Sections

1. Nature (color/monochrome) (FIAP, MAPA)

2. Street (color/monochrome) (FIAP, MAPA)

3. Photojournalism ((color/monochrome) (FIAP, MAPA)

4. Face and Body (color/monochrome) (FIAP, MAPA)

5. Open Color (only color) (FIAP, MAPA) Monochrome images may not be entered in Color section.

6. Open Monochrome (only monochrome) FIAP, MAPA) Color images may not be entered in Monochrome section.

 

SECTION DEFINITIONS

FIAP Definition of Monochrome

A black and white work fitting from the very dark grey (black) to the very 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; such a work can be reproduced in black and white in the catalogue of a salon under FIAP Patronage. On the other hand 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; such a work requires colour reproduction in the catalogue of a salon under FIAP Patronage.

FIAP Nature definition

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, anaesthetic, 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.

When photographing at a zoo, sanctuary, or rehabilitation centre, it would be construed that the

photographer ensured that it’s properly accredited and conforms to best practices.

Editing Guidlines

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 techiques

·       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 colour 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 techiques 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 colour

FIAP Photojournalism Definition

Photojournalism entries are images with informative content and emotional impact, reflecting the human presence in our world.

Content Guidelines

·       The journalistic (story-telling) value of the image should receive 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.

·       When Human Interest is specified, those images depict a person or persons in an interactive, emotional or unusual situation, excluding sports action.

Editing Guidelines

·       Processing or editing must be limited to making the image look as close to the original scene as possible.

·       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.

Face & Body Definition

Center of interest is the human face and body in all its forms and manifestations. Portrait and fine art nude photography. Portraits of people of all colors, races, religions, the whole range of human feelings. Live photography, outdoor photography as well as studio portraits. Men, women, children. The human face as a reflection on emotion and life experience. Fine-art photography, taken outdoors or under studio conditions, full of idea, creativity, with a touch of erotic mood, which depicts the nude human body with an emphasis on form, composition, emotional content, and other aesthetic qualities. 

Street Photography Definition

Street photography uses the techniques of straight photography in that it shows a pure vision of something, like holding up a mirror to society. Street photography often tends to be ironic and can be distanced from its subject matter, and often concentrates on a single human moment, caught at a decisive or poignant moment. On the other hand, much street photography takes the opposite approach and provides a very literal and extremely personal rendering of the subject matter, giving the audience a more visceral experience of walks of life they might only be passingly familiar with.

Street photography is a non-formalised genre of photography that features subjects in candid situations within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls, political conventions and other associated settings. Alternatively, the street photographer may seek a more prosaic depiction of the scene, as a form of social documentary.

It is a branch of realistic fine-art photography that records unposed scenes in public places (streets, parks, restaurants, stores, museums, libraries, airports; train, bus, and subway stations, etc.)

The primary subject is people, at rest or in motion, alone or with others, going about the every-day activities of life (walking, sitting, standing, waiting, reading, eating, talking, listening, laughing, daydreaming, greeting, parting, working, playing, shopping, viewing art, sightseeing, etc.).

The emphasis is not on the subject’s personal identity, as in portraiture. And unlike photojournalism, there is no news here, rather, the commonplace; although, the line between photojournalism and street photography is often blurry. Many of the best street photographers were photojournalists. Unlike travel photography, that aims to entice the viewer to visit a certain place or to fondly remember it, location is relatively unimportant, though busy cities with interesting architecture are commonly seen in these works.

The primary emphasis is on capturing a fleeting composition, a temporary arrangement of lines, forms, textures, and tones—balanced within a rigid frame. While such photographs often document clothing styles or automobile design, these details are subordinate to the artistic elements; whereas, in strict documentary photography, content is more important than artistry. In street photography, the image can be sharp or blurred and impressionistic. Many images feature strong graphic elements which—considered separately—constitute interesting geometric patterns.

Consistent with their overwhelming interest in composition, many street photographers—not all—shoot with a black and white final image in mind, eschewing color as a distraction. Another reason for this is the generally-conservative nature of the discipline. The early masters are revered and emulated, their styles and shooting techniques studied.

Some purists not only insist on shooting unposed scenes, they attempt to compose entirely in-camera, without cropping. Finally, the tone of these images tends to be positive, celebrating life and its fleeting nature in the very act of seeing and seizing and sharing momentary beauty and meaning with the viewer.