Oh I agree it certainly can be effective and is great fun as well.. As to the question of proof it is down to the honesty of the submitter I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? These days with such powerful programmes such as Photoshop it is getting impossible to be able to tell.. Recent improvements in Version 8 also seem able to correct even poorly taken Photographs correcting many mistakes So perhaps it is not even possible to know if even great looking shots started out that way.... For me its the extra things like Composition etc that sets them apart from the mundane.. Forgive my Bias regarding Camera Clubs I am sure they are great placs to be these days.. My own experiences were not very positive a few years ago.. I would think they would need to draw up some clear rules for entry to competitions..

Danny O'Byrne  http://www.digitalartzone.co.uk/

"All the technique in the world doesn't compensate for the inability to notice" Eliott Erwitt