B. DIVISIONS AND SECTIONS
Definitions Used and Judging Criteria

There are no restrictions as to subject matter except as outlined
in the rules and definitions of specific sections (see below).

Link to:

• Projected Image Division: Color Class
• Projected Image Division: Monochrome Class
• Nature Division
• Photo Travel Division
• Photojurnalism Division
• Pictorial Print Division

PROJECTED IMAGE DIVISION (PID): COLOR CLASS

There are two sections, Color General (Open) and Color Theme (Scapes).

Please use the Entry Form at: http://www.pcms-photo.org/exhibitions

Section 1: Color General (Open)

• Color images are judged both for their technical and pictorial merit. The image should be properly exposed, be appropriately in focus, and have appropriate depth of field. The image should have strong composition, pleasing quality, and color impact. The content is unrestricted.
  
  
• IMPORTANT NOTE: Images eligible for entry into PID Monochrome Class (see below) may NOT be entered into this Exhibition's PID Color Class. Spot color images with a greyscale background, however, may be entered.

Section 2.: Theme (Scapes)

• IN ADDITION to the requriements for Section 1, the dominant subject must be a broad landscape, cityscape, or seascape.

There are two sections, Monochrome General (Open) and Monochrome Theme.

Please use the Entry Form at: http://www.pcms-photo.org/exhibitions

Section 1: Monochrome General (Open)

• 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.
  
  Borders in monchrome, if any, must be colored the same as the overall image, that is, in shades of grey for a greyscale image; or toned in the same color as the rest of the image for a toned image.
  
  Monochrome images are judged both for their technical and pictorial merit. The image must be properly exposed, be in focus, and have appropriate depth of field. A monochrome image should have strong composition; pleasing quality; and texture, pattern, and/or tone impact. The content is unrestricted.
  

Section 2: Monochrome Theme (Animal or Animals)

• IN ADDITION to the requriements for Section 1, the dominant subject must be a member of the Animal Kingdom. It may be a single animal or group. From mollusks to mammals, all creatures are acceptable, including domestic animals and hybrids. The texture and/or patterns of fur, feathers, scales or skin will be part of the consideration.

GO TO TOP

There are two sections: General (Open) and Wildlife.

Please use the Entry Form at: http://www.pcms-photo.org/exhibitions

Only Wildlife photographs may be entered in the Wildlife Section. Photos elible for the Wildlife Section may also be entered in the General (Open) Section (subject to the Re-Entry rules in General Conditions above).

WHITE OR GREY BORDERS OF 3 , 4, or 5 PIXELS IN WIDTH ARE PERMITTED. LARGER, SMALLER OR COLOR BORDERS ARE NOT PERMITTED. Entrants are, however, advised that borders of less than 5 pixels may appear incomplete in the smaller images used in the final Catalog due to jpeg artefacts.

Section 1: General (Open)
(Click here for further clarification)

Nature Photography: 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 to the viewer.
  
• Color images may be converted to greyscale monochrome.
  
• Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivations, are not allowed.
• Sequences are not permitted.

Clarification for Nature Open/General:

• Images entered in Nature Open/General meeting the Nature Photography Definition above can have landscapes, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant (that is, still in existence) organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with the subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food.
  

Section 2: Wildlife
(Click here for further clarification)

• Images entered in Nature Wildlife sections meeting the Nature Photography Definition are further defined as one or more extant (that is, still in existence) zoological or botanical organisms free and unrestrained in a natural or adopted habitat.
  
• Landscapes, geologic formations, photographs of zoo or game farm animals, or of any extant zoological or botanical species taken under controlled conditions are NOT eligible in Nature Wildlife sections.
  
• Nature Wildlife is not limited to animals, birds and insects. Marine subjects and botanical subjects (including fungi and algae) taken in the wild are suitable wildlife subjects, as are carcasses of extant species.

PHOTO TRAVEL DIVISION

There are two sections: Photo Travel General (Open) and Photo Travel Theme.

Please use the Entry Form at: http://www.pcms-photo.org/exhibitions

WHITE OR GREY BORDERS OF 3 , 4, or 5 PIXELS IN WIDTH ARE PERMITTED. LARGER, SMALLER OR COLOR BORDERS ARE NOT PERMITTED. Entrants are, however, advised that borders of less than 5 pixels may appear incomplete in the smaller images used in the final Catalog due to jpeg artefacts.

Section 1: Open (General)
(Click here for further clarification of the definition of Photo Travel)

• A Photo Travel image expresses the characteristic (distinctive) features or culture of a land as they
  are found naturally. There are no geographic limitations. Images from events or activities
  arranged specifically for photography, or of subjects directed or hired for photography are
  not appropriate. Close up pictures of people or objects must include features that provide
  information about the environment.
  
  Techniques that add, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image,
  except by cropping, are not permitted. The only allowable adjustments are removal of dust
  or digital noise, restoration of the appearance of the original scene, and complete
  conversion to greyscale monochrome. Other derivations, including infrared, are not
  permitted. All allowed adjustments must appear natural.
  
  
• Sequences are not permitted.
  

Section 2: Theme (People Engaged in Activity)

• IN ADDITION to the requirements of Section 1, the image must be dominated by a person or persons engaged in activity.
  
  GO TO TOP

PHOTOJOURNALISM DIVISION

There are two sections: Photojournalism General (Open) and Photojournalism Human Interest.

Please use the Entry Form at: http://www.pcms-photo.org/exhibitions

WHITE OR GREY BORDERS OF 3 , 4, or 5 PIXELS IN WIDTH ARE PERMITTED. LARGER, SMALLER OR COLOR BORDERS ARE NOT PERMITTED. Entrants are, however, advised that borders of less than 5 pixels may appear incomplete in the smaller images used in the final Catalog due to jpeg artefacts.

All parts of a sequence should be combined into a single JPEG image so that they will be projected simultaneously. Each sequence thus counts as one image in a Section.

Section 1: General (Open)

• Photojournalism entries shall consist of images with informative content and emotional
  impact, reflecting the human presence in our world. The journalistic (story-telling) value of
  the image shall receive priority over pictorial quality. In the interest of credibility, images
  that misrepresent the truth, such as those from events or activities specifically arranged
  for photography or of subjects directed or hired for photography, are not eligible.
  
  
• Techniques that add, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image,
  except by cropping, are not permitted. The only allowable modifications are removal of
  dust, scratches or digital noise, restoration of the existing appearance of the original
  scene, sharpening that is not obvious, and conversion to greyscale monochrome.
  Derivations, including infrared, are not eligible.

Section 2: Theme (Human Interest)

• IN ADDITION to the requirements of Section 1, Human Interest images are limited to those depicting a person or persons in an interactive, emotional or unusual situation, EXCLUDING RECREATIONAL OR ORGANIZED SPORTS ACTION.
  
  Please download the PDF of the PSA Guidelines for Human Interest images.

PICTORIAL PRINT DIVISION

ALL SECTIONS

• BEFORE MAILING THE PRINTS, THE ENTRANT MUST COMPLETE AN ONLINE ENTRY FORM AND UPLOAD DIGITAL COPIES OF THEIR PRINTS. Please use the Entry Form at: http://www.pcms-photo.org/exhibitions.
  
  
• All possible care will be taken to safeguard print entries before and during the judging process and the Exhibition; however, the Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any accidental loss or damage.
  
  
• By virtue of entering prints into the Exhibition, the Entrant accepts and understands that following the Exhibition ALL SUBMITTED PRINTS WILL BE DESTROYED AND WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE ENTRANT.
  
  
• The exhibition accepts pictorial Small Prints (Class B):
  • Maximum size: 8 1/2 x 12 inches (21.6 x 30.0 cm), including the mount.
  • Minimum size: 6 inches (15.2 cm) on the shortest side.
  • Prints not fitting within these dimensions will be disqualified.
    
    
• Prints may be on lightweight mounts or unmounted but may NOT be matted.
  
  
• The title of the image, maker’s name and address, and a judging round number must be on the back of each print. The top of the print must also be marked on the back of the print with an arrow pointing to the top. No titles or names may be on the face side of the print.
  
  
• Any recognized photographic process, including hand-coloring and computer printing, is eligible. Hand-colored prints must be entered in color.
  
  
• A print which has been accepted into the Pictorial Print Division of this Exhibition in prior years in one Class (Color or Monochrome) is not eligible for entry in any Section of the same Class.
  
  
• The address for mailing prints IS CONTAINED IN THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT EMAIL sent to the entrant after entry. PRINTS SENT TO ADDRESS AT TOP OF OVERVIEW PAGE WILL NOT BE JUDGED!
  
  
• Prints must be mailed FLAT (not rolled).
  
  
• A copy of the acknowledgment email MUST be included with the mailed prints.
  

SMALL PRINT COLOR SECTIONS

• Prints must be in color. Monochrome images (as defined below) are NOT permitted. Spot color, however, IS permitted.
  
  
• All pictorial color images are judged both for their technical and pictorial merit. The image should be properly exposed, be appropriately in focus, and have appropriate depth of field. The image should have strong composition, pleasing quality, and color impact.
  
  

Section 1: General (Open)

• Any color print may be entered. The content is unrestricted.

Section 2: Theme (Creative)

• Pictorial Creative images must exhibit altered reality that is apparent to the viewer. The appropriateness of the technique selected to create altered reality is considered in judging.  See General Conditions, Paragraph 7 above for other restrictions concerning computer-generated parts of images.
  

SMALL PRINT MONOCHROME SECTIONS

• 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 are judged both for their technical and pictorial merit. The image must be properly exposed, be in focus, and have appropriate depth of field. A monochrome image should have strong composition; pleasing quality; and texture, pattern, and/or tone impact.
  

Section 1: General (Open)

• Any monochrome print may be entered. The content is unrestricted.
  

Section 2: Theme (Animal or Animals)

• Any Monochrome image where the dominant subject is a member of the Animal Kingdom. It may be a single animal or group. From mollusks to mammals, all creatures are acceptable, including domestic animals and hybrids. The texture and/or patterns of fur, feathers, scales or skin will be part of the consideration.