Definitions Used and Judging Criteria

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PID (Pictorial) Digital Nature Digital
  • Section 1 (Color Class General/Open):
    Images eligible for Section 2, Monochrome Class General, are NOT accepted into this Coachella Color Class Section.

    Color Class images are judged both for their technical and pictorial merit. The image should be properly exposed, be appropriately in focus, and have appropriate depth of field. The image should have strong composition, pleasing quality, and color impact. The content is unrestricted.

  • Section 2 (Monochrome Class General/Open)
    Monochrome Class images must be black and white (including, as always, neutral tones of gray), or black and white plus one fully-toned color - that is, where a single tint (such as cyan or sepia) is applied across the entire image.

Monochrome images are judged both for their technical and pictorial merit. The image must be properly exposed, be appropriately in focus, and have appropriate depth of field. A monochrome image should have strong composition; pleasing quality; and texture, pattern, and/or tone impact. The content is unrestricted.

  • Only Wildlife photographs may be entered in the Wildlife Section. Wildlife photos may be entered in the General Section also.

  • White or grey borders of up to 3 pixels in width are permitted. Larger or color borders are not permitted.

  • Section 1 (Open/General):
    Nature photography is restricted to the use of the Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict observations from all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archeology, in such a fashion that a well informed person will be able to identify the subject material and to certify as to its honest presentation. The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality. Human elements shall not be present, except on the rare occasion where those human elements enhance the nature story. The presence of scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals is permissible. Photographs of artificially produced hybrid plants or animals, mounted specimens, or obviously set arrangements, are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement. No techniques that add to, relocate, replace, or remove pictorial elements except by cropping are permitted. Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or the pictorial content are permitted. All adjustments must appear natural. Color images can be converted to grayscale monochrome. Infrared images are not allowed.

  • Section 2 (Theme - Wildlife):
    In addition to the requirements of Section 1, Authentic Wildlife is defined as one or more organisms living free and unrestrained in a natural, or adopted habitat. Therefore, landscapes, photographs of zoo or game farm animals, or any living subject taken under controlled conditions, are not eligible for wildlife competitions. Authentic wildlife is not limited to uncontrolled zoological subjects. Land and marine botanical subjects in the wild (including fungi and algae) are also eligible subjects, as are animal carcasses.