Nature Rules for PAGB / SPA Competitions / Exhibition
The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB) has adopted a revised definition of Nature that will be applied to nature images in future PAGB competitions / exhibitions. As far as LPC is concerned the changes will have an effect on our selection of images for GB Cup and any LPC images that SPA might use for inter-fed competitions. The Surrey Photographic Association will us the same rules for inter-club competitions and they will also apply to any nature images entered by individual club members for SPA competitions / exhibitions.
The definitions and guidance regarding nature and wildlife images can be found at http://www.thepagb.org.uk/.
NATURE
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 Nature photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality.
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.
Processing of the captured image, by cropping, exposure adjustment, colour correction, noise minimisation, dodging/burning, HDR, focus stacking and sharpening, is allowed. Cloning of image defects and minor distractions, including overlapping elements, are permitted when these do not distort the truth of the photographic statement.
Images entered as Nature can have landscape, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant 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.
Access to biological subjects may be restricted. By entering a PAGB event, Photographers warrant that they have followed relevant codes of practices and hold any necessary licences.
Guidance on implementation and interpretation of the PAGB Definition of Nature is available on the next page and should be read in conjunction with this Definition.
WILDLIFE
Images entered in Wildlife sections are further defined as one or more extant 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 Wildlife sections. 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. Wildlife images may be entered in Nature sections.
ARTISTIC NATURE
Images that comply with the Nature rules will not be accepted in Open categories, for example the Open category of the GB Cup, unless they can be claimed as Artistic Nature – see definition.
OTHER DEFINITIONS
Be aware that other photographic organisations such as RPS apply different rules for nature.
Added to website 11 June 2018