Definitions of categories based on PSA guidelines Pictorial Anything goes as long as all images are your own! You can enter two images each competition in this category. Editing Guidelines for Nature, Photojournalism and Photo Travel Division(s): Processing or editing must be limited to making the image look as close to the original scene as possible, except that conversion to grayscale monochrome is allowed. Allowed editing techniques: • Cropping, straightening and perspective correction. • 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. • 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 or focus stacking) • Image stitching – combining multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively (panoramas) Editing techniques that are not allowed: • Removing, adding to, moving or changing any part of an image, except for cropping and straightening. • Adding a vignette during processing. • 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 over-saturation of color Photojournalism Division 2025 Photojournalism Entries Are: ● images with informative content and emotional impact ● reflecting the human presence in our world ● The journalistic (story-telling) value of the image receives priority over pictorial quality ● Images that misrepresent the truth, such as those from events or activities arranged specifically for photography or of subjects directed or hired for photography, are not eligible Editing Guidelines for PJ: Processing or editing is limited to making the image look as close to the original scene as possible, or complete conversion to monochrome. Allowed Editing Techniques: ● Cropping, straightening and perspective correction ● Removal or correction of elements added by the camera or lens, such as dust spots, noise, chromatic aberration or lens distortion ● Global and selective adjustments such as brightness, hue, saturation and contrast to restore the integrity of the original scene. ● Several images (typically 2-4), each with a small white border, combined into a single image that depicts a progression of events or related activity. Editing Techniques That Are Not Allowed: ● Removing, adding, moving or changing any part of an image, except for the eligible techniques ● Blurring or darkening parts of the image during processing to obscure elements in the original scene ● Partial color or partial toning
● Unnatural color, extreme saturation or desaturation
PSA/FIAP Nature Division
Content Guidelines Nature photography records all branches of natural history except anthropology and archaeology. This includes all aspects of the physical world, both over water 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.
When photographing at a zoo, sanctuary, or rehabilitation center, it would be construed that the photographer ensured that it’s properly accredited and conforms to best practices. You can enter one image per competition to this category.
Photo Travel Definition A Photo Travel image is a portrayal of the real world we live in, as it is found naturally. There are no geographic limitations. Content guidance: 1. If the image is predominantly or exclusively a land-, sea- or cityscape, these “scapes” must include characteristic, distinctive and recognizable physical features, although it is not necessary that the image identify the exact location; 2. Images that predominantly or exclusively depict people and their activities must illustrate a distinctive culture of a country, region, or continent; 3. Images that predominately or exclusively depict animal populations are allowed, if the animals are in their native environment and are characteristic of that country, region, or continent; 4. Portraits or other close-ups of people or objects, in addition to meeting the above paragraphs as applicable, must include elements depicting some of the surrounding environment to make it obvious that the image was not taken in a studio setting; 5. Images from events or activities arranged for photography, or of subjects directed or hired for photography, are NOT allowed. 6. Time exposures are allowed, if they do not dominate the image as a special effect (star trails, for example, are a dominating effect). Highly distorted images such as those produced by fish eye lenses are NOT allowed.
Photojournalism Division 2025
Photojournalism Entries Are: ● images with informative content and emotional impact ● reflecting the human presence in our world ● The journalistic (story-telling) value of the image receives priority over pictorial quality ● Images that misrepresent the truth, such as those from events or activities arranged specifically for photography or of subjects directed or hired for photography, are not eligible Editing Guidelines for PJ: Processing or editing is limited to making the image look as close to the original scene as possible, or complete conversion to monochrome. Allowed Editing Techniques: ● Cropping, straightening and perspective correction ● Removal or correction of elements added by the camera or lens, such as dust spots, noise, chromatic aberration or lens distortion ● Global and selective adjustments such as brightness, hue, saturation and contrast to restore the integrity of the original scene. ● Several images (typically 2-4), each with a small white border, combined into a single image that depicts a progression of events or related activity. Editing Techniques That Are Not Allowed: ● Removing, adding, moving or changing any part of an image, except for the eligible techniques ● Blurring or darkening parts of the image during processing to obscure elements in the original scene ● Partial color or partial toning ● Unnatural color, extreme saturation or desaturation
Monochrome Definition An image is considered to be Monochrome only if it gives the impression of having no color (i.e. contains only shades of grey which can include pure black and pure white) OR it gives the impression of being a greyscale image that has been toned in one color across the entire image. (For example, by sepia, red, gold, etc.) A greyscale or multi-colored image modified or giving the impression of having been modified by partial toning, multi-toning or by the inclusion of spot coloring does not meet the definition of monochrome and shall be classified as a Color Work.
Challenge Each Competition night we have a category called "challenge." At our yearly business meeting we decide what the challenge category for each month of competition will be. For example, "Reflections" or "Monotone" or "Abstract" might be typical challenge possibilities. You can alway know what the challenge is because it will be in the calendar here on the website and in Screen, our monthly newsletter.
Additional competition info:
There is a Photo Competition the first meeting of every month. The categories for the monthly competitions are:
Prints (2) (Discontinued temporality due to Covid.) Nature(1) Pictorial(2) Challenge Category(1)
Every member is allowed to present one entry for each category except Prints and Pictorial, for which they may enter 2 entries. They may enter 1, 2 3, all 4 categories or none.
Any image which is entered into one category may not be entered into another category in the same year. Near duplicate entries may not be entered in the same year
The guidelines for what is allowed in these categories are elsewhere on the web site.
The challenge categories change every month and are usually under "Next Meeting Details" and on the newsletter. Each year has a new set of Challenge categories, although there may be one or more repeats year to year. The categories are chosen by the members at the annual Business Meeting.
YEAR END
At the end of the year (usually by the first or second week of November), each member submits their two best from each category for a “Best of the Year” award in each category. These are to be chosen from photos that you entered in that year's competition and is awarded regardless of class. The challenge category is Humor and two entries allowed for that as well. Also, for the year end, in addition to the two images allowed for the year end competition, another print or digital image may be entered for the “Presidents Award”. If it is a print, the print needs to be submitted at the November Competition meeting and a digital copy of the print or the digital image being submitted needs to be submitted by the end of the first week of November. The image may be an image submitted during the year, or a completely new image
Participants in the competition are encouraged to arrive early (usually by 7 p.m.) for the competition night meeting so that they can get their entries written on an entry form and so that the forms can be sorted into order for the showing/judging.
If a member is unable to attend the meeting, but can submit entries, they should fill out an entry form for each image and mail it to a club member or officer so that it is not necessary for someone else to fill out their form.
All entries are viewed and critiqued and assigned a score by a judge who is not a club member. The score will be between 7 & 10.
Sometimes an image will be disqualified because it did not meet the criteria for the Category in which it was entered. A disqualified image receives 5 points, except for the first instance for a member in the A division. For that one time only, the member may submit a makeup image the following month.
Members who join after the beginning of the year are allowed to enter Make-up entries so that they have an equal chance at the awards.
Members who are unable to get their entries in on time MAY be allowed to submit make-up entries, but no more than twice.
Awards are given at year’s end for
Highest cumulative score in Class
Highest Score in each Category for each class
First Prize in each of the categories
Certificates will be awarded to 2nd or 3rd place.
And other awards at the discretion of the Board
Additionally, there is a (non-competitive) Photo Essay and a “just for fun” Photo Treasure Hunt. The Treasurer Hunt usually has twenty categories, and these categories change year to year, although some categories may be repeated.
It is possible for a member to enter only 1 or 2 or 5 or all 20 categories in the Treasure Hunt, and risk taking is encouraged since these images are not judged.