General Competition Rules & Guidance

Competition images must be entirely the work of the photographer, who should hold the copyright. In sections allowing for composite images, all pictorial elements of the image must derive from images taken by the photographer. See the Creative section for more information.

No watermarks, copyright or similar information should appear on the front of images.

No model releases or building releases are needed for use in PAGB competitions.

Each competition has individual rules of entry which should be adhered to, including sizing and formats of images. However, the following information is provided for general guidance.

Open Section

Usually allows for all genres and aspects of photography, including creative and composite works. Unless otherwise stated, includes both colour and monochrome.

Monochrome Section

A black and white image going from very dark grey (black) to very clear grey (white) through various shades of grey is a monochrome work.

A black and white work toned entirely in a single colour will remain a monochrome work. On the other hand, a black and white work modified by a partial toning or by the addition of one colour (including “colour popping”) becomes a colour work (polychrome).

Photojournalism Section

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

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 should depict a person or persons in an interactive, emotional or unusual situation, excluding sports action.

Techniques that add to, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image, except by cropping, are not permitted. Removal or correction of elements added by the camera or lens, such as dust spots, noise, chromatic aberration and lens distortion are permitted. Blurring parts of the image during processing to hide elements in the original scene, or darkening parts of the image during processing to hide elements in the original scene are not permitted. All adjustments must appear natural. Conversion to full monochrome is acceptable.

Travel Section

A Photo Travel image is a portrayal of the real world we live in, as it is found naturally. There are no geographic limitations.

If the image is predominantly or exclusively a landscape, seascape or cityscape, these “scapes” must include characteristic, distinctive and recognizable physical features.

Images that predominantly or exclusively depict people and their activities must illustrate a distinctive culture of a country, region, or continent. Portraits or other close-ups of people or objects must include elements depicting some of the surrounding environment.

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.

Images from events or activities arranged for photography, or of subjects directed or hired for photography, are not allowed.

Portrait Section

Portrait photography captures the likeness of a person or living creature, or a small group of such, in which the face and expression are predominant (although the entire body and the background may be included). The objective is to display the likeness, personality or mood of the subject.

Unless otherwise stated, elements such as textures may be added so long as these elements are derived from photographs taken by the photographer.

All editing techniques are acceptable.

Landscape section

Images which capture extensive areas of the landmass. This includes skyscapes, waterscapes, cityscapes and astrophotography.

Unless otherwise stated, pictorial elements may be added so long as these elements are derived from photographs taken by the photographer.

All editing techniques are acceptable.

Nature & Wildlife Section

The following guidance is reproduced from the PAGB guidance issued in May 2020. FIAP have their own definition of Nature including wildlife (INFO 313 / 2025 E ).

Nature means Images where living organisms are the primary subject matter. The story telling value of an Image will normally be weighed more than the pictorial quality.

Nature includes:

Images taken with subjects in controlled conditions such as zoos, game parks, botanic gardens, aquariums and enclosures where the subjects are dependent on man for food. Scientific bands, tags or collars are permissible.

Nature excludes:

Images where the subjects are obviously domestic animals or plants.
Images where an obviously artistic treatment has been applied.

Processing of the captured image, by cropping, exposure adjustment, colour correction, noise minimisation, dodging/burning, HDR, focus stacking and sharpening, is permitted, as is cloning of image defects and minor distractions including overlapping elements.

An Image appearing to meet these criteria will be accepted as Nature. The Judges will normally assume that any Image presented to them is eligible.

Access to some biological subjects may be restricted. Where that is relevant, then Photographers warrant that they have followed relevant codes of practices and hold any necessary licences.

Creative Section

Creative image are those constructed from the imagination of the photographer and are often composite images.

A composite image is a picture derived from two or more photographs. All pictorial elements contained in composite images should derive from photographs taken by the photographer.

For the avoidance of doubt, composite images exclude:

Clipart.
Textures or photographs bought with a license or downloaded from the internet.
Textures or images imported from the library of editing software which were not originally taken by the photographer. Editing techniques such as Photoshop sky replacement may be used so long as the replacement sky is an image taken by the photographer.
Pictorial elements created solely by computer, eg rain, snow. However, Photoshop actions and similar editing techniques may be used to create pictorial elements such as rain so long as all images used in the process are the work of the photographer.
Pictorial elements added using computer generated brushes, eg a Photoshop tree or bird stamp brush. However, brushes made from the photographer’s own images are acceptable.

All editing techniques are not only acceptable but encouraged.

Traditional Photograph Definition

A traditional photograph maintains the original single capture image content with minimal adjustments which should not alter the reality of the scene and should appear natural. Rearranging, replacing, adding to or removing any part of the original image except by cropping is strictly forbidden.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) and focus-stacking techniques, whether done in camera or post-capture, are strictly forbidden.

Prints

Prints should be mounted on board no more than 3mm thick, unless stated otherwise. Mounted image size should not exceed 500mm x 400mm.

Projected Digital Images

Please refer to the separate Standards for PDIs document.