FIAP PATRONAGE REGULATIONS

FIAP Document 048/2025 E — supersedes FIAP document 040/2023 and applies to events with a closing date after 31 December 2025.

I. FIAP Patronage

I.1 Definition

FIAP patronage is a form of recognition granted to an international photographic salon in consideration of the conduct of an event organised previously.

I.2 General principle

FIAP Patronage requested by organisers can only be awarded to events with a marked international character which are accessible to participants from all over the world without restrictions. Salons with nothing but a strongly restricted subject, or any other discriminatory factor, are excluded from the benefits of these regulations. FIAP patronage must always prevail over other international organisations.

The FIAP board retains the authority to organize events centred on specific subjects as deemed appropriate.

I.3 Events other than international salons

FIAP Auspices can be granted to international photographic events that do not fulfil the conditions for FIAP Patronage, such as commemorations, jubilees, exhibitions, workshops etc. (see FIAP document "Auspices of FIAP").

I.4 Application

Applications for FIAP Patronage are made online via the FIAP Platform www.myfiap.net, where Operational Members, regional members (IRFIAP), individual members (ILFIAP) and salon organisers hold "profiles". The salon's regulations must be uploaded when applying.

The Operational Member of the country where the event takes place must check the application, including the salon regulations, to ensure conformity with the current FIAP Patronage Regulations. If conforming and with no other doubts, they forward the application to the FIAP Patronage Service for final checks. If the Operational Member has doubts for reasons other than conformity, they must submit a detailed non-approval report to the Director of FIAP Patronage Service within 30 days of the application being submitted.

In countries without an Operational Member, each organiser must obtain an ILFIAP/IRFIAP membership (via the FIAP secretary) before applying for patronage; admissibility is checked directly by the FIAP Patronage Service.

New events must submit Patronage applications at least 3 months before the closing date. Events previously granted Patronage must apply at least 2 months before closing. Events with print sections must apply at least 4 months before closing, and entry details/process must be available to entrants at least 3 months before closing.

FIAP Patronage cannot be awarded to only part of a salon – a salon either has Patronage for all sections, or none.

I.5 Justifications

Patronage is applied for via www.myfiap.net; organizers must upload the complete salon regulations, edited at least in French or English (see II.8). Where Patronage was granted in a previous year, the catalogue and FIAP Salon File (per II.16) must have been submitted before any future application is considered.

An international salon organised for the first time can only obtain Patronage if the organizers have already organized at least one event of some importance, and must provide useful references about previous events.

I.6 Decision of FIAP

If the Operational Member's advice is favourable and FIAP Patronage Service's checks find the salon compliant, Patronage is granted by the FIAP President or, in his name, the Director of FIAP Patronage Service. If advice is missing without good reason, or FIAP disagrees with an Operational Member's refusal, FIAP can decide on the application without that approval in exceptional circumstances. There is no appeal against decisions taken by responsible FIAP officers.

A withdrawn patronage can only be granted again upon submission of a complete application guaranteeing perfect organization of the future event.

The FIAP Board can restrict the number of salons in countries where FIAP activity is primarily limited to organizing FIAP salons.

I.7 Approval of Patronage

Patronage is granted after payment of the invoice sent by the FIAP treasurer (salon fee(s), medal costs, and any other related costs).

If granted, the following are issued: (1) a Certificate with a numbering code referring to the year and salon number (e.g. 2026/001), to be shown at the exhibition/projection and optionally included in the catalogue; (2) a numbered FIAP Publicity sheet to be included in the salon catalogue.

The patronage number combines the year (determined by the event's closing date) and a serial number.

Organizers must award FIAP medals (at least one gold medal per section), FIAP honourable mentions and a special light blue pin (best author), and must use the FIAP emblem on invitations, folders, posters, catalogues and other promotional material. The salon regulations must state that the salon runs under FIAP Patronage and show the patronage number.

Organizers of international salons without FIAP Patronage may not reproduce the FIAP logo; if they are ILFIAP clubs, their regulations must state the event is not run under FIAP patronage and that acceptances cannot be used for FIAP distinctions.

I.8 Obligations of the organizers

●     Organizers must comply with these conditions/rules and any FIAP amendments or directions, and must undertake to answer all correspondence about their event.

●     Organizers must ensure all participants of an online event tick a box agreeing to FIAP document 040/2023 and FIAP document 038/2023; these documents must be linked. Participants who do not tick the box must be excluded. In events without online entry, the text must be signed and submitted with the photographs.

Required consent text:

"I hereby expressly agree to FIAP document 040/2023 «Conditions and regulations for FIAP Patronage» and FIAP document 038/2023 «Sanctions for breaching FIAP regulations and the red list». I am particularly aware of chapter II «Regulations for International photographic events under FIAP patronage» of FIAP document 040/2023, dealing under Section II.2 and II.3 with the FIAP participation rules, the sanctions for breaching FIAP regulations and the red list."

●     Organizers may not print pictures for participants to present to the jury, nor be involved in any way in the printing process of images submitted for judging.

●     Organizers must check entrants against the FIAP Red List, available on the salon's profile page on myfiap.net.

●     Organizers must cooperate with FIAP services on investigations of possible rule infringements.

●     Images submitted may only be used in the context of the salon for which patronage was requested, except for ethics investigation purposes.

●     Organisers must provide jury members with appropriate FIAP regulation information (a summary can be downloaded via myfiap.net).

●     FIAP recommends a moderate email approach – a total of six messages per salon/circuit (pre-notice, announcement, three reminders, results), excluding already-registered participants from ongoing reminders where possible, with an unsubscribe function in every message.

●     It is recommended that salons do not flood Facebook and other social media with marketing posts.

I.9 Responsibility of FIAP

Granting FIAP Patronage does not imply FIAP is liable or responsible for any faults or wrongdoings committed by organizers towards participants and/or third parties.

II. Regulations for International Photographic Events under FIAP Patronage

II.1 Definition

Only photographic events open to photographers from all countries, amateurs and professionals alike, respecting FIAP regulations, can qualify as an "International Salon under FIAP Patronage". Circuits covering several salons/organizers may be patronised provided the number of events is limited to five (see Chapter III).

A specific photographic event can only be organised once a year.

A salon can be run for Youth and obtain Patronage if age Category I (under 16) and/or Category II (under 25) before the closing date is/are used; each entrant enters only one category, judged separately (including sections within categories). No Patronage fees are charged for Youth salons; FIAP sponsors a set of 3 medals per category. Organisers must be able to verify participants' age via birth date.

II.2 Participation

Each entrant must observe FIAP rules and the current Patronage Regulations and document 038/2023.

Any entrant whose image shows anything suspicious regarding compliance can be asked to submit the original capture file (RAW or unretouched JPEG) plus the files immediately before and after the questionable image. Failure to provide these can result in sanctions.

Sanctioned entrants are placed on the FIAP Red List, available to organizers via myfiap.net. A sanctioned person's participation in FIAP events is restricted or banned; they cannot be a judge, organise a patronised salon, or apply for FIAP distinctions, and lose the right to use any distinctions already received.

Authors must preserve the original metadata of digital images intact; inability to access this data in a dispute could result in sanction.

Anyone found guilty of using photographic material not captured in-camera by themselves will be excluded for life from FIAP activities.

Salon chairmen, persons closely involved in organising the salon, and persons handling the salon software are not allowed to participate in the salon.

II.3 Sanctions

Each entrant acknowledges they will incur sanctions if they breach FIAP regulations (see FIAP document 038/2023).

II.4 Character of the works

All styles and photographic processes must be admitted. Size of prints should not be given too much importance relative to technique/subject. Organizers are invited to specify their requirements on technique and subject to avoid disappointing results and to allow fair, consistent judging.

It is strictly forbidden for the author to put identifying text, a signature, or any other distinctive mark on the front/facing side of any photo.

II.5 Subject matter, categories and sections

Basically, the subject to be treated by the author is free.

A) International salons can have the following categories:

●     Black and White/Monochrome Prints (M)

●     Colour Prints (C)

●     Projected Images (PI M and/or C)

●     Audiovisual (AV) (see FIAP document 2013/314 AV)

B) So far as II.6 permits, a salon/circuit can have the following sections:

●     Open, Creative, Nature, Wildlife, Photojournalism, World in Focus, Series, Portfolios (Collections), Themes

Thematic salons (e.g. socio-documentary subjects) are recommended, provided the subject is broad enough for everyone (e.g. "the theatre", "man at work", "childhood"). Organizers must respect FIAP's published definitions (see Appendix).

Organisers may hold the Open, Series, Portfolios and Themes sections under the special conditions of "Traditional Photo" (see Chapter VI); in this case the letters TRAD are added to the section name (e.g. Open (TRAD)).

An author may not enter identical or similar photographs into the same salon; the organiser must filter these out before judging. A monochrome and a colour image from the same capture are considered the same image and must share the same title.

II.6 Number of sections

A single international salon may have a maximum of six sections. For Circuits: (a) 5 salons – max 3 sections; (b) 4 salons – max 4 sections; (c) 3 salons – max 5 sections. Sections recurring across categories count separately. An author may thus enter at most 24 works in a single salon (4 per section) and 12/16/20 works in a circuit of (a)/(b)/(c) salons respectively.

A specific circuit can only be organised once a year.

II.7 FIAP medals, honourable mentions (HM) and special light blue pin (SLBP)

There are three types of FIAP medals: gold, silver and bronze. Organizers must buy at least one gold medal per section, with a minimum of 3 FIAP medals per salon (same rule applies per salon within a circuit). Two FIAP HMs per medal, per salon, are supplied free of charge with the medals.

The SLBP (supplied free) is awarded to the "best author" – the participant with the highest total acceptances across all sections; ties are decided irrevocably by the organiser. Youth salons receive 2 SLBPs (one per category).

The number of requested medals must be specified when applying for Patronage. The invoice (salon fee(s), medal costs, other costs) must be paid via the FIAP platform before Patronage, medals, HMs and SLBP are sent. Prompt payment is recommended to meet the 3/4-month application deadlines.

All FIAP medals, HMs and the SLBP must be mentioned in the salon regulations and recorded in the catalogue. FIAP medals must be one of the principal awards given by the judges, and (except for Series/Portfolios/Collections) must go to individual photographs. Each participant cannot receive more than one award per section. Medals must be awarded at the event for which they were obtained, only to participating works/authors; not all medals/HMs need be awarded – quality of entries is the main consideration.

Awarded medals must be engraved by the organiser, or at least carry a sticker with the participant's name and picture title.

II.8 Salon regulations and entry-form

Regulations must be edited at least in English or French; other languages are optional but must be coherent and identical in meaning to the version submitted for Patronage approval.

The salon regulations must include:

●     A) Name of the event and the name, e-mail address and country of the person responsible for the salon or circuit (English alphabet).

●     B) The FIAP emblem and the FIAP Patronage number(s) of the salon or circuit.

●     C) Names of the judges and details of their qualifications, including FIAP distinctions (if any) of each.

●     D) A calendar mentioning: closing date; date(s) of judging; mailing date of report cards; date(s) of exhibition(s)/public or online showing(s); date prints are returned (if applicable); date catalogues and awards are mailed. FIAP strongly recommends defining and strictly complying with reasonable timelines.

●     E) The mandatory AI text: "Pictures created by artificial intelligence are not allowed in this salon! All parts of the image have to be photographed by the author who is holding the copyright of all works submitted. Offenders will be sanctioned for life!"

●     F) A statement that by submitting images, the entrant accepts without exception: that FIAP may investigate compliance even if the entrant is not a FIAP member; that FIAP will use any means for this; that refusal to cooperate/submit original files, or failure to provide sufficient evidence, results in sanction; and that sanctioned entrants' names will be released to inform other parties. Entrants must leave EXIF data intact.

●     G) The entry-fee amount and payment method. If a catalogue is sent to all participants, the fee must include this. The organiser may charge special return postage.

●     H) FIAP recommends solidarity with participants in countries with limited currency facilities.

●     I) A statement that every participant gets a free catalogue copy or download link.

●     J) For Projected Image sections: projection method/equipment and pixel dimensions (max width and height, not larger than the equipment used).

●     K) The maximum number of images per author per category: for prints, max 4 per section (except Series/Portfolios, defined by organizer), max recommended format A3+ (329x483mm/13x19in incl. mounting), minimum format defined by organizer; for projected images, max 4 works per section (except Series/Portfolios), file size/format per organizer's indications.

●     L) Identification requirements: for prints – author's name, address, country, e-mail, title (official FIAP language, English alphabet), entry number; for projected images – author's references in the organiser's required format.

●     M) Any other pertinent information (forwarding to other salons, correspondence address, etc.).

●     N) A statement that, in the general interest of the event, entered works may be reproduced in the printed/digital catalogue and any material promoting/publicising the exhibition, subject to copyright rules, and for no other purpose.

In exceptional cases, organisers might ask permission not to publish judges' names in the regulations, but must still communicate them to FIAP Patronage Service when applying.

II.9 The jury

A) General terms

Jury sessions can be held in person or online (see II.9.B for online conditions).

Jury members must agree to supply contact details to FIAP and consent to be contacted about FIAP salons they judged.

An international salon requires a jury of 3–5 members per section. FIAP recommends 1 foreign judge for a 3-person jury, 2 for a 5-person jury. At least one judge (two for a 5-person jury) must hold an artistic FIAP distinction (AFIAP, EFIAP, EFIAP levels, MFIAP).

Jury members must be familiar with these regulations; FIAP provides a specific document collating relevant articles and section definitions, to be distributed at least 10 days before judging. For online judging, judges have a minimum of 10 days to score images before the award selection meeting.

Jury members must cooperate with FIAP services (especially the Ethics Service) on investigations of possible infringements by participants or organisers.

The majority of jury members cannot belong to the organising club. Jury members must have proven good knowledge of international photography. Names and titles of jury members must be stated in the regulations and catalogue (except as noted above).

Juries assigned to a section/category must view and judge all images in it, and attend the entire jury session.

One person cannot judge more than fifteen times a year in a FIAP-patronised salon. Travel/accommodation costs of jury members are covered by organizers.

Jury members may not participate in any section of the event (or any component salon of a circuit); no breach is tolerated. They may be invited to exhibit works on an ineligible basis.

Salon chairmen, persons closely involved in organising the salon, persons handling the salon software, and sanctioned/banned persons are not allowed on the judging team.

It is forbidden to mix single pictures with series, portfolios or collections within the same section.

B) Online judging

The following conditions apply for online judging (not applicable to print sections or fully in-person judging):

1. Judging

●     Organizers must have proper logistics/software for judges to score images online from their actual locations.

●     Each online judgement must be finalized in a common online meeting to designate awards, after judges have had a minimum of ten days to score. An invitation must be sent to fiaponlineawards@gmail.com (no later than the closing date) so a FIAP observer may join. The meeting must be documented by screenshots (including judges together on screen) and signed judging reports uploaded to myfiap.net.

●     For salons judged online, the salon's country is deemed to be the organiser's country, and the exhibition must take place there. For multi-country circuits, there must be a national organiser and exhibition in each country.

2. Selection of Judges

●     Judges judging a section together must each be a different nationality.

●     For multi-country circuits, each salon may choose up to two judges from the circuit's nations to judge a section, provided they are of different nationalities.

●     Emergency judges must still satisfy the nationality requirements above.

●     Nationality is determined per the FIAP "Nationality of Judge" rule below.

3. Nationality of Judge

●     A judge must deem themselves from one particular nation (considering residence, citizenship, nationality used to enter salons and to apply for FIAP Distinctions), regardless of holding more than one nationality.

●     A judge's nominated nationality must remain consistent across salons; a formal change can be requested via the FIAP Liaison Officer of the nation to which the judge is relocating.

II.10 Handling of prints

Organizers must take good care of works when handling them. No marks other than those necessary for identification are allowed. Stamps must not transfer ink to other prints or through to the front of a print; labels on the rear of unmounted prints must not damage the image.

II.11 Jury decisions

All works complying with entry rules must be presented to the judges; any pre-selection is prohibited. Organizers may not alter jury decisions. No works can be added after the official judging session. The jury awards medals/HMs in complete autonomy and need not justify its decisions.

To improve result quality, acceptance rates must be limited to a maximum of 30% per section (lower rates are welcomed).

II.12 Number of prizes – Number of accepted entries

Each awarded work gets only one prize; each participant cannot receive more than one award per section (though could receive one per section across multiple sections). Identical/similar works by the same or a different author cannot both be awarded in the same event. Acceptance of a series/projected work counts as one acceptance.

II.13 Notification cards – Scoring method

After judging, every participant must be individually informed of results (post or electronic). The notification card must use an official FIAP language and clearly indicate the voting result for each work in each category/section. If a numeral scoring system is used, the card must state the score per work, min/max possible scores, and the acceptance score. Otherwise, the card must clearly show which images were accepted, rejected and/or awarded.

II.14 Judging conditions (in-person jury sessions)

Lighting/presentation of prints and projection of digital images must allow judges to work under the best conditions, with sufficient time for judgment. Projected images require a multimedia projector on a screen at least 1m diagonal (adjusted to venue size); if not using multimedia projection, each judge needs an individual monitor of at least 15 inch, or a group screen of at least 42 inch.

Any preliminary selection is strictly forbidden. All judging materials must be correctly calibrated.

II.15 Transmission of completed FIAP Salon File

After judgment, organizers must complete and upload the FIAP Salon File via myfiap.net without delay. Failure to do so within 15 days of the last judging day can result in a monetary penalty on a future patronage application. Acceptance points for FIAP distinctions can only be claimed once the Salon File has been sent.

II.16 Catalogue

FIAP Patronage is a guarantee of quality. The organiser may choose a printed or digital catalogue, containing only jury-accepted works. The catalogue must contain reproductions of awarded pictures and may contain accepted pictures. Colour images must be reproduced in colour.

All catalogues must contain: (1) a list of prize-winning works/authors and the best author, with awards clearly stated as FIAP Gold/Silver/Bronze Medal, Honourable Mention, and FIAP Best Author; (2) an alphabetical list by country and author with accepted works' titles (must be part of the catalogue, not separate); (3) a statistical table per category/section/country of participating authors, received works, accepted authors and accepted works; (4) the FIAP advertisement insert with patronage number(s), unaltered and prominently placed; (5) judges' names, distinctions and countries; (6) the salon chairman's name, e-mail and country.

A) Printed catalogue: minimum format 21x21cm; simple photocopies not acceptable; if the salon has several sections, at least one work per section must be published.

B) Digital catalogue: may be PDF (or similar) and/or multimedia projection format (in the latter case the lists under 2/3/4 must be included in an individually-consultable file format, e.g. .pdf/.doc/.docx/.html); must include all awarded pictures and a large selection of accepted pictures representing every participating country; must protect authors' rights via anti-piracy software or low-resolution display, and be virus-free.

Every participant, whether accepted or not, must receive a free catalogue copy (digital catalogues preferably via a downloadable web service). Catalogues covering more than one Salon/Circuit are not permitted, and should be available at the opening of the exhibition.

II.17 Transmission of catalogues to FIAP Services

A copy of the printed catalogue must be sent to the Director of FIAP Patronage Service and the FIAP Salon File/Catalogue Department, plus further copies to the FIAP President, Secretary General and Director of the Ethics Service (marked "a gift, no commercial value"). Digital catalogues (and PDF/digital copies of printed catalogues) must be uploaded via myfiap.net. Sending the catalogue is compulsory and future patronage approval depends on it.

II.18 FIAP salon catalogue stars

The FIAP Patronage Service rates catalogues from one to five stars based on overall quality; the letter S with the stars denotes exceptional quality. The rating is mentioned in the letter accompanying approval of the next event.

II.19 Organization – exhibitions of prints and projections

A patronised salon must conclude with an Award Ceremony and/or Exhibition, displaying/projecting all jury-accepted works (or, if space/time is limited, a representative selection ensuring every country is represented).

Print exhibitions need: a suitable hall; good lighting (preferably glass-framed prints, spaced apart); indication of author name/country and print title.

Projected-image showings need: a suitable auditorium; good blackout and screen visibility; a screen no smaller than 1.8 x 1.8m; mention of author name/country; fade-in/fade-out with musical accompaniment where local conditions permit.

Minimum public-access duration: print exhibition – recommended minimum 3 days; projected exhibition – at least 2 public shows.

Salons may alternatively conclude with exhibitions and award ceremonies held remotely via online platforms, providing a flexible, globally accessible framework.

II.20 Closing of the event

Once the entry fee (including any required return postage) is paid, all prints (exhibited or not) must be returned per the organizer's regulations; unreturned prints must be destroyed once they have served the salon's purpose. Projected Image files must be retained for monitoring purposes for no more than 12 months, or until the conclusion of the following year's edition, whichever is later – these conditions must be included in the salon regulations. Otherwise, organizers may not keep prints/files unless the regulations state the intention to keep awarded works for promoting future editions, with the author's prior written consent.

II.21 FIAP Honours

Acceptances in salons under FIAP Patronage count toward FIAP distinctions, per FIAP's Distinctions documents.

II.22 Sending of awards and catalogues

To minimise duties/taxes on parcels of medals, ribbons, trophies or catalogues, organisers should mark customs declarations "Gift of an inscribed award. No commercial value," with declared value fields set to zero or the minimum possible where a value above zero is mandatory.

III. Photographic Circuits

A photographic circuit organises a determined number of salons (minimum 3, maximum 5 – see II.6) in one or more cities/countries. Three kinds: the International Multi Countries Circuit (judging/exhibitions in different countries); the International Single Country Circuit (judging/exhibitions in one country); the International Circuit of exhibitions/projections (one judging, several exhibitions/projections).

Each event under a Multi Countries or Single Country Circuit gets a different FIAP Patronage number, as each has separate judging and exhibitions/projections; a single combined catalogue for the whole circuit is allowed, listing all acceptances/awards separately per Patronage number, and should be available at the opening of the circuit's first event.

The International Circuit of exhibitions/projections, with a single judging, is given only one Patronage number. See II.9 for judging modalities.

IV. Special arrangements for salons with a Nature and/or Wildlife section

IV.1 Definition

International salons with a nature section must adopt and publish in the salon regulations the FIAP Definition of Nature Photography and Definition of Wildlife Photography (see Appendix).

IV.2 Categories

Each category (black and white/monochrome prints, colour prints, projected images) can have a nature section. Organizers may combine monochrome and colour nature prints into one category, "nature prints".

IV.3 Jury

Judges must have good knowledge of nature and international photography, and must be informed of the nature-photography definition (IV.1) at the start of judging.

V. Special arrangements for salons with a black and white section

International salons with a black and white (monochrome) section must adopt and publish the FIAP definition of black and white (monochrome) photography (see Appendix).

VI. Special arrangements for salons adding the label “Traditional Photo” (Open, Series, Portfolios, Themes)

Salons adding "Traditional Photo" to these sections must adopt and publish the FIAP definition of "Traditional Photo", adding the letters TRAD to the section name (e.g. Open (TRAD)) (see Appendix).

VII. Special arrangements for salons with a Projected Image category

The relevant section(s) must be open exclusively to digital or digitalized images, for both black and white and/or colour.

VII.1 Dimensions of entries (format)

Files for projection should conform to current formats compatible with likely projection systems; files for printed catalogues/exhibitions should conform to formats suitable for good-quality printing.

VII.2 Judging conditions

See Chapter II.14. Preselection or virtual jury is not allowed – all judges must judge together in the same place (unless online judging conditions under II.9.B apply).

VII.3 Entry identity

File naming is determined by salon regulations.

VII.4 Return and notification

Return and notification details are determined by salon regulations.

VII.5 Catalogue

See Chapter II.18.

VII.6 Exhibition – projection

See Chapter II.19.

VII.7 Publication

Reproduction of works, free of charge, is allowed in a catalogue for the general interest of the event. Each author is responsible for holding copyright to all image content and authorising non-commercial publication. Works may not be used commercially; there is no possibility of recourse to legal action.

VII.8 Salon responsible

The salon website must include the name and e-mail address of a responsible organisation member.

VII.9 Copyright

FIAP bears no responsibility for the copyright of any element of the digital catalogue, or for the representation of any person or place appearing in submitted works.

VIII. Special arrangements for salons with a World in Focus section

International salons with a "World in Focus" section must adopt and publish the FIAP definition (see Appendix).

IX. Special arrangements for salons with a Photojournalism section

International salons with a Photojournalism section must adopt and publish the FIAP definition (see Appendix).

APPENDIX – FIAP DEFINITIONS

(Appendix to FIAP document 048/2025 – forms part of, and is similarly enforceable as, the FIAP Patronage Rules.)

I. Nature and/or Wildlife section

Content guidelines

Nature photography records all branches of natural history except anthropology and archaeology, covering all aspects of the physical world, over water and underwater.

Nature images must convey the truth of the scene. A well-informed person should be able to identify the subject and be satisfied it was presented honestly, with no unethical practices used to control the subject or capture the image. Images directly or indirectly showing 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.

●     Human-made objects/evidence of human activity are allowed only when a necessary part of the nature story.

●     Photographs of human-created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domesticated animals, human-created hybrid animals, or mounted/preserved zoological specimens are not allowed.

●     Photographs where the scene is natural and the animal is unharmed in a carefully managed environment (zoo, rescue centre, ethically managed natural farm) are permitted.

●     Attracting/controlling subjects via food or sound for photography is not allowed; maintained supplemental feeding due to weather/hardship, where photography is incidental, is exempt.

●     Controlling live subjects by chilling, anaesthetic, or any method restricting natural movement is not allowed.

●     Human-made elements are permitted when: (a) integral to the nature story (e.g. a songbird on a fence post used as nest material, or weather damaging a man-made structure); (b) a small, unavoidable part of the scene (e.g. an unobtrusive footprint/track); (c) scientific tags, collars and bands.

Photographing at a zoo, sanctuary or rehabilitation centre is construed as the photographer ensuring it is properly accredited and follows best practices.

Definition of Wildlife Photography

In addition to nature-photography restrictions, Wildlife entries must meet:

●     Zoological organisms must be living free and unrestrained in a natural or adopted habitat of their own choosing.

●     Images of zoological organisms removed from their natural habitat, in captivity, or controlled by humans for photography, are not allowed.

●     Botanical organisms may not be removed from their natural environment for photography.

●     Staged images are not allowed.

Editing guidelines (Nature/Wildlife)

Processing/editing must be limited to making the image look as close as possible to the original scene, except that conversion to grayscale monochrome is allowed.

Allowed:

●     Cropping, straightening, perspective correction

●     Removal/correction of camera/lens artefacts (dust spots, noise, chromatic aberration, lens distortion)

●     Global/selective adjustments (brightness, hue, saturation, contrast) restoring the scene's original appearance

●     Complete conversion of colour images to grayscale monochrome

●     Blending multiple images of the same subject (exposure blending/focus stacking)

●     Image stitching (panoramas) from consecutively taken overlapping images

Not allowed:

●     Removing, adding, moving or changing any part of an image, except cropping/straightening

●     Adding a vignette during processing

●     Blurring or darkening parts of the image to hide elements of the original scene

●     Any conversion other than to complete grayscale monochrome

●     Partial monochrome conversion, partial toning, desaturation or over-saturation of colour

II. Black and White section – Definition

A black and white work fitting from very dark grey (black) to very clear grey (white) is a monochrome work. A black and white work toned entirely in a single colour remains monochrome and can be reproduced in black and white in the catalogue. A black and white work modified by partial toning or the addition of one colour becomes a colour (polychrome) work, requiring colour reproduction in the catalogue.

III. “Traditional Photo” label (Open, Series, Portfolios, Themes) – Definition

A traditional photograph maintains the original single-capture image content with minimal adjustments that do not alter the reality of the scene and appear natural. Rearranging, replacing, adding to or removing any part of the original image, except by cropping, is strictly forbidden. HDR and focus-stacking techniques (in camera or post-capture) are strictly forbidden.

IV. World in Focus section – Definition

Like travel and tourism pictures, this section covers the full range of photographic genres – architecture, culture, events, food, landscape, portraits, etc. A "World in Focus" image expresses the spirit of an era, or the essence of a place or culture, whether shown authentically or arranged. Digital manipulation to optimise the image (fine-tuning levels/colours) is allowed as long as it looks natural; the same applies to dust/noise removal. Techniques that add, relocate, replace or remove any element, except by cropping, are not permitted.

V. Photojournalism section – Definition

Photojournalism entries are images with informative content and emotional impact, reflecting human presence in our world.

Content Guidelines

●     Journalistic (story-telling) value should take priority over pictorial quality.

●     Images misrepresenting the truth – from events/activities arranged for photography, or subjects directed/hired for photography – are not eligible.

●     Where Human Interest is specified, images depict a person/persons in an interactive, emotional or unusual situation, excluding sports action.

Editing Guidelines

Processing/editing must be limited to making the image look as close as possible to the original scene.

Allowed:

●     Cropping, straightening, perspective correction

●     Removal/correction of camera/lens artefacts

●     Global/selective adjustments restoring the scene's original appearance

●     Complete conversion to grayscale monochrome

●     Blending of multiple images of the same subject (exposure blending/focus stacking)

●     Image stitching (panoramas)

Not allowed:

●     Removing, adding, moving or changing any part of an image, except cropping/straightening

●     Adding a vignette during processing

●     Blurring or darkening parts of the image to hide elements of the original scene

●     Any conversion other than to complete grayscale monochrome

●     Partial monochrome conversion, partial toning, desaturation or over-saturation of colour

VI. Postal addresses for printed catalogues

FIAP Patronage Service – Romain Nero, 22 rue de Tétange, L-3672 Kayl, Luxembourg / Europe

FIAP Salon File Department – Francis Nicoll, Cité P. Kofferschlaeger 7, 4720 La Calamine, Belgium / Europe

FIAP Ethics Service – Pierluigi Rizzato, Via Stradon 5/A, 35010 Borgoricco PD, Italy / Europe

FIAP Presidency – Riccardo Busi, Via Corelli 86, 50127 Firenze FI, Italy / Europe

FIAP Secretariat – Ioannis Lykouris, 25th Martiou 23, 15127 Melissia, Attica, Greece / Europe