CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

1. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:
AI-created images are NOT ALLOWED in this salon! Images created or altered by artificial intelligence are banned in PSSA Salons and Competitions. All parts of the image must be photographed by the author, who must hold the copyright and retain the original RAW/Unretouched JPG files with EXIF data intact. RAW files may be requested for any category.

The entrant accepts without exception and with no objection the following terms:
• that PSSA can investigate the submitted images to establish if these adhere to PSSA regulations and definitions even if the entrant is not a member of PSSA,
• Failure to Provide these will result in referral to the PSSA Salon Committee and inclusion on the transgression list.

Generative AI technology consists of:
• In-painting (where AI fills in generated elements not captured by the photographer or removes and replaces elements from a photograph with AI-generated content),
• Out-painting (where AI extends beyond the original boundaries of the photograph using generated elements); and
• Image-to-image AI (where AI transforms an entire photograph based on text prompts or style references)
• Text-to-image (where images are generated from scratch based on text entered into a prompt description)

AI features like clearing, de-noising, masking, sharpening, subject selection, tone adjustments, and upsizing are allowed in our competitions if they follow editing criteria and only include elements captured by the entrant. AI sky replacement is allowed if the entrant captured the new sky.

Taking inspiration from other photographers or artists is acceptable, but copying the original work’s colour, composition, elements, perspective, angle, subject, and tone is not. Photographers must not capture screen images or photograph images found online and use them in their composite images for submission to salons, panels, or competitions. All post-processing of submitted images must be done by the entrant, except for scanning negatives and printing. Copying any part of someone else’s image or artwork by tracing, sketching, etc., is prohibited.

2. MANIPULATION:
Manipulation is strictly prohibited in the Nature, Photo Travel, Street, Sport, and Photojournalism categories, as well as in any categories defined accordingly. Processing or editing must be limited to making the image look as close to the original scene as possible, apart from conversion to grayscale monochrome, which is permitted. Over processed images will be disqualified.

Editing techniques that are not allowed:
• Removing, adding to, moving or changing any part of an image, except for cropping and straightening.
• In Nature and Wildlife, NO vignette may be added.
• 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 oversaturation of color.

Allowed editing techniques:
• Cropping, straightening and perspective correction.
• Flipping an image horizontal or vertical.
• 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.
• A very subtle vignette is allowed except in Nature and Wildlife.
• Complete conversion of color images to grayscale monochrome.
• Blending of multiple images of the same subject and combining them in camera or with software (exposure blending/HDR or focus stacking).

In the case of Nature exposure blending/HDR and focus stacking will not be considered as manipulation and may be used provided that the end result is a faithful representation of the original scene.

Exposure blending/HDR and Focus stacking are NOT allowed in Photojournalism.
• Image stitching – combining multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively (panoramas).

In Open categories and those where manipulation is permitted, there are no limits on how authors may choose to post-process an image.

The Salon Director will always request the original RAW/JPG file(s) with the EXIF data intact from those Entrants who have been initially selected for the Medals and COM’s in the “NO MANIPULATION” categories. If the PSSA Salon Committee confirms that the image has not been manipulated, then the award will stand for those Entrants. The Salon Director and the judging team for that category will decide on the replacement images for the Medals and COMs in line with the recommended acceptance levels. Entrants will be allowed 4 days to provide the Original RAW/JPG file(s) where after the Entrant will not be eligible for Medals or COM’s. Refusal to submit these will result in referral to the PSSA Salon Committee and inclusion on the transgression list.

3. Attach Proof of Payment (POP) in PDF format to your PhotoVault Online Entry. Entries with insufficient fees or without POP will be rejected.

4. An image may be used only once in a specific salon, panel, or competition, regardless of the category or whether the image is in colour or monochrome. Similar images are not permitted. If an image appears in more than one category, the second instance of the image will be disqualified. Monochrome and colour variations originating from a single image are considered identical unless there is a substantial difference in artistic treatment. Additionally, similarity may occur when elements are replicated across different composite images.

5. Each image must have a unique name; the name of the image may not be altered as acceptance records are based on the image name. Titles such as “Untitled” and “No Title” are not acceptable, nor are titles consisting solely of camera filenames or numbers. Sanctions will be imposed if an accepted image or print is re-titled, or if different titles are used for Colour and Monochrome versions or Print and Projected Digital Image versions of the same image.

6. Entrants may submit up to four images in each PDI category and six in each print category of a national salon.

7. Images that were accepted previously in a National Salon by the hosting club or society cannot be entered again into their National Salon but may be submitted to an International Salon hosted by the same club or society. This rule also applies to International Salons.

8. Images that do not meet the category’s definition or criteria will be disqualified by the judges.

9. The image must not display any title, watermark, or identification of the creator.

10. The salon does not assume responsibility for any copyright violations by the entrant.

11. Judges are not allowed to enter categories in which they are judging. If a judge enters any category they are responsible for, the images will be disqualified.

12. Family members (spouse, partner, parents, grandparents, siblings, children and grandchildren) can enter categories judged by relatives but cannot win medals (winner or runner-up).

13. Members of the judging club are not eligible for top awards (winner and runner-up medals), but can receive certificates of merit and/or special club awards for categories judged by their club. A club is classified as a judging club if its members make up most of the judging panel for the category in question.

14. The Salon Director and anyone involved in processing or accessing images may NOT serve as judges for the salon.

15. Entrant’s images will be randomly distributed among categories for judging.

16. NO late entries will be accepted.

17. DATA PROTECTION:
By entering this salon, you consent to the personal details you have provided, including email addresses, being held, processed, and used by the salon organisers for purposes related to this salon. You also consent to such information being sent to organisations that have granted official recognition, patronage, or accreditation to this salon. You acknowledge and accept that the status and results of your entry may be made public.

18. BREACH OF CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:
The Salon Director can disqualify entries that do not meet the Conditions of Entry, including Definitions, before, during, or after judging and void any acceptance or awards. Fees will be forfeited. Entries violating ethics will be investigated by the PSSA Salon Committee who may impose sanctions, list the entrant on a sanction registry, and share findings with FIAP and PSA. The final decision to disqualify an image lies with the PSSA Salon Committee. Entrants agree to these terms.

19. You are entitled to appeal against a disqualification within 14 days after receiving your results. Appeals must be sent to the Salon Administrator at admin@pssa.co.za.

20. Submission of entries signifies acceptance of these Conditions of Entry.

IMAGE REPETITION

PSSA applies a cumulative limit of 3 acceptances per image as defined in the respective Impala and Diamond Rating rules. It is recommended that Clubs apply a similar standard in their Club competitions and promotion rules.

TRANSGRESSIONS IN A SALON WITH PSSA PATRONAGE
These rules include, but are not limited to –
• Renaming an image by

• Using a different name for a mono and a colour version of the same image.
• Using a different name for an image previously entered in a salon under a different name.

• Removing an element from the original in a No Manipulation category – by various methods including cloning and darkening.
• Adding an element in a No Manipulation category.
• Using artificial intelligence (AI) generated image as an image or part of a composite image or the use of AI features that contain any elements which were not captured by the entrant.
• Using any images or overlays not captured by the author.

1st recorded offence.
• Warning Letter.
• All salon acceptance points for the current year for that image (images) will be lost.
• Members will not be allowed to finish in the Top 10 of the Impala Log.
• AI offence – will be referred to the PSSA Board for discussion and implementation of sanction.

2nd recorded offence.
• Final Warning Letter
• All salon acceptance points for all their entries in the non-manipulated categories for the current year will be lost.
• Members will not be allowed to finish in the Top 10 of the Impala Log.

3rd recorded offence.
• All salon acceptance points for all their entries in all categories for the current year will be lost.
• No application may be made for Honours during that year. Any panels already in the process will automatically be disqualified and all credits will be lost. This will be regardless of whether the panel submitted is in a non-manipulation category or not.
• No entries may be submitted for any PSSA team entry such as for a FIAP Biennial or the 4 Nations Competition.
• The members may not judge, chair or organize any Salon.

4th recorded offence.
• It will be referred to the PSSA Board for discussion and implementation of sanction.

Please note:
• The recorded offence is counted per entry per salon. In the event of a Title Change on an Image, both images will lose their acceptance points.
• 1st recorded offence will be removed after a period of 24 months if no other offence occurs.
• 2nd recorded offences will be removed after a period of 36 months if no other offence occurs.
• In the event of another offence history will be reinstated.

DEFINITIONS

Introduction – For the purposes of competitions, salons and specialist honours applications all images entered in any of the two media (Prints and Projected Digital Images) are each divided into three categories: Nature, Open and Photojournalism (PJ). There are two categories for Audio-Visual, Open and Documentary.

• Any event choosing to run with any of the defined categories in this document must abide by these PSSA definitions.

• Salons and competitions may choose to have one other section as well and for this they may make their own definition. However, the definition must be clear and precise.

• Disqualifications should only be made when the salon director and/or judges are sure of their facts and are approved by the PSSA Salon Committee.

• PSSA reserves the right to withhold or disqualify any image which is considered to infringe the common laws of decency and copyright. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

• The final decision to Disqualify an image lies with the PSSA Salon Committee.

• Members are reminded that they should read the rules of all events very carefully as the rules may differ.

MONOCHROME
Monochrome is a black and white image.

A black and white work fitting from the very dark grey (black) to the truly 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.

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.