Canada entry sent to WPC
October
Successful photographers will be notified late October and are required to provide a headshot, bio and image story for the website. As well as information for the WPC Team Canada exhibition that travels the country.
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
At the WPC 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 two scores for IMPACT,/Vision and Composition/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
December / January
The World Photographic Cup announces the Top 10 World Finalists and Best of Nation Awards in December or January.
Team Canada hosts a virtual awards watch party for team members.
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.
