Boston Camera Club (BCC)
Guidelines for Utilization of Artificial Intelligence
In Editing Competition Images
PURPOSE
This document is a supplement to the Competition Rules 3.7 and 3.7.1. Its purpose is to explain the acceptable use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in editing images for BCC competitions.
These guidelines do not represent new restrictions on photographic content for competitions, nor are they a change to current rules. Rather, they are intended to help members know when AI is allowed in editing images for competitions. The foundational principle is that the maker’s work submitted for competition must be photographic in origin and that all content must be derived from one or more of the maker’s photographs.
These guidelines will be updated from time to time to reflect changes in technology and changes in BCC’s vision for its competitions. They refer mostly to Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom but would apply equally to equivalent tools in other editing software.
IMPLEMENTATION
As with all other provisions of the BCC competition rules, members submitting images for competitions are expected to follow these AI guidelines in good faith. If in doubt, please consult the competition chair in advance of image submission. The judgement of the competition chair is final.
For special categories, a competition category definition may define a more strict or less strict implementation of these guidelines.
These rules apply only to competitions, and not to other club activities unless otherwise specified.
DEFINITIONS
Artificial Intelligence: For the purposes of the BCC and its competitions, we are referring to AI tools in editing software which may change the content of a digital image.
Non-generative AI: These AI tools analyze, enhance, or modify existing pixels.
Generative AI: These tools create new content that that not in the maker’s original capture. These “pixels” are not created by the maker, but rather from patterns learned from enormous databases of images. Text prompts are often, but not always, used in a generative AI workflow.
GUIDELINES
The following are guidelines for the use of digital imaging tools that are found in commonly used photography editing software.
1. Non-generative AI tools which are permitted:
a. Noise reduction and sharpening (Topaz AI, Lightroom (LR) denoise).
b. Upscaling: increasing resolution for large scale printing (Photoshop (PS),
Topaz, LR)
c. Masking and selection tools: AI improves selections such as “select sky” and “select object.”
d. Lens Blur (LR).
e. Clarity, dehaze, grain adjustments (PS).
f. Perspective correction
g. Automatic tone curve.
2. Generative Remove: sometimes allowed.
a. Allowed: use of AI object removal tools for minor distractions for example
i. Dust spots.
ii. Power lines, a stray piece of debris in a scene.
iii. Small blemishes or spots on objects or skin.
iv. Generative remove means removing a small distraction, and matching the displaced pixels to the background, not replacing the removed distraction with something new.
b. Not Allowed: use of Generative AI object removal tools for larger distractions, for example
i. Reflections.
ii. Objects, such as cars, people, structures, signs, etc., that are large or prominent components in a scene.
c. Note: Generative remove represents a gray zone. Please use your best judgement to avoid significant non-user generated content.
3. Generative AI: not allowed
a. Any content generated with a text prompt.
b. Generative expand: adding AI generated content to expand an image.
c. Content insertion: Just as the original competition rules prohibit the insertion of “clip art,” using AI to add elements to a scene (birds, people, clouds) that were not present in the original photograph is not allowed.
4. Sky Replacement: Regardless of whether AI is used, this is allowed only if the new sky (or part of it) is from photo(s) taken by the maker. Neither stock skies nor AI-generated skies are permitted.
Adopted by Executive Committee March 2026
Revision I: July 2026