Definitions for the Annual Exhibition & Rounds Competitions
Altered Reality
The image must display obvious change in natural colour, form, shape, or any combination of these three.
Altered Reality images are often montages (a blending or composite of multiple images). Scenes could be created by rearranging, replacing, adding or removing content from the original image(s).
All components of the must have been created by the entrant and must not incorporate elements produced by any third party. The inclusion of stock images or clip art is not permitted.
Artwork or computer graphics generated by the entrant may be incorporated providing the original photographic content is predominant.
Images that have been manipulated for the purposes of image enhancement, restoration or compression, without altering the reality of the scene, should be entered into the traditional categories. High Dynamic Range (HDR) images without further changes are not considered to be Altered Reality.
British Garden Birds
Images of birds found in our gardens as indicated by the BTO’s (British Trust for Ornithology) list of British garden birds. Images of birds not on the list will not be accepted.
Click here to see the list :- BTO List
Nature
Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology, in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and certify its honest presentation. The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality. Human elements shall not be present, except where those human elements are integral parts of the nature story such as nature subjects, like barn owls or storks, adapted to an environment modified by humans, or where those human elements are in situations depicting natural forces, like hurricanes or tidal waves. Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible. Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.
No techniques that add, relocate, replace, or remove pictorial elements except by cropping are permitted. Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or the pictorial content, or without altering the content of the original scene, are permitted including HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning. Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise, and film scratches, are allowed. Stitched images are not permitted. All allowed adjustments must appear natural. Colour images can be converted to grey-scale monochrome. Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivations, are not allowed. Images used in Nature Photography competitions may be divided in two classes: Nature and Wildlife. Images entered in Nature sections meeting the Nature Photography Definition above can have landscapes, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with the subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food.
Pictorial
Pictorial photography is the use of the photographic medium as an art form. The emphasis is on interest, visual impact, composition, and technical excellence. Images in the Pictorial Division are not confined to any particular subject, type, or style of photography. Pictorial images may be manipulated in the darkroom, on the computer or in the camera.
Portraiture
Portrait photography is the capture by means of photography of the likeness of a person or a small group of people (a group portrait), in which the face and expression is predominant.
Record
Record photography should be regarded as an exercise in excellence. It usually involves the photographing of man-made structures or artefacts but also includes archaeological objects.
The resulting image should be an accurate representation with detail visible in the full range of tones. The whole image should be in sharp focus with no converging verticals/horizontals or other distortion.
Sport / Photojournalism
Sports photography can be of any sport played by either amateur or professionals. Photojournalism can be defined as photography intended, to convey information about a topical event or events.
Travel Photography
A Photo Travel image expresses the characteristic features or culture of a land as they are found naturally. There are no geographic limitations. Images from events or activities arranged specifically for photography, or of subjects directed or hired for photography are not appropriate. Close up pictures of people or objects must include features that provide information about the environment. Techniques that add, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image, except by cropping, are not permitted. The only allowable adjustments are removal of dust or digital noise, restoration of the appearance of the original scene, and complete conversion to greyscale monochrome. Other derivations, including infrared, are not permitted. All allowed adjustments must appear natural.
Please Note
These definitions apply to all inter-club competitions, and exhibitions held by the PAGB, YPU & RPS
Revised 27 September 2017
