2025 Salon Rules

We welcome innovative and creative fine art photography that expresses your unique artistic vision.

Fine art photography, for this section, is defined as:

• Work that demonstrates the photographer's intentional artistic interpretation, where the image goes beyond simple documentation to evoke emotion, explore concepts, or challenge perspectives. The photographer must show deliberate creative input that transforms the subject beyond a straightforward capture of reality.
• While technically sound, images that merely document a scene without artistic interpretation or creative manipulation will not be considered fine art for this section. 

Examples of fine art approaches include abstract compositions, altered reality, intentional camera movement, still life arrangements, and minimalist expressions.

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

Images created or modified using Generative AI (GEN-AI) technology are not permitted in this salon. Any submitted Generative AI image (in whole or in part) will be disqualified.  Entrants are reminded that all parts of the image have to be photographed by the author who is holding the copyright of all works submitted.

ALLOWED EDITING TECHNIQUES:

• On-Camera - Utilizing on-camera features and settings for image enhancements such as focus stacking and High Dynamic Range (HDR).
• Post Processing – All traditional editing features are permitted, colour conversion to as black & white, content-aware editing, double exposures, composite images, dodging and burning, focus stacking, HDR (High Dynamic Range), long-exposure blending, and vignette. For AI tools, only masking, sharpening, noise reduction, and image upscaling are permitted.
• Background - A background you have photographed or created, as long as they are your original work and properly integrated into the final image. 
• Colour With Brush Tool – The brush strokes must be applied manually by the entrant, and no pre-made brushes or automated tools (e.g., AI-generated effects) are permitted. This ensures that the creative process is entirely the entrant’s work.
• Sky Replacement – Permitted provided that the replacement sky was captured by the entrant submitting the image.

EDITING TECHNIQUES THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED:

• Images that are entirely generated electronically with no photographic origin.
• Adding external elements (e.g., stock images, clipart, or AI-generated components) to a submitted image, unless all elements are entirely created by the photographer 
• Generative AI Content Fill, Remove and Expand.
• Brushes that include shapes, textures, or effects not created by the photographer (e.g., pre-made brushes of birds, snowflakes, or other designs). 
• Photograph must not contain any decorative elements like frames, borders, pin-lines, or mats.  This includes the edges and markings of scanned film.  When the frame is integral to the captured image, for instance a window frame or door frame that has been captured by the camera, these elements are permitted.

Nature photography documents all natural elements - from microscopic life to vast landscapes - across Earth's environments, including flora, fauna, geology, weather, and celestial subjects, while excluding human cultural elements.

Nature photographs must represent authentic, unmanipulated scenes where subjects are documented ethically, without causing stress or harm to living organisms. Each image should be readily identifiable by experts and free from any evidence of harmful human interference.

ETHICAL STANDARDS IN NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY:

• A compelling Nature image must prioritize storytelling while maintaining exceptional technical quality.
• Images from reputable managed environments - such as zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, and ethical nature farms - are acceptable when the subjects appear in natural settings and their welfare is assured.
• Baiting wildlife with food or sound to create photo opportunities is prohibited. However, photography is permitted when animals are receiving legitimate supplemental feeding during harsh conditions, provided the photography is secondary to their care and wellbeing.
• Any method of restricting or manipulating an animal's natural movement - including chilling, sedation, or physical restraint - for photographic purposes is strictly prohibited.
• Photographers working at managed facilities such as zoos, sanctuaries, or rehabilitation centers must verify that these institutions are properly accredited and follow established ethical standards.
• Images of artificially bred plants and animals, domesticated or feral species, and preserved specimens are not permitted. This includes cultivated plants, hybrid species, pets, livestock, and taxidermy specimens.
• Human elements may appear in Nature images only when they are essential to the natural narrative. This includes three specific situations: 
• a) when they are integral to wildlife behavior (like a bird using a fence post as a perch)
• b) when they are minimal and unavoidable background elements 
• c) when they are scientific markers used for wildlife research and tracking.

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

Images created or modified using Generative AI (GEN-AI) technology are not permitted in this salon. Any submitted Generative AI image (in whole or in part) will be disqualified.  Entrants are reminded that all parts of the image have to be photographed by the author who is holding the copyright of all works submitted.

ALLOWED EDITING TECHNIQUES:

• Cropping, straightening and perspective correction 
• Removal or correction of elements added by the camera or lens, such as dust spots, noise, chromatic aberration and lens distortion 
• Global and selective adjustments such as brightness, hue, saturation and contrast to restore the appearance of the original scene 
• Complete conversion of colour images to grayscale monochrome 
• Blending of multiple images of the same subject and combining them in camera or with software (exposure blending or focus stacking) 
• Image stitching - combining multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively (panoramas). 

EDITING TECHNIQUES THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED:

• Removing, adding to, moving or changing any part of an image, except for cropping and straightening. 
• Adding a vignette during processing 
• Blurring parts of the image during processing to hide elements in the original scene 
• Darkening parts of the image during processing to hide elements in the original scene 
• Conversion of parts of an image to monochrome, or partial toning, desaturation or over-saturation of colour

We invite photographers to showcase their creative skills, using colour as a vibrant medium to capture outstanding and stunning images.

It is an opportunity to explore areas that may stretch your comfort zones, pushing to the boundaries of your creativity.

To keep the focus on the dynamic world of colour, we kindly request that submissions be limited to colour images only.  

A colour image is when it either contains natural colour or has been modified to create colour effects. This includes:

• Natural colour photographs
• Monochrome images that have been partially toned or color-modified
• Images with selective colouring, spot colours, or multiple tones
• Any image that has been manipulated to include colour effects, whether subtle or vibrant
• Images where colour has been added, adjusted, or enhanced through any digital process

Nude images are permitted in this section. However, sexually explicit images will not be accepted.

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

Images created or modified using Generative AI (GEN-AI) technology are not permitted in this salon. Any submitted Generative AI image (in whole or in part) will be disqualified.  Entrants are reminded that all parts of the image have to be photographed by the author who is holding the copyright of all works submitted.

ALLOWED EDITING TECHNIQUES:

• On-Camera - Utilizing on-camera features and settings for image enhancements such as focus stacking and High Dynamic Range (HDR).
• Post Processing – All traditional editing features are permitted, such as content-aware editing, double exposures, composite images, dodging and burning, focus stacking, HDR (High Dynamic Range), long-exposure blending, and vignette. For AI tools, only masking, sharpening, noise reduction, and image upscaling are permitted.
• Background - A background you have photographed or created, as long as they are your original work and properly integrated into the final image. 
• Colour With Brush Tool – The brush strokes must be applied manually by the entrant, and no pre-made brushes or automated tools (e.g., AI-generated effects) are permitted. This ensures that the creative process is entirely the entrant’s work.
• Sky Replacement – Permitted provided that the replacement sky was captured by the entrant submitting the image.

EDITING TECHNIQUES THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED:

• Images that are entirely generated electronically with no photographic origin.
• Adding external elements (e.g., stock images, clipart, or AI-generated components) to a submitted image, unless all elements are entirely created by the photographer 
• Generative AI Content Fill, Remove and Expand.
• Brushes that include shapes, textures, or effects not created by the photographer (e.g., pre-made brushes of birds, snowflakes, or other designs). 
• Photograph must not contain any decorative elements like frames, borders, pin-lines, or mats.  This includes the edges and markings of scanned film.  When the frame is integral to the captured image, for instance a window frame or door frame that has been captured by the camera, these elements are permitted.

Monochrome photography challenges entrants to see beyond color, focusing on the interplay of light, shadow, texture, and form to create compelling visual narratives. This section invites entrants to demonstrate their mastery of tonal range, contrast, and composition through black and white imagery that strengthens rather than diminishes their subject's impact.

A monochrome image must fall into one of these two categories:

1. A purely greyscale image using only black, white, and shades of grey
2. A greyscale image that has been uniformly tinted with a single color across the entire frame (such as sepia, red, or gold toning)

An image is NOT considered monochrome if it:

• Has selective colour toning in different areas
• Includes spot colouring or partial colorization
• Uses multiple tints or tones across different parts of the image.  Such images that mix colours or toning effects is not considered a monochrome and will be disqualified. 

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

Images created or modified using Generative AI (GEN-AI) technology are not permitted in this salon. Any submitted Generative AI image (in whole or in part) will be disqualified.  Entrants are reminded that all parts of the image have to be photographed by the author who is holding the copyright of all works submitted.

ALLOWED EDITING TECHNIQUES:

• On-Camera - Utilizing on-camera features and settings for image enhancements such as focus stacking and High Dynamic Range (HDR).
• Post Processing – All traditional editing features are permitted, conversion to black & white, content-aware editing, double exposures, composite images, dodging and burning, focus stacking, HDR (High Dynamic Range), long-exposure blending, and vignette. For AI tools, only masking, sharpening, noise reduction, and image upscaling are permitted.
• Background - A background you have photographed or created, as long as they are your original work and properly integrated into the final image. 
• Colour With Brush Tool – The brush strokes must be applied manually by the entrant, and no pre-made brushes or automated tools (e.g., AI-generated effects) are permitted. This ensures that the creative process is entirely the entrant’s work.
• Sky Replacement – Permitted provided that the replacement sky was captured by the entrant submitting the image.

EDITING TECHNIQUES THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED:

• Images that are entirely generated electronically with no photographic origin.
• Adding external elements (e.g., stock images, clipart, or AI-generated components) to a submitted image, unless all elements are entirely created by the photographer 
• Generative AI Content Fill, Remove and Expand.
• Brushes that include shapes, textures, or effects not created by the photographer (e.g., pre-made brushes of birds, snowflakes, or other designs).
• Photograph must not contain any decorative elements like frames, borders, pin-lines, or mats.  This includes the edges and markings of scanned film.  When the frame is integral to the captured image, for instance a window frame or door frame that has been captured by the camera, these elements are permitted.

This section is for novice photographers only.

Unleash your creative vision in this theme-free category. Show us what catches your eye and stirs your imagination – whether it's the way sunlight plays across your morning coffee, a candid moment between friends, or an artfully staged scene you've dreamed up. Technical precision isn't our focus here; we want to see life through your lens, in your voice. Let your images tell stories, evoke emotions, or simply celebrate the act of photography itself. This is your space to experiment, express, and explore what makes your perspective uniquely yours.  Your images can be colour, monochrome or a combination.

TIPS FOR SUBMISSION:

• Focus on subjects that genuinely interest you
• Share images that tell a story or evoke emotion
• Don't be afraid to experiment with different angles and perspectives
• Consider the basic elements of composition like framing and lighting
• You may submit photos taken with any camera device, including smartphones. The key is to show us your vision, whether it's a candid family moment, an interesting street scene, or a beautiful landscape that caught your eye.

For the purposes of this Exhibition, a novice photographer is one who:

• has been actively practicing photography for 3 years or less
• has not held any solo photography exhibitions
• does not work as a professional photographer
• does not earn an income for their photographic skill or the sale of their images

USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

Images created or modified using Generative AI (GEN-AI) technology are not permitted in this salon. Any submitted Generative AI image (in whole or in part) will be disqualified.  Entrants are reminded that all parts of the image have to be photographed by the author who is holding the copyright of all works submitted.

ALLOWED EDITING TECHNIQUES:

• On-Camera - Utilizing on-camera features and settings for image enhancements such as focus stacking and High Dynamic Range (HDR).
• Post Processing – All traditional editing features are permitted, such as black & white conversion, content-aware adjustments and replacements, double exposures, composite images, dodging and burning, focus stacking, HDR (High Dynamic Range), long-exposure blending, and vignette. For AI tools, only masking, sharpening, noise reduction, and image upscaling are permitted.
• Background - A background you have photographed or created, as long as they are your original work and properly integrated into the final image. 
• Colour With Brush Tool – The brush strokes must be applied manually by the entrant, and no pre-made brushes or automated tools (e.g., AI-generated effects) are permitted. This ensures that the creative process is entirely the entrant’s work.
• Sky Replacement – Permitted provided that the replacement sky was captured by the entrant submitting the image.

EDITING TECHNIQUES THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED:

• Images that are entirely generated electronically with no photographic origin.
• Adding external elements (e.g., stock images, clipart, or AI-generated components) to a submitted image, unless all elements are entirely created by the photographer 
• Generative AI Content Fill, Remove and Expand.
• Brushes that include shapes, textures, or effects not created by the photographer (e.g., pre-made brushes of birds, snowflakes, or other designs).
• Photograph must not contain any decorative elements like frames, borders, pin-lines, or mats.  This includes the edges and markings of scanned film.  When the frame is integral to the captured image, for instance a window frame or door frame that has been captured by the camera, these elements are permitted.