Special Note:
In any of the reality-based Divisions (Nature, Photo Travel, and Photojournalism) techniques that add to, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image, except by cropping, are not permitted. Techniques that enhance the presentation of the image, without changing the pictorial content*, are permitted. All adjustments must appear natural. The removal, or manipulation, of colors contained within the original image to enable the production of monochrome images is permitted.
* Nature Story, Photo Travel Content, or PJ Story as appropriate.
Borders must not exceed 2 pixels in width and must be white or a shade of grey.
Nature General (D):
Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict observations from all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archeology, in such a fashion that a well informed person will be able to identify the subject material and to certify as to 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 on the rare occasion where those human elements enhance the nature story. The presence of scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals is permissible. Photographs of artificially produced hybrid plants or animals, mounted specimens, or obviously set arrangements, are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation, manual or digital, that alters the truth of the photographic statement.
Nature Wildlife (D):
In addition to the requirements for Nature General:
Authentic Wildlife is defined as one or more organisms living free and unrestrained in a natural or adopted habitat. Therefore, landscapes, photographs of zoo animals or photographs of game farm animals (regardless of the game farm’s use of wildlife terminology), or any living subject taken under controlled conditions, are not eligible for Wildlife competitions.