Competition Month
Definition
A triptych photo is created from three separate photographic panels, which can either be three distinct images that share a common theme or a single larger image divided into three sections.
Due: Wed, Oct 28th 2026 @ 9PM
Definition
Only images captured within the past 12 months from submission date are eligible.
Images that have received an Honour or a Merit may also be submitted into this competition.
The Competition Categories (one Image per Category) are:
• Print - Colour - Open Subject
• Print - Monochrome - Open Subject
• Digital Image - Colour - Open Subject
• Digital Image - Monochrome - Open Subject
The competition is conducted in two grades:
• A grade members
• B (includes both AB and B grade members)
Due: Wed, Nov 11th 2026 @ 9PM
Definition
Images may be of wild birds or those kept in captivity e.g. at wildlife parks and similar.
No people may be present in the photo, and evidence of the hand of man may be included but must be kept minimal. E.g. birds may be sitting on fences or fenceposts, wires or other manmade structures.
The welfare of the birds being photographed must be considered at all times
Due: Thu, Nov 12th 2026 @ 9PM
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.
• 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.
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).
Due: Wed, Dec 9th 2026 @ 9PM
Definition
Any image that shows a flavour of life in Australia including landscapes, people, events and places including architecture, birds and animals. Images may be taken in any of Australia’s territories.
Due: Wed, Jan 27th 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
Images of living untamed or domesticated animals (including pets) in natural or other outdoor
environments that may include objects made by humans although photographs may not include
people. Images may feature single or multiple animals. Indoor set-ups with natural or artificial
lighting are not allowed. Creative post-processing, including composites are allowed. An animal
(for the purpose of this topic) is defined as a living being (except for 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 topic
Due: Wed, Feb 24th 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
Image captured outdoors between dusk and dawn. It relies on ambient elements like starlight,
moonlight, or artificial sources (e.g., streetlamps and signs). To achieve proper exposure, you
generally need to use slow shutter speeds, wide apertures, and a sturdy tripod. It could include
astro photography, city or street scapes and the use of long exposure.
Due: Wed, Mar 24th 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
Capture the energy, flow and rhythm of motion in a way that the movement is visibly expressed
in the image. Use techniques such as freezing, blurring, motion blur, panning, long exposure, or
multiple exposure to convey a clear sense of action.
Due: Wed, Apr 28th 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
An image that captures the subject’s essence, personality, or story. Each image must feature at least one living human being as the primary subject. The image may be posed or candid, ranging from tight headshots and head-and-shoulders portraits to waist-up and full-body portraits.
Due: Wed, May 26th 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
A pictorial representation of land, sea, seashore, or urban environments that captures the
aesthetic appeal of these outdoor settings. It brings the viewer into the scenery and perfectly
captures the settings, mood, and feeling in the location. In can focus on wide-angle shots of
landforms, rivers, estuaries, seas, seashore, city skylines, streetscapes and the like. It may also
involve closer shots of features of these environments. If humans or animals are in the image,
they should not be the main focus but rather be intentionally present to give a sense of scale to
the image.
Due: Wed, Jun 23rd 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
"An image containing tones of only one colour.
This includes black-and-white photography (shades of neutral grey ranging from black to white) as well as images toned in sepia, cyan, blue, brown etc.
Partial toning or the addition of an extra colour is not allowed."
Due: Wed, Jul 28th 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
This topic focuses on the design, form, and aesthetic appeal of man-made structures.
Scope: Can include entire buildings, bridges, and monuments, or specific
interior/exterior architectural details, such as columns, arches, and stairwells.
Due: Wed, Aug 25th 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
An exercise in digital artistry and imagination where the final image must be
obviously altered from reality.
Scope: Images can be created using extensive post-processing techniques,
compositing multiple images together, adding textures, or using digital manipulation
tools to create a surreal, fantasy, or conceptual scene.
Rule: All photographic components used to create the final image must have been
taken by the submitting photographer. The use of stock photos or entirely AIgenerated
imagery is not permitted
Due: Wed, Sep 22nd 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
Shadows are not just a byproduct of light—they are the main subject of the
photograph.
Scope: The image must prominently feature shadows cast by objects or people.
Due: Wed, Oct 27th 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
Only images captured within the past 12 months from submission date are eligible.
Images that have received an Honour or a Merit may also be submitted into this competition.
The Competition Categories (one Image per Category) are:
• Print - Colour - Open Subject
• Print - Monochrome - Open Subject
• Digital Image - Colour - Open Subject
• Digital Image - Monochrome - Open Subject
The competition is conducted in two grades:
• A grade members
• B (includes both AB and B grade members)
Due: Wed, Nov 10th 2027 @ 9PM
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.
• 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.
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).
Due: Wed, Dec 8th 2027 @ 9PM
Definition
This is for testing purposes only
Due: Thu, Jan 1st 2099 @ 9PM