CLUB MONTH CRITIQUES 2023

May 2023

IMAGES DUE BY 20 APRIL

Social Documentary (SD)/Animals (A)

SOCIAL DOCUMENTARY

Social documentary photography is the recording of what the world looks like, with a social and/or environmental focus, and aims to draw the public's attention to ongoing social or environmental issues. It is often associated with the photographer providing a critical review / assessment of these issues and how people act on them. In these cases, the photographer also often advocates for the people impacted, trying to draw the public’s attention to the topic documented. Images need to be black and white (grey tonal range) and not toned with any colour. The use of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery (AI)) is not permitted.  

ANIMALS

Images of living untamed or domesticated animals (including but not limited to pets) in their normal environments. The image may include objects made by humans and may feature single or multiple animals. An animal (for the purpose of this competition) is defined as a living thing (with exception of humans) that can breathe, move, eat, reproduce and react to the world through its senses (eg sight, smell, hearing). Therefore mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fish are all animals for the purpose of this competition and may be wild or domesticated. It is acceptable that evidence of a human environment the animal frequents is allowed, along with any supporting man-made accessories, however, images should not include people as part of the subject or as supporting cast. Creative post-processing, including composites, is allowed.

The use of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery (AI)) is not permitted.  

July 2023

IMAGES DUE BY 15 June

ICM (INTENTIONAL CAMERA MOVEMENT)

Intentional camera movement (or ICM for short) is a photographic technique where you move the camera as the image is taken. The use of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery (AI)) is not permitted.  

HUMOUR (H)

An image that creates a sense or feeling of being funny, amusing, or comical. Images can be single or composite images and can reflect a real life situation or a created story. The use of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery (AI)) is not permitted.  

Sept 2023

IMAGES DUE BY 17 August

PICTORIAL (P)

A picture of any subject which has strong pictorial appeal, i.e. good composition and lighting. Can be colour or monochrome, except where stated ‘Monochrome Open’ colour images will not be accepted. 

NATURE (N)

Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology, in a 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 the 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, liek hurrricanes or tidal waves. Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissabl. 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. No techniques that add, relocate, replace, or remove pictorial elements except by cropping are permitted. Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or the pictorial content, or without altering the content of the original scene, are permitted including HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning. Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise, and film scratches are allowed. Stitched images are not permitted. All allowed adjustments must appear natural. Colour images can be converted to grey-scale monochrome. Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivitives are not allowed.