Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 25th February
Judging Date: Tuesday 27th February
Judge: Dennis Jones
Nature Set Subject Guidelines
This competition complies with the Australian Photographic definition for Nature.
- Nature photography records all branches of natural history except anthropology and archaeology. This includes all aspects of the physical world, both animate and inanimate, that have not been made or modified by humans.
- Nature images must convey the truth of the scene that was photographed. 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 that threatens the life or welfare of a living organism 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. Adding a vignette or blurring the background during processing is not allowed.
- 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.
- Images taken with subjects under controlled conditions, such as zoos, are allowed.
- Controlling live subjects by chilling, anaesthetic or any other method of restricting natural movement for the purpose of a photograph is not allowed.
- No modification that changes the truth of a Nature image is allowed. Images may be cropped but no other technique that removes, adds or moves any part of the image is allowed.
- Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise and lens flare are allowed.
- Complete conversion of colour images to greyscale monochrome is allowed. Partial conversion, toning and infrared captures or conversions are not allowed.
- Images of the same subject that are combined in camera, or with software, by focus stacking or exposure blending are allowed. Multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively and combined in camera or with software (image stitching) are allowed.
- There is no separate wildlife section.
- Landscape images that depict nature at work that are not Australian landscapes are acceptable set subjects.
UNETHICAL PRACTICES
Can be but are not limited to the following:
- Live baiting
- Live feeding.
- Sacrificing a living creature. e.g. placing an animal on a feeding post to attract another animal or bird.
- Removing birds or animals from a nest.
- Disturbing birds in nests. e.g. removing branches to reveal nests and frightening birds nesting on the ground.
- Artificial restraints
- Reducing natural movement.
- Disturbing the natural environment.
For Roy Killen’s explanation of the definition see: Nature definition explained.
What you can learn:
- Choose the right depth of field. Photographing subjects in the natural environment can make for confusing backgrounds. Narrowing the depth of field can blur the busy background making the subject stand out.
- Nail the focus. If photographing a bird or animal, try and have the eye in sharp focus.
- For interesting landscapes that depict nature consider the composition, the rule of thirds, leading lines and balance to make a good image. Also look for patterns and texture or taking images with a different perspective.
- Consider photographing in the golden hour to create softer images.
Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 24th March
Judging Date: Tuesday 26th March
Judge: Tim Moon
Set Subject Guidelines
A photograph of Australian natural land or coastal scenery, which may include people, buildings, animals, or other objects (example manmade roads/tracks & fences) provided these elements do not dominate the photograph.
Elements such as cultivated fields, farms and astrophotography are permitted but must not dominate the photograph. Seascapes with no land do not fit the section.
No modification that changes the truth of the Landscape image is allowed. Images may be cropped but no other technique that removes, adds to or moves any part of the image is allowed. This includes sky replacements.
Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise and lens flare are allowed.
Complete conversion of colour images to greyscale monochrome is allowed. Partial conversion, toning and infrared captures or conversions are not allowed.
Images of the same subject that are combined in camera, or with software, by focus stacking or exposure blending are allowed. Multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively and combined in camera or with software (image stitching) are allowed.
What you can learn:
Composition in landscape images is vital in leading the viewer through the image. Before taking the image is there a clear subject and how do the elements of composition lead the viewer to the subject.
Shutter speed can convey action in seascapes, long exposures can flatten moving water emphasing the subject and slow shutter speeds can give a silky fell to moving water.
Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 21st April
Judging Date: Tuesday 23rd April
Judge: Linda Fury
Monochrome Set Subject Guidelines
- Any photograph containing shades of only one colour (including black and white).
- If toning is carried out, it must be over the total photograph; partial toning and/or the addition of one extra colour is not acceptable in a monochrome section.
What you can learn:
- Consider the tonal range of an image (range from white to black). An image that has a high tonal range can lift an image compared to a low tonal range that can appear flat.
- Images with busy backgrounds can be converted into monochrome to emphasise the subject. It is worthwhile experimenting with some images and see if there is an improvement when converted to monochrome.
Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 26th May
Judging Date: Tuesday 28th May
Judge: Michelle Kennedy
Creative / Experimental Set Subject Guidelines
This month you have freedom to do whatever you want so long as you add a creative aspect in your image. You can think of double exposures, zoom or panning, a fabricated scene, composites, altered reality and painting with light. The possibilities are endless. The challenge for you is to try something new. That is why we added “Experimental” to the title.
- This is an image that has been created in camera (for example motion blur, double exposure) or had post processing manipulation and artistic effects added.
- The image must have a basic photograph origin; the original exposure and all post processing must be the work of the Image Creator.
- The storytelling element of the image should be considered.
- Art appropriation is not permitted. The use of other people’s artwork in images as a dominant element is not permitted.
- Ways of creating a digital art image include but are not limited to:
- Different opacities -several views of the same person or main subjected blended into one image using different opacities.
- Multiple Exposures – photographing an activity at continuous exposure capturing movement and then blending several exposures into one image.
- Stepping out of the frame – placing part of the image outside the frame to give a 3D effect.
- Blended – two or more images taken in different place blended into one image to create a completely new scene and tell a new story.
- Double Exposure – where 2 images are blended into one image (either in camera or in post processing)
- Filters – Filters are permitted provided they do not introduce a new element to the image that the Image Creator has not created themselves. For example, the sky replacement filter should use your own image. Stock images are not permitted. Filters which add a texture or pattern are permitted provided the texture or pattern has been created by the Image Creator. Imported textures & patterns are not permitted.
- Creative Abstract – Can be made using distortion tools such as the liquefy tool. A creative abstract does not represent a true record of the subject.
- Composite Images – whether they are of a realistic scene or an unrealistic scene, using editing techniques to build a scene from different elements (all of which have been photographed by the Image Creator). Stock images are not permitted. Clip art is not permitted.
- Vector/Raster Layers – The use of basic tools/brushes in photoshop are permitted to create Vector/Raster Layers provided the contents have been created by the Image Creator. Custom tools/brushes/textures must have been created by the Image Creator. Vector/Raster Layers can only amount to 50% of the image.
What you can learn:
- This is the time to think outside the box. The image needs to relate to a theme / story or has impact due to its shape and / or colour.
- Research to gather ideas that can be built upon.
