MANIPULATION:
Manipulation is strictly prohibited in the Nature, Photo Travel, Street, Sport, and Photojournalism categories, as well as in any categories defined accordingly. Processing or editing must be limited to making the image look as close to the original scene as possible, apart from conversion to grayscale monochrome, which is permitted. Over processed images will be disqualified.

Editing techniques that are NOT allowed when the rule says "no manipulation":
• Removing, adding to, moving or changing any part of an image, except for cropping and straightening.
• In Nature and Wildlife, NO vignette may be added.
• Blurring parts of the image during processing to hide elements in the original scene.
• Darkening parts of the image during processing to hide elements in the original scene.
• All conversions other than to complete grayscale monochrome.
• Conversion of parts of an image to monochrome, or partial toning, desaturation or oversaturation of color.

Allowed editing techniques under "no manipulation":
• Cropping, straightening and perspective correction.
• Flipping an image horizontal or vertical.
• Removal or correction of elements added by the camera or lens, such as dust spots, noise, chromatic aberration and lens distortion.
• Global and selective adjustments such as brightness, hue, saturation and contrast to restore the appearance of the original scene.
• A very subtle vignette is allowed except in Nature and Wildlife.
• Complete conversion of color images to grayscale monochrome.
• Blending of multiple images of the same subject and combining them in camera or with software (exposure blending/HDR or focus stacking). In the case of Nature exposure blending/HDR and focus stacking will not be considered as manipulation and may be used provided that the end result is a faithful representation of the original scene. Exposure blending/HDR and Focus stacking are NOT allowed in Photojournalism.
• Image stitching - combining multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively (panoramas).

In Open categories and those where manipulation is permitted, there are no limits on how authors may choose to post-process an image.

NATURE IN GENERAL

Nature photography records all branches of natural history except anthropology and archaeology. This includes all aspects of the physical world, both overwater and underwater. Nature images must convey the truth of the scene. A well-informed person should be able to identify the subject of the image and be satisfied that it has been presented honestly and that no unethical practices have been used to control the subject or capture the image. Images that directly or indirectly show any human activity threatening a living organism’s life or welfare are not allowed.

The most important part of a Nature image is the nature story it tells. High technical standards are expected, and the image must look natural.
• Objects created by humans, and evidence of human activity, are allowed in Nature images only when they are a necessary part of the Nature story.
• Photographs of human-created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domesticated animals, human-created hybrid animals, and mounted or preserved zoological specimens are not allowed.
• Photographs made where the scene is natural and the animal is unharmed in a carefully managed environment, such as Zoo, rescue centers, and ethically managed natural environment farms are permitted.
• Attracting or controlling subjects using food or sound for the purpose of photographing them is not allowed. Maintained situations such as provided supplemental food due to hardship caused by weather conditions or other conditions beyond the animals’ control, where photography is incidental to the feeding of the animal does not fall under this provision.
• Controlling live subjects by chilling, anesthetic, or any other method of restricting natural movement for a photograph is not allowed.
• Human-made elements shall be permitted under the following circumstances:
(a) When they are an integral part of the nature story, such as a songbird singing atop a fence post a man-made object used as nest material, or a weather phenomenon destroying a man-made structure.
(b) When they are a small but unavoidable part of the scene, such as an unobtrusive footprint or track in the background.
(c) Scientific tags, collars, and bands are specifically allowed.
• When photographing at a zoo, sanctuary, or rehabilitation center, it would be construed that the photographer ensured that it is properly accredited and conforms to best practices.

CATEGORIES AT MARITZBURG CAMERA CLUB

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 include 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. No birds may be entered here. Human elements if present should not detract from or overpower the subject. If birds are present the birds must be the secondary feature.

Macro as a sub-section of Nature
Macro photography is extremely close-up nature photography, where you get close to a small subject by physical or optical means. The size of the subject in the finished photograph is usually greater than life size and reveals details which cannot easily be seen with the naked eye.

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

Animal Portraits
A likeness, personality and mood of a living animal where the 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.

Human Portraits
A likeness, personality and mood of a living human where the 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.

ACTION & SPORT / PHOTOJOURNALISM

NO MANIPULATION ALLOWED

Action & Sport:

Sports photography covers any aspect of a sporting event. Images must depict an active pastime or recreation involving physical exertion and/or skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often of a competitive nature. The level of sport can range from children playing a sport to the Olympic Games. Images in this section could include the spectators or judge or umpire in a sporting event. Dance productions like ballet and Air Shows are deemed not to be sport and hence not allowed in this category.

Action - 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.

Photojournalism

Photojournalism entries are images with informative content reflecting the human presence in our world and emotional impact which usually include human interest, documentary, news or sport. The journalistic value of the image shall receive priority over the pictorial quality. In the interest of credibility, PJ images that misrepresent the truth and model or staged set-ups are not permitted.

CREATIVE/VISUAL/PHOTO ART

FULL MANIPULATION ALLOWED

An exercise in composition for the sake of art. The real identity of the abstractionist's subject is not important and the result is not intended to be anything.
Altered Reality
An image created by altering reality in an obvious manner, created digitally or in camera. The intention is the creation of an image that conveys a feeling or message or tells a story.
Creative or Visual Art
Images that go beyond the straightforward pictorial rendering of a scene. The image does not have to employ derivative or manipulative techniques to be Creative or Visual Art.
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

Scapes photography shows the spaces within the world, sometimes vast and unending, but other times microscopic, with or without people. Scape photographs typically capture the presence of nature but can also focus on man-made features or disturbances of landscapes, including sea/water and under water scapes, desert/mountain/forest and city scapes. The most common thing is to recall a personal observation or experience while outdoors.
This will include all 'scapes - including -

This Category will also include Architecture and Panorama.

PANORAMA
A panorama is an image with elongated fields of view, with an aspect ratio of 2:1 or larger, the image being at least twice as wide as its height.

OPEN COLOUR

FULL MANIPULATION ALLOWED - COLOUR ONLY
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.

MACRO – as a subsection of Open - full manipulation
Macro photography is extremely close-up photography, where you get close to a small subject by physical or optical means. The size of the subject in the finished photograph is usually greater than life size and reveals details which cannot easily be seen with the naked eye.

OPEN MONO

FULL MANIPULATION ALLOWED - MONO ONLY
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.

PSSA DEFINITION OF MONOCHROME
Monochrome is a black and white image.
A black and white work fitting from the very dark grey (black) to the truly clear grey (white) is a monochrome work with the various shades of grey.
A black and white work toned entirely in a single colour will remain a monochrome work able to stand in the black and white category.
A black and white work modified by a partial toning or by the addition of one colour becomes a colour work (polychrome) to stand in the colour category.