SECTIONS
Four sections and Three salons: All digital
OPEN COLOR (Color only) PIDC
OPEN MONOCHROME (Monochrome only) PIDM
NATURE GENERAL (Color or Greyscale Monochrome) ND
PORTRAIT (Color only) PIDC
SUBJECT MATTER & DEFINITIONS
Image creation and ownership
In all sections of the exhibition, images must originate as photographs made by the entrant. They may not incorporate identifiable images produced by anyone else (for example: clip art, replacement skies, or stock images). Images created in whole or in part by image creation software (frequently called ‘AI’ images) are not allowed. Editing or alteration of images is permitted within the limits specified in the relevant section definitions that are available here https://psaphotoworldwide.org/page/division-definitions. Any person submitting or attempting to submit a totally AI generated image that does not begin with a light capture from the maker to any Photographic Society of America exhibition, social media, event, or publication, other than for editorial purposes, shall be prohibited from PSA for a period of from 3 years to Life.
Statement on Subject Matter - applicable to all sections
The fundamental rule that must be observed at all times and applies to all sections offered in exhibitions with PSA recognition is that the welfare of living creatures is more important than any photograph. This means that practices such as baiting of subjects with a living creature and removal of birds from nests, for the purpose of obtaining a photograph, are highly unethical, and such photographs are not allowed in any exhibition with PSA recognition. Under no circumstances may a living creature be placed in a situation where it will be killed or injured for the purpose of obtaining a photograph. Images that show live creatures being fed to captive animals, birds or reptiles are not permitted under any circumstances.
There are also concerns about the use of aerial photography, using drones, helicopters, or low flying aircraft. These should not cause any interference with other individuals or animals which causes a disturbance in their normal activity or disrupts the way any individual or animal interacts with their environment. Entrants in PSA recognized exhibitions should comply with all relevant laws and regulations associated with aerial photography in the country in which the image was taken.
Entry into PSA recognized exhibitions is conditional on accepting the above policies. The images must comply with the division and section definitions listed on the PSA website and other conditions. Images that do not comply will be disqualified by the judges.
PSA Color Definition
The Image category for PID color must be a color image. 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 color on a monochrome image is considered a Color Image.
PSA 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 gray which can include pure black and pure white) or it gives the impression of being a grayscale image that has been toned in one color across the entire image (for example by sepia, red, gold, etc.) A grayscale 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.
Monochrome images may not be entered in color sections of PPD or PID.
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.
- 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 through the use of 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 manmade 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.
d) Attention is drawn to the PSA Statements on Artificial Intelligence and Subject Matter which apply to all sections.
Editing Guidelines
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
Portrait Definition PIDC (only color)
A photograph of a person or group of persons that may range from a head study to full body length. Either candid photographs or formal portraits may be included.
A portrait is intended to capture the personality or essence of a subject and it is not just a picture with a person in it. A "clinical" portrait might not attempt to reveal the soul of a person, but it still needs to capture something of that person's uniqueness — or else it's not a portrait.
While portraits can be candid, even those tend to have some intentionality. The lighting, backdrops, and poses are important, whether they are ad hoc or commissioned.