When a category states NO MANIPULATION:

The following actions are allowed and are not seen as manipulation:

• Cropping;
• Correction of lens distortion, chromatic aberrations, purple fringing, lens vignette and vertical /horizontal perspective adjustments (rotating);
• Flipping an image horizontal or rotate;
• Contrast, sharpening, levels;
• Removal of dust spots or scratch marks from sensor or scanned images;
• The blending of different exposures of the same scene to broaden the dynamic range e.g. High Dynamic Range (HDR);
• Photo stacking to overcome the limitations of the digital sensor heat artefacts in long exposures; Focus stacking to widen the depth of field especially in Macro photography.

MANIPULATION shall constitute any or all of the following modifications to the original image, and therefore NOT ALLOWED in categories that state no manipulatin:

• Adding an element to the image that was not contained in the original capture;
• Removing an element from the image that was contained in the original capture (cloning);
• Moving or repositioning an element of the image that was contained in the original scene.

(in other words, no adding pixels, removing pixels, moving pixels)

 

NATURE NO BIRDS

NO MANIPULATION ALLOWED

Nature includes all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology. Nature images include landscapes, geologic formations & weather phenomena and includes images taken with the subjects in controlled conditions. Photographs of artificially created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, farm animals or mounted specimens are ineligible. Human elements, if present should not detract from or overpower the subject. If birds are present, the birds must be the secondary feature.

NATURE BIRDS ONLY

NO MANIPULATION ALLOWED
Nature images of Birds - subjects may be in controlled conditions. Photographs of feral/domestic/farm birds or mounted specimens are ineligible. Human elements, if present should not detract from or overpower the subject. If other animals are present the bird/s must be the main feature.

PORTRAITURE

FULL MANIPULATION ALLOWED
A likeness, personality, and mood of a living subject where that subject is dominant in the image. Portraiture is not restricted to head and shoulders and may include just a part of the face, a back view or even a full length study.

PHOTO JOURNALISM

NO MANIPULATION ALLOWED
Entries in this category should have informative content and emotional impact.  In the interest of credibility, images that misrepresent the truth and model or staged set-ups are not permitted.

An image that tell a news story. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography by the qualities of: Timeliness -  the images have meaning in the context of a recently published record of events. Objectivity -  the situation implied by the images is a fair and accurate representation of the events they depict in both content and tone. Narrative - the images combine with other news elements to make facts relatable to the viewer or reader on a cultural level.

ACTION & SPORT

NO MANIPULATION ALLOWED
This category covers any aspect of a sporting event or activity i.e. images can depict an active pastime or recreation, or a sport involving physical exertion and/or skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs of a competitive nature.  This could involve the use of a fast shutter speed to freeze the action, slow shutter speed to blur the action, or any technique where the emphasis is on the action, whether it is news-worthy or not.  In the interest of credibility, images that misrepresent the truth and model or staged set-ups are not permitted.

CREATIVE/VISUAL/PHOTO ART

FULL MANIPULATION ALLOWED
This Category will include -

• Altered Reality,
• Abstract,
• any Photo-Art picture where the emphasis is on the artistic manipulation of the picture

'SCAPES

FULL MANIPULATION ALLOWED
This will include all 'scapes - including -

• Land-scapes
• City-scapes
• Sea-scapes
• Sky-scapes

This Category will also include Architecture and Panorama.

Scapes is a term that covers the depiction of scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, forests, sea, cities etc. where the main subject is a wide view with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. Scapes may be natural or man-made.

OPEN

FULL MANIPULATION ALLOWED
Includes any topic that might be excluded from any of the other topics, including Nature, Wildlife, Photo-journalism and Sport/Action images where manipulation was required in order to present the image.