Nature (Colour)
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. Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivations, are not allowed.
People (Colour or Monochrome)
This section includes images of people that may range from head to full length studies and may include accessories or backgrounds that are in character with the subject. This subject includes portraiture.
Social Documentary (Monochrome)
Social Documentary photography is the recording of what the world looks like, with a social and/or environmental focus. It is a form of documentary photography, with the aim to draw the public’s attention to ongoing social issues.
The entrant must ensure that there is no attempt to misrepresent reality by manipulating the image’s content, context or meaning through image editing or post-production.
Post-production is limited to minor global adjustments such as spotting dust and scratches, dodging and burning, and adjusting tonal and colour values. Elements or areas within the image cannot be removed or covered up, nor may new elements be added. Cropping the image is permitted.
Social Documentary images must be titled, the titles playing an important part in their impact.
Mono (Monochrome) Any photograph containing shades of only one colour. If toning is carried out, it must be over the total photograph – partial toning and/or the addition of one extra colour are not acceptable in a monochrome section.
Creative (Colour or Monochrome)
Creative photographs display a novel effect because of an unusual combination of objects and /or unusual viewpoint. Photographs in which the images have been modified during or after exposure by using an experimental technique are also eligible. The photograph must always have a basic photographic image. Digital manipulation processes may be employed provided the original photograph was exposed by the entrant.
Refer to Salon Entry Requirement 8: Generative Fill or other AI processes that use content generated by software from written prompts or developed from the work of others must not be used.
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