Conditions of Entry

Valid for all sections:

FIAP Statement:

PICTURES CREATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THIS SALON! It is reminded that 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!

IMAGE AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: This exhibition is open to anyone; however, an entry may be rejected when the Sponsor or the Exhibition Organizers, in their reasonable discretion, believes the entry does not conform to exhibition rules and these ES-COE. Membership in any photographic organization is not required.

Entries will not be accepted from any entrant who is on the PSA Penalties List for Ethics Violation. Entry fees are not refundable in these circumstances.

Image creation and ownership

In all sections of the exhibition, images must originate as photographs made by the entrant. They may not incorporate identifiable images produced by anyone else (for example: clip art, replacement skies, or stock images). Images created in whole or in part by image creation software (frequently called ‘AI’ images) are not allowed. Editing or alteration of images is permitted within the limits specified in the relevant section definitions that are available here https://psa-photo.org/page/division-definitions

Any person submitting or attempting to submit a totally AI generated image that does not begin with a light capture from the maker, from any Photographic Society of America exhibition, social media, event, or publication, other than for editorial purposes, shall be prohibited from PSA for a period of from 3 years to life.

PSA Star Ratings: To receive proper Star ratings credit from PSA, entrants must provide their names and country exactly the same way in each exhibition. Aliases are not permitted. Please contact PSA in the event of name changes or relocating to another country. Using one’s name differently in different exhibition exposes the entrant to the risk that many of their acceptances may not be recognized by PSA Star Ratings.

Reproduction: The entrant permits the sponsors to reproduce all or part of the entered material free of charge for publication and/or display in media related to the exhibition. This may include low resolution posting on a website. The Photographic Society of America (PSA) may request specific permission from entrants to reproduce entered images in its educational materials. The terms of that permission will be mutually agreed between the entrant and PSA except in the circumstances where the entered image is found to breach the PSA Ethics Policy. In those circumstances the image may be reproduced by PSA, without the entrant’s further permission, for educational purposes to illustrate serious exhibition rule violations. For those reproductions, the entrant’s name will be withheld.

Entries will not be accepted from entrants who indicate that their images may not be reproduced in materials related to the exhibition. The exhibition assumes no liability of any misuse of copyright.

Re-use of accepted images: Any image that has been accepted in this exhibition, past or present, may not be entered again in the same Division Star Ratings Class in any future instances of this exhibition. It may, of course, be entered in any other PSA recognised exhibitions but must always have the same title. Re-titling in another language is not allowed.

Entry: An Entry consists of, up to and including, four (4) images entered by a single entrant into the same Section. An entrant may only enter a specific Section once. Entrants may not enter identical or similar images into the same section or different sections of the same exhibition. Similar is defined as almost identical in subject, composition, props, lighting or technique so that a reasonable person viewing the entries together would decide the entrant has duplicated the previous image except for minor changes.

Titles: Each image must have a unique title that is a description of the image. That unique title must be used for entry of that image or of an identical Image into any and all PSA-Recognized exhibitions. Titles must be 35 characters or fewer. No titles may be visible to the judges, and nothing in the image may identify the entrant. Titles may not include file extensions such as .jpg or .jpeg (or any other camera capture filenames such as IMG 471). Titles may not consist of personal identifiers possibly augmented by a number; or include words such as “untitled” or “no title”. Titles may not consist solely of numbers unless those numbers are prominently contained within the image, such as a contestant number in a race.

Color and Monochrome:

Color and Monochrome images from the same capture that share substantial pictorial content in common will be considered the same image and must be given the same title.

The Exhibition will be conducted in accordance with the rules of the PSA

An entrant’s images will not be presented to the judges consecutively. An entrant’s four images will be distributed throughout four rounds of judging in that section. Distribution of images will be in the same round order as submitted by the entrant. At no stage will a judge be able to view all the entrant’s images together.

Submission of entries

The images must be sent as jpg-files with 8bit/sRGB. For each section a maximum of 4 images may be submitted. It will be recommended for the prize of best author to enter with 4 images! Clubs can enter with at least 6 members.

Image Size

Maximum horizontal length 1920 pixels, vertical 1080 pixels

Bigger sizes in only one dimension cannot be uploaded in the system and the complete upload will fail !

Smaller sizes will be accepted, but they will not be projected in a full screen mode. Files should not exceed 2 MB per image. We are judging on TV-Screens with Full HD resolution (1920x1080 px)

The following methods of submission are possible:

Upload (preferred)

The images can be uploaded directly per Internet on our homepage. The image files should not be renamed. After the upload each entrant will receive a confirmation with thumbnails of the images. Please send the whole entry again if this may not happen!

The address is: www.germanphotocup.de

Entry Form

Online entries per upload do not need any entry form.

The entry form (Excel-sheet) must be submitted electronically by e-mail or with the CD if you may send your image in this way, not per Upload!. It could be found on www.germanphotocup.de

e-mail

Images must be in JPG format, not zipped as .zip or .rar! Please name images as explained below. Please email images to the following address: info@germanphotocup.de

If mailing images please remember to include your entry form.

By post on CD

Images may be submitted on CD. Please include the entry form on CD! The CDs will not be returned.

Postal address for entries:

Norbert Heil

Johannesstrasse 5

D-70794 Filderstadt

Germany

File naming

Only necessary if you send the images not per upload !

The file name should have a prefix with the letter of the section (C=Color, M=mono, N=Natur or P=Play&Fun) and an order number of 1-4. The rest doesn’t matter. File names must be identical to the file names listed in the entry form to prevent confusion. New rules from FIAP will not allow titles as, no title, unnamed etc.! Please note that file names should not be confused with image titles.

Do not name the titles of the images with C1 or N1 etc!

Judging

The judging will be held that each jury sit together and vote for each image yes or no. One yes will move the image to the next round. If there are enough images for a proper acceptance rate the next round will be a selection for the awards round.

We are judging on TV-Screens with Full HD resolution (1920x1080 px). The judges will award the acceptances, medals and honourable mentions of the entered images.

The score of best author as well as best youth is counted by the number of acceptances in one division during the total circuit. Each honourable mention scores an additional point, each medal 2 points. Only the highest score of an entrant in one division takes part in this ranking.

In the case of identical top scores all judges will make the final decision. The decision of the judges is final. The club winner will be determined by the 6 best members of each club from the author’s scoring. If 2 or more clubs have the same score, the best single member takes the win.

The winner of the d-pixx awards will be selected in the same way.

In case of Covid restrictions we judging online. The images will be present to the judge at the same time with monitors in the same resolution. The judging process is the same.

DATA PROTECTION

By entering this exhibition, you are explicitly consenting to the personal details you have supplied, including physical addresses, email addresses, being held, processed and used by the exhibition organizers for purposes associated with this exhibition. You also explicitly consent to such information being sent to organizations that have accorded official recognition, patronage or accreditation to this exhibition. You acknowledge, agree and accept that by entering this exhibition, your participation status which includes your first and last name, name of the country used during registration at the exhibition, number of sections entered and number of photos entered in those sections will be made public in a published status list and that the results of your entry shall be made public in exhibition gallery, exhibition catalog. You also agree and accept the policies regarding Breaches of Rules of the PSA. And FIAP

SUBJECT MATTER AND SECTION DEFINITIONS

Statement on Subject Matter - applicable to all sections

The fundamental rule that must be observed at all times and applies to all sections offered in exhibitions with PSA recognition is that the welfare of living creatures is more important than any photograph. This means that practices such as baiting of subjects with a living creature and removal of birds from nests, for the purpose of obtaining a photograph, are highly unethical, and such photographs are not allowed in any exhibition with PSA recognition. Under no circumstances may a living creature be placed in a situation where it will be killed, injured or stressed for the purpose of obtaining a photograph. Images that show live creatures being fed to captive animals, birds or reptiles are not permitted under any circumstances.

There are also concerns about the use of aerial photography, drones, helicopters, low flying aircraft. These should not cause any interference with other individuals or animals which causes a disturbance in their normal activity or disrupt the way any individuals or animals interact with their environment. Entrants in PSA recognized exhibitions should comply with all relevant laws and regulations, associated with aerial photography, in the country in which the image was taken.

Entry into PSA recognized exhibitions is conditional on accepting these policies. The content of images must comply with the General Conditions and with the Division and Section definitions listed in these conditions. Images that - in the sole opinion of the judges- do not comply, will be disqualified so the entrant may be aware of the problem when considering entry into other exhibitions with PSA recognition.

Monochrome images may not be entered in color sections of PPD or PID.

Monochrome definition (PSA/FIAP)

An image is considered to be Monochrome only if it gives the impression of having no color (i.e. contains only shades of grey which can include pure black and pure white) OR it gives the impression of being a greyscale image that has been toned in one color across the entire image. (For example, by Sepia, red, gold, etc.) A greyscale or multi-colored image modified or giving the impression of having been modified by partial toning, multi-toning or by the inclusion of spot coloring does not meet the definition of monochrome and shall be classified as a Color Work.

Greyscale Monochrome images may be entered for Nature, Photojournalism and Photo Travel but toned images are not permitted for these sections

Editing Guidelines for Nature

These sections require images to be truthful records, so there are limits on the amount of manipulation allowed.

PSA statement of subject matter applies to all sections.

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 color 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);

Editing techniques that are not allowed:

Removing, adding to, moving or changing any part of an image, except for cropping and straightening.
Adding a vignette during processing.
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 over-saturation of color

PSA/FIAP Nature 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, anesthetic or any other method of restricting natural movement for the purpose of a photograph is not allowed.

Definition Play and Fun

You may enter with content of all kind of Sports, Play and Fun as well as leisure activities. All technics are allowed, except monochrome images. Not allowed are nature images as well as landscapes and portraits without any further content. Only color images are allowed in this section

Breaches of Rules

FIAP:

The mention that by the sole act of submitting his/her images or files to a salon under FIAP Patronage, the entrant accepts without exception and with no objection the following terms: - that the submitted images can be investigated by FIAP to establish if these obey to FIAP regulations and definitions even if the entrant is not a member of FIAP, - that FIAP will use any means at its disposal for this undertaking, - that any refusal to cooperate with FIAP or any refusal to submit the original files as captured by the camera, or failure to provide sufficient evidence, will be sanctioned by FIAP, - that in case of sanctions following the non-compliance with FIAP regulations, the name of the entrant will be released in any form useful to inform the breaches of the rules. It is recommended to leave the EXIF data in the submitted files intact in order to ease eventual investigations. If, at any time, it is determined in the reasonable discretion of the exhibition organizer or the judges before, during, or after the judging of an exhibition that an entrant has submitted entries where one or more images may fail to comply with these Conditions of Entry, including the stated definitions, the exhibition organizers reserve the right to delete the entry from the exhibition and void any or all acceptances or awards in connection with the exhibition. Fees may be forfeited or refunded in these circumstances. The entrant acknowledges that the decision of the exhibition organizers or the judges is final

PSA

Non-compliance

See the PSA Ethics Policy at https://psa-photo.org/page/ethical-practices.

See the PSA statement on Subject Matter at https://psa-photo.org/page/division-definitions

If, in the discretion of the exhibition organizer or the judges, an entrant has submitted that may fail to comply with these Conditions of Entry, they are allowed to request unedited or raw files of the submitted image. For composite images all files are required.

Exhibition organizers may verify that:

a) the images are the original work of the entrant
b) the images comply with the rules and definitions as set out in these ES-COE

Such entries may be referred to PSA for further investigation of possible ethics violations.

PSA retains the right to investigate all complaints, impose penalties if deemed necessary, void the acceptances of any image found to violate the PSA rules, include the entrant’s name on the list of sanctions provided to Exhibitions, and share such investigations with FIAP. Entrants automatically agree to these terms by the act of entering the Exhibition and agree to cooperate with any investigation.

If another party is processing and/or submitting images on the entrant’s behalf, the entrant will still be held responsible for adhering to the entry rules and will be subject to penalties for any violations to these Conditions of Entry or to PSA’s Statement of Ethics.

FIAP NOTICE In order to have legal authority on those who do not respect the rules of FIAP, the organizer must make sure that all participants of an online event under FIAP Patronage tick a box next to which the following text is stated:

“I hereby expressly agree to FIAP document 018/2017 « Conditions and regulations for FIAP Patronage » and FIAP document 033_2021 « 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 018/2017, dealing under Section II.2 and II.3 with the FIAP participation rules, the sanctions for breaching FIAP regulations and the red list.”

PSA NOTICE: When entrants fills in the Entry Form to submit an entry they will see the following feature to affirm they have read these Conditions of Entry

“I hereby confirm that I have read, understood and agree to the Conditions of Entry of this exhibition. I have read the PSA document to be found at https://psa-photo.org/resource/resmgr/pdf/exhibitions_/exhibition-entrants-agreemen.pdf . I am aware that PSA may apply penalties for breaches of these Conditions of Entry”.

Failure to agree will mean that the application will not proceed.

Additional requirements

Conditions of entry

This is a digital image only exhibition. The competition is open to all amateur and professional photographers.

All entrants accept the conditions of entry. All entrants must own all rights to their images. All images and parts of images must be entirely the work of the entrant. Images may be submitted by CD or online. Images which were accepted in previous GIPs must not be submitted again. More or less identical images from a sequence in different sections will be rejected. Double images in color and monochrome or any other sections are not allowed and will be disqualified in all sections. The competition organisation will reject images after the judging where it is determined the competition rules were not followed.

Works submitted may be used free of charge for the catalogue and other publicity in connection with the exhibition. This may include low resolution posting on our website. The organiser accepts no liability if the entrant does not own the necessary rights to the image. Images with questionable rights will be rejected. All images, in whole and in part, will not be used for any commercials of the sponsors.

Circuit awards

The judges will award the acceptances, medals and honourable mentions of the entered images.

The score of best authors as well as best youth is counted by the number of acceptances in one division during the total circuit. Each honourable mention scores an additional point, each medal 2 points. Only the highest score of an entrant in one division takes part in this ranking.

The winner of the d-pixx awards will be selected in the same way.

Entry fee

Due to the high clearance charges, we regret that we cannot accept IRCs, foreign credit transfers or cheques drawn on foreign banks.

Entry fee in cash should sent to the following address:

Norbert Heil

Johannesstrasse 5

D-70794 Filderstadt

Germany

Entry fee Youth

Entrants under the age of 21 are free of charge. The appointed date of birthday to GIP 2024 will be 17th March 2003. All youth entrants have to copy an ID with birthday to proof their age. Youth entrants who have sent their IDs in former years have not to resend.

Please note: Youth entrants without confirmation of age, will be rejected.

Club entries

Club entries are welcome. The entry fee will be reduced per entrant to 15 Euro one section and 20, 25 and 30 Euro next sections (22 or 30, 35 and 40 US$) in case of 6 members. Please send a list of all club members who enter the circuit.

Only listed members of a club will count for club scoring. Please fill in the club in the entry forms. Members, who have not filled in the club name or took another club name cannot be included into the club score after presenting the results. The fee for a club entry should be paid once by one member.

For bigger clubs over 30 members, we have special discount.

Online entries of club members: The payment advice at the end of the upload should be ignored, if one member will pay the fee.

Entries without the due fees will not be judged! Sorry, no exceptions! The entry fee must arrive no later than the date of first judging.

List of acceptances and results

Each participant will receive the report card only per e-mail as an acceptance list of the circuit. The report card contains the acceptances of the images and the ranking of the author’s score. Images without any acceptance will not be published on this list.

Please visit our sponsors:

http://www.d-pixx.de/

License agreement

By submitting an entry, the entrant certifies that he is a sole owner of the rights to use sent images, including copyright, patent and/or other applicable rights. All models must be of Legal Age of consent or have guardian permissions issued. The exhibition organizers assume no liability for any copyright misuse conducted by entrants.

The entrant accept that the organizer must send his email address to German Post or DHL for registered mail, if any award will be won or for sending the catalogue.