Competition is open to any photographs of any genre.

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 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. Something that exists in nature: insects, butterflies, spiders, trees & leaves, etc., Nature can have landscapes, 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. [SEE: Note], [SEE: Borders], [SEE: Checklist and Explanations of Nature Definitions]

Photographs of all flowers and plant blossoms, hybrid or not, in any stage of development (including buds, seedpods, fruit, etc.) are ineligible - unless they are acting as an adopted habitat for eligible living organisms that are the main focus of the image*. However, small flowers may be included provided they are incidental to the main subject of the image. – Such as a bee in the wild pollinating in a flower, its adopted habitat for the purpose. See Checklist and explanations of Nature Definitions. [SEE: Alterations], [SEE: Note], [SEE: Borders]

Creative is defined as altered reality that is apparent to the viewer. This definition includes alterations utilizing: colored lights and gels, black light, Mylar, sandwiches, projected images, double exposures, zoomed images, lithograph, birefringence, and computer manipulation. The image should have strong composition, pleasing quality, and color, texture, pattern, and/or tone impact. The appropriateness of the technique selected and pictorial merit is considered in judging. Small amounts of manipulating images (changing opacity, using filters, adding text, fantasy or textured backgrounds, etc) is NOT considered Creative. The content is unrestricted.

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.

Note: Entrants are cautioned that the previous sentence includes any images that appear to be arranged or posed to the judges. Entrants are therefore advised that such images are likely to be disqualified (DQed). [SEE: Alterations], [SEE: Note], [SEE: Borders]uch images are likely to be disqualified (DQed). [SEE: Alterations], [SEE: Note], [SEE: Borders]

Any topic related to trains, such as train cars, railroad tracks, train close-ups, train paraphernalia, etc.

This competition will not be judged, instead our membership will vote on their favorites. It is not necessary to resubmit your qualifying digital entries but Accomplished prints must be brought to the competition. If you are not going to be able to make it please contact your competition chair to get your prints delivered to the competition.

SEE Alterations: As with all reality-based divisions, (Nature, Photo Travel, and Photojournalism), 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 complete conversion to grayscale monochrome. Other derivations, including infrared, are not eligible. All allowed adjustments must appear natural.

SEE Note: “Restoration of the appearance of the original scene” may include techniques such as HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning provided they do not alter the contents of the original scene and the result looks natural.

SEE Border: Borders are optional, but must be 3 or 4 pixels in width and must be white or a shade of gray.

By virtue of submitting your entries with the Lancaster Photography Association (LPA), the member/entrant certifies that the work is his/her own and permits LPA to reproduce all or part of the entered images free of charge for publication and/or display in media related to the LPA, S4C and PSA Competitions the LPA Newsletter and LPA website. This will include for example: presentation in the end of year Competition should any of the images be selected for this Competition submission to the PSA Council Challenge should an image be selected for this purpose; and low resolution posting on an S4C website. The entrant further understands that LPA nor S4C assumes liability for any misuse of copyright. The entrant further represents that to the best of his/her understanding the entry complies with all LPA/S4C requirements for entry (Return to Entry to see summaries of these Requirements).

For S4C and PSA Interclub entries, the submitter is affirming that she/he has permission of the creator of each image used in the submission to use the creator’s image and that the creator agrees with the above.

[Rev 03/19/2024]