Monthly competitions in 2022

February – Nature

Judge: David Burren
Entries due: Tuesday 11 January 2022
Judged: Tuesday 1 February 2022
Sections: Open print
Open EDI
Set subject EDI
Set subject definition: 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 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 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. Adding a vignette or blurring the background during processing is not allowed.

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.

Controlling live subjects by chilling, anaesthetic or any other method of restricting natural movement for the purpose of a photograph is not allowed.

No modification that changes the truth of a Nature image is allowed. Images may be cropped but no other technique that removes, adds or moves any part of the image is allowed.

Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise and lens flare are allowed.

Complete conversion of colour images to greyscale monochrome is allowed. Partial conversion, toning and infrared captures or conversions are not allowed.

Images of the same subject that are combined in-camera or with software by focus stacking or exposure blending are allowed. Multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively and combined in-camera or with software (image stitching) are allowed.

The above is the PSA Nature definition effective from January 1 2022.
See also the PSA Guide for Nature Photographers and Judges (PDF 1.7MB).

March – Architecture Detail (monochrome)

Judge: Tony Harding
Entries due: Tuesday 1 February 2022
Judged: Tuesday 1 March 2022
Sections: Monochrome open print
Monochrome open EDI
Monochrome set subject EDI
Set subject definition: Features a building or parts of – domes, doors, roofs, stairways, steeples, towers, verandas, and windows.

April – Street

Judge: Paul Robinson
Entries due: Tuesday 1 March 2022
Judged: Tuesday 5 April 2022
Sections: Open print
Open EDI
Set subject EDI
Creative EDI
Set subject definition: A non-formalized genre of photography that may feature people and/or objects in candid situations within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls, political conventions, and other associated settings.

Images can often be ironic or emotionally detached from subject matter, focusing instead on a particular context or detail.

Framing and timing are key aspects of the craft, with the aim of creating images at a decisive or poignant moment.

May – Portrait

Judge: Andrew Esposito
Entries due: Tuesday 5 April 2022
Judged: Tuesday 3 May 2022
Sections: Open print
Open EDI
Set subject EDI
Set subject definition: A portrait, in the broad sense, is a recognisable image of an individual person or group. The photograph must be taken from life (i.e. a physical, living person or group of people).

The subject of the portrait may be anyone. Group portraits and self-portraits will be accepted.

June – Night scenes

Judge: Heather Prince
Entries due: Tuesday 3 May 2022
Judged: Tuesday 7 June 2022
Sections: Open print
Open EDI
Set subject EDI
Creative EDI
Set subject definition: Any photograph taken outdoors between dusk and dawn.

July – Contre-Jour

Judge: Matt Irwin
Entries due: Tuesday 7 June 2022
Judged: Tuesday 5 July 2022
Sections: Open print
Open EDI
Set subject EDI
Set subject definition: Contre-jour (French for “against daylight”) is a photographic technique in which the camera is pointing directly toward a source of light.

Contre-jour produces backlighting of the subject. The effect usually hides details, causes a stronger contrast between light and dark, creates silhouettes and emphasizes lines and shapes.

August – Animals/Pets

Judge: Stella Loftus-Hills
Entries due: Tuesday 5 July 2022
Judged: Tuesday 2 August 2022
Sections: Open print
Open EDI
Set subject EDI
Creative EDI
Set subject definition: An image of living animals, birds or insects either confined or in their natural environment. Studio style images of animals are acceptable.

September – Railway study (monochrome)

Judge: Gary Smith
Entries due: Tuesday 2 August 2022
Judged: Tuesday 6 September 2022
Sections: Monochrome open print
Monochrome open EDI
Monochrome set subject EDI
Set subject definition: This is to include object or person that is easily recognizable as belonging to a railway.

October – Book or film title

Judge: Ricardo da Cunha
Entries due: Tuesday 6 September 2022
Judged: Tuesday 4 October 2022
Sections: Open print
Open EDI
Set subject EDI
Creative EDI
Set subject definition: Illustrating the title of a published book or commercially released film. The title of the image is to be the title of the book or film.

It is not intended for text of the title of the book or film to be included as you would see on a book cover or movie poster. Use of text within the image is discouraged. Text generated by a licensed font is acquired content and not permitted.

November – At the beach

Judge: Ian Rolfe
Entries due: Tuesday 4 October 2022
Judged: Tuesday 25 October 2022
Sections: Open print
Open EDI
Set subject EDI
Set subject definition: An image in which a view of the beach or surrounds predominates, including activities that occur at the beach.

December – End of year

Judge: Mandarine Montgomery and Christopher Ian
Entries due: Tuesday 25 October 2022
Judged: Tuesday 6 December 2022
Sections: Open print
Colour EDI
Monochrome EDI
Creative EDI
President’s trophy