Honesty, authenticity and accuracy

It is expected that all entrants commit to authenticity, accuracy, and transparency in image capture, post-production, portrayal, captioning, and storytelling.

Digital manipulation

Digital manipulation must never alter essential content in such a way that it either misrepresents actual events captured or seeks to deceive the intended audience.

Images may be processed in post-production to adjust standard photographic variables such as cropping, noise, sharpness, colour, tone, and contrast, including dodging and burning and black-and-white conversions. Lens and perspective corrections and minor cloning to remove distractions are also allowed. Images must be single capture, not composites, with the following exceptions: stitched panoramas, focus stacks and HDR images (in these cases multiple images must be captured at the same location and merged to form a single image). Competition organisers reserve the right to disqualify an image if they feel it lacks authenticity due to over-manipulation. Any post-production must be the work of the entrant.

Additionally, absolutely no AI-assisted generation or manipulation of images is permitted.

Captioning

Caption information supplied must be complete, true, and accurate.

Minimising negative impact

In the taking of an image where animals (domestic pets, captive, wildlife etc) is involved, the primary consideration must be to the principle of animal welfare and to any negative impact that may occur to them in the taking of the image or the environment in which they live. This includes flying (or flying a drone) too low or noisily over an animal – an animal’s welfare must come first.

Priority must have been given to minimise any potential negative physical, emotional, or behavioural impacts that may result. In the taking of images of the natural environment, there must also be no negative impact to the landscape.

Competition organisers reserve the right to disqualify an image if they feel may have, in the taking of an image, breached these principles.

Respectfullness

All images submitted must have been taken in a way that treats all subjects (human or otherwise) with respect, ensuring issues such as (but not limited to) societal values, cultural values and traditions are respected and treated sensitively. Competition organisers reserve the right to disqualify an image if they feel may have, in the taking of an image, breached these principles.

Legality

All Entries must be taken in a safe and lawful location. Neither the Organiser nor its affiliates will be held responsible for an Entrant taking a photograph in circumstances that pose a risk of personal injury or any legal implications.

You are responsible for ensuring full compliance with any applicable local, state national or international legislation (including in relation to drones) and for securing any relevant permits (which, in the case of human portraits, will include the subject’s permission) which must be made available to us if we request it.

Any and all existing wildlife and conservation requirements must be obeyed, and local laws upheld.