The following competitions are open to individual members of the Seddon Shield area camera clubs.
Please download and read the FULL Conditions of Entry (PDF) available on the Conditions of Entry page. The text below is a summary of main points pertaining to each individual competition, they are NOT the full Conditions of Entry.
Novice Competition
- Subject matter is OPEN.
- Entry in this competition shall only be made by an individual identified as a Novice.
- Entrant must never have previously entered a Seddon Shield area photography competition.
- Entrant must not have previously had images accepted in any major photographic competition (including regional or national salons).
- Entrant must not hold any photographic honours or distinctions.
- Entrant must have been a member of their club for less than two years.
- A total of 6 digital projected images may be entered. There is no print section.
- Images entered in the Novice competition cannot also be entered in the G C Wood Trophy.
Open Competition
- Entries may be either print and/or digital projected images.
- A total of 4 images may be entered in Open in any combination of print or digital.
- Images entered in the Open competition cannot also be entered in the G C Wood Trophy.
Landscape Competition
- Entries may be either print and/or digital projected images.
- A total of 4 images may be entered in Landscape in any combination of print or digital.
- Images entered in the Landscape competition cannot also be entered in the G C Wood Trophy.
Natural History Competition
- This competition is for NEW ZEALAND Natural History* images.
- Entries may be either print and/or digital projected images.
- A total of 4 images may be entered in Natural History in any combination of print or digital.
- Images entered in Natural History cannot also be entered in the G C Wood Trophy.
* IMPORTANT: Refer to the Definitions (below) for full details of the requirements for New Zealand Natural History.
Geoffrey C Wood Trophy Competition
- The competition is for individual members and shall consist of a portfolio of six images.
- The portfolio will consist of six prints in even years and six digital images in odd years.*
- The images shall be considered as individual and unrelated exhibition works. No common theme or balance of work is required.
- The total entry should demonstrate the skill and expertise of the photographer through a range of subject matter, as in the following examples: portraiture, landscape, photojournalism, monochrome, macro, abstract, still life, sports, night photography, creative, natural history.
- No duplication of subject matter should occur.
- The order in which images are uploaded is the order in which they will be presented.
- Start your upload with a summary image, consisting of 6 ‘thumbnail’ images of the 6 individual images making up your entry. The summary image should be sized as per the sizing rules.
- Images entered in the Novice / Open / Landscape / Natural History sections cannot be entered in the Geoffrey C Wood Trophy competition.
* The Geoffrey C Wood Trophy competition is for prints only in 2024.
Entry Fees
- $15.00 for entry in any combination of the Novice / Open / Landscape / Natural History competitions, regardless of how many of these competitions are entered.
- $15.00 for entry in the Geoffrey C Wood Trophy competition.
- Entries received without payment of an entry fee will be disqualified.
Payment of Entry Fees
Payment of entry fees is to be made by direct credit to the following account:
- Account Name:
- Account Number:
Please enter the following in the Particulars and Reference fields:
- Particulars: Your surname and initial
- Reference: Enter the word, Image
Definitions
NEW ZEALAND NATURAL HISTORY
Images entered in the New Zealand Natural History competition are based upon the PSNZ Nature definition with the additional and overriding requirements that:
- The photograph must have been taken of New Zealand subjects only.
- Any animals or plants illustrated must be untamed or uncultivated in their natural habitat (i.e. zoo animals are not allowed).
Examples of New Zealand Natural History include:
- Animals in the wild, birds, insects, animal tracks, nests, marine life, etc, but NOT domestic or mounted specimens.
- Plant life – flowers (not formal arrangements), trees, shrubs, ferns, fungi etc.
- Photomicrography – in connection with biological and geological subjects.
- General – scenery with a specific aspect, geology, clouds, meteorological interest, etc.
- Naturalised subjects – e.g. deer, black swan, monarch butterfly and wild briar (NOT cultivated roses).
PSNZ NATURE DEFINITION
Nature
Nature photography records all branches of natural history except anthropology and archaeology. This includes all aspects of the physical world, both animate and inanimate, that have not been made or modified by humans.
- Nature images must convey the truth of the scene that was photographed. A well-informed person should be able to identify the subject of the image and be satisfied that is has been presented honestly and that no unethical practices have been used to control the subject or capture the image. Images that directly or indirectly show any human activity that threatens the life or welfare of a living organism are not allowed.
- The most important part of a Nature image is the nature story it tells. High technical standards are expected and the image must look natural.
- Objects created by humans, and evidence of human activity, are allowed in Nature images only when they are a necessary part of the nature story.
- Photographs of human-created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domesticated animals, human-created hybrid animals and mounted or preserved zoological specimens are not allowed.
- Images taken with subjects under controlled conditions, such as zoos, are allowed. (Note: these are NOT allowed in the Seddon Shield area Natural History Competition)
- Controlling live subjects by chilling, anaesthetic or any other method of restricting natural movement for the purpose of a photograph is not allowed.
Wildlife
In addition to the restrictions on Nature photography, to be eligible for any Wildlife award images must meet the following conditions:
- Zoological organisms must be living free and unrestrained in a natural or adopted habitat of their own choosing.
- Images of zoological organisms that have been removed from their natural habitat, are in any form of captivity or are being controlled by humans for the purpose of photography are not allowed.
- Botanical organisms may not be removed from their natural environment for the purpose of photography.
- Images that have been staged for the purpose of photography are not allowed.
Titles
ONLY scientific names, common names or descriptive titles shall be used.
Editing Guidelines
Processing or editing must be limited to making the image look as close to the original scene as possible, except that conversion to grayscale monochrome is allowed.
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.
- All conversions other than to complete grayscale monochrome.
- Conversion of parts of an image to monochrome, or partial toning, desaturation or over-saturation of colour.
Photographers must have complied with the PSNZ Nature Code of Conduct.
PSNZ Nature Code of Conduct
When photographing nature subjects, there is always a certain amount of stress put on the subjects by the photographer. The Photographic Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) therefore has put together a series of principles for all members when they are photographing or even observing nature subjects, so that any stress is minimised.
- The welfare of the subject is more important than the photograph. This applies to geological as well as biological subjects.
- Any local or national conservation requirements must be obeyed. This includes getting appropriate permits and observing restricted areas. Permission should be sought from private landholders before venturing on to their land.
- There should be minimal disturbance to the surroundings.
- It is most important that the photographer has a reasonable knowledge of the subject before attempting to take any pictures. For uncommon subjects this knowledge needs to be extensive. It is important that the photographer has a general knowledge of other associated subjects so that the process of photographing causes no risk or stress to them. This in particular refers to small life forms.
Compliance with the Code of Conduct
The aim of this code of conduct is to prevent any damage to the environment and subjects being photographed; members of the PSNZ are expected to comply with it. Compliance will be assisted by taking time to study the subject to be photographed so as to ensure that it is not inadvertently placed at risk. Where evidence of a serious and deliberate violation of this code by a PSNZ member is drawn to the attention of a PSNZ affiliated club or PSNZ member, it or they will refer the matter to the PSNZ Council for consideration.
The Final Image
Any nature picture should record the truth of what the photographer saw at the time the picture was taken and reflect the competence of the image as captured by the photographer. Digital techniques that extend the capability of the camera may be used providing that they honestly and accurately represent the original nature story or event at the time of capture.
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