FIAP Monochrome Definition.

A black and white work fitting from the very dark grey (black) to the very clear grey (white) is a monochrome work with the various shades of grey. A black and white work toned entirely in a single colour will remain a monochrome work able to stand in the black and white category; such a work can be reproduced in black and white in the catalogue of a salon under FIAP Patronage. On the other hand a black and white work modified by a partial toning or by the addition of one colour becomes a colour work (polychrome) to stand in the colour category; such a work requires colour reproduction in the catalogue of a salon under FIAP Patronage.

Nature Definition. (Joint GPU and FIAP)

Nature photography records all branches of natural history except anthropology and archaeology. This includes all aspects of the physical world, both over water and underwater.
Nature images must convey the truth of the scene. A well-informed person should be able to identify the subject of the image and be satisfied that it 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 threatening a living organism’s life or welfare 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.
• Photographs made where the scene is natural and the animal is unharmed in a carefully managed environment, such as zoos, rescue centres, and ethically managed natural environment farms are permitted.
• Attracting or controlling subjects through the use of food or sound for the purpose of photographing them is not allowed. Maintained situations such as provided supplemental food due to hardship caused by weather conditions or other conditions beyond the animals’ control, where photography is incidental to the feeding of the animal does not fall under this provision.
• Controlling live subjects by chilling, anaesthetic or any other method of restricting natural movement for a photograph is not allowed.
• Human-made elements shall be permitted under the following circumstances:

1. a) When they are an integral part of the nature story, such as a songbird singing atop a fence post a manmade object used as nest material, or a weather phenomenon destroying a man-made structure.
2. b) When they are a small but unavoidable part of the scene, such as an unobtrusive footprint or track in the background.
3. c) Scientific tags, collars, and bands are specifically allowed.

When photographing at a zoo, sanctuary, or rehabilitation centre, it would be construed that the photographer ensured that it’s properly accredited and conforms to best practices.

SIE Landscape – no longer a separate class however..
.. Images eligible for a ‘Landscape’ medal should encompass Landscapes, Seascapes, Waterscapes, Skyscapes and/or Cityscapes. Any scenic view where the main subject matter is the view captured and depicted. People may be included in the scene as long as they are ancillary and or supportive of the main subject.

Images depicting Landscapes (as defined above) that are entered into the Open Colour Print and Open Colour Digital classes must be in Colour and are eligible for the Best Landscape awards. Monochrome landscape images can be entered into the two open monochrome classes.

The integrity of the subject must be maintained and the making of physical changes to the landscape is not permitted. You may not, for example, remove fences, move trees or place in the sky from another image. Digital adjustments including dodging and burning, changes to tone & contrast and cropping are allowed, as are High Dynamic Range imaging techniques, stitched panoramas and focus stacking.

Authentic Wildlife

In addition to the restrictions on nature photography, to be eligible for any Wildlife award and acceptance, 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.

Creativity embraces “altered reality” in which a representation of what could exist or, more expressively, that which does not exist. However, constructed, the viewed final image should be interpretable. Creative images are often montages, i.e., a blending or composite of multiple images (one or many), where the viewed final image is designed, planned, and executed in a deliberate manner by the author. GPU takes the view that the application of out-of-the-box filters, supplied by the software manufacturers, or turnkey effects, such as High Dynamic Range (HDR) composites, without further changes are not considered creative “enough” as the author just has to “push a few buttons”.

All elements of the final submitted creative image must be original with the copyright owned fully and solely by the entrant. No elements generated or owned by anyone else are permissible. Each element of the original images must be altered by the entrant alone. Images may not be constructed and submitted if they have been entirely “made” within a computer.

Editing Guidelines (For classes other than Open Class)

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.