BLENDA 2023, International Exhibition of Art Photography is organized by the Photo club Simanovci from Serbia. Chairman: Mr. Slobodan Cavic, 22310 Šimanovci, Belgrade – Srbija.
e-mail: [email protected] web: https://photobalkana.com/blenda

BLENDA 2023 International Exhibition of Art Photography is divided into 6 sections, all digital:
1. (A) Open Color (FIAP & PSA PIDC – only color)
2. (B) Open Mono (FIAP & PSA PIDM – only mono)
3. (C) Portrait (FIAP & PSA PIDC – only color)
4. (D) Nature (FIAP & PSA ND – color and mono)
5. (E) Photo Travel (FIAP & PSA PTD – color and mono)
6. (F) Photojournalism (FIAP & PSA PJD – color and mono)

- Closing date: 26/11/2023
- All judging completed by 16/12/2023
- Notifications sent by 30/12/2023
- On-Line Gallery posted by 13/02/2024
- Submit EDAS: 14/01/2024
- Catalogs posted by 13/02/2024
- Awards mailed by 13/02/2024
Public Exhibition:
o Simanovci – 01/02/2024 and 08/02/2024

Depending of the number of sections participant applies, the fee cost as follow:
- any 1, 2 or 3 sections = 20 EUR (25$USD)
- any 4, 5 or 6 sections = 25 EUR (30$USD)
The organizing committee decided to reduce the registration fee for participants of 4, 5 or 6 sections from 30 EUR to 25 EUR (from 01. October 2023) . Welcome!

The participation fee may be paid through: PayPal or Moneybookers.com (Skrills.com) through our web site at:
1. PayPal: https://photobalkana.com/blenda click at PAYMENT in menu or directly on email: [email protected]
2. The fee can be paid via SKRILL sending fee to email: [email protected]
3. Now we accept Cryptocurrencies: BUSD, USDT, USDC, BTC, ETH. For more info, please contact us on email: [email protected]
4. For FSS members and serbian authors entry fee is 1500,00 din for all section. Bankarski racun: 200 132121370 28 kod Postanske stedionice, Uplata kotizacije Blenda, na ime Oliver Vukmirovic
Works by authors who do not pay the fee will not be taken into consideration.
A discount of will be given for group entries:
5-9 Entrants: 10%
10 -15 Entrant: 15%
16-20 Entrants: 20%
21 Entrants: 25%

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 Conditions of Entry. Membership in any photographic organization is not required.
Sanctions: Entries will not be accepted from any entrant who is currently sanctioned by PSA.
PSA Star Ratings
To receive proper Star ratings credit from PSA, entrants must provide their names and country exactly the same 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
Image Creation Entries must originate as photographs (image-captures of objects via light sensitivity) made by the entrant on photographic emulsion or acquired digitally. .
Certification:
By virtue of submitting an image, the entrant certifies the work as his or her own (.Images may not incorporate elements produced by anyone else (for example: clip art, images or art by others downloaded from the Internet). Aliases are not allowed. 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. Note: Entrants who indicate that their images may not be reproduced or used “will not be eligible for awards” or inclusion in audio-visuals of the exhibition “and could be subject to disqualification” by the exhibition sponsors. The exhibition assumes no liability of any misuse of copyright
Alteration and Computer Generation Subject to Divisional restrictions (particularly Nature, Photo Travel, and Photojournalism) images may be altered, either electronically or otherwise, by the maker. Adjustments to enhance images or creatively modify images are allowed providing the underlying photograph is retained in a way that is obvious to the viewer. Images may not be constructed entirely with a computer, and must be the sole work of the author
Re-use of accepted images: Once an image has been accepted in this exhibition it may not be entered again in any future instances of this exhibition. It may, of course, be entered in any other PSA/FIAP recognised exhibitions but must always have the same title.
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.
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 maker. 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 and FIAP
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.
An image may be entered in only one section.

AUTHORS MUST FILL OUT ENTRY FORM AND SUBMIT PHOTOS ONLINE
Photos must be in JPG file format, nax. image width (horizontal) is 1920 pix. max. image height (vertical) is 1080 pix. in 300 dpi. compression 7-12, max 3Mb.
JUDGING METHOD: Remote judging of images will be with calibrated computer monitors (minimum 19 inches) or high definition TV screens at 100% of the submitted pixel size (1920x1080 pix).
Equipment will not resize any submitted images or change the aspect ratio of the original image to “Fit to screen” or to “Fill screen” by monitors or HDTV equipment.
All information, including image file names, provided to the judges for remote judging will retain complete anonymity of the entrants and not provide the judges with any means of determining any entrant’s personal details, such as name, email address, or country.
The target acceptance rate: FIAP does not permit acceptance rates higher than 25% in each section.
STATUS LIST: Our status page will be updated automatically, before checking status webpage must be refreshed. If any issues are noted, please contact Chairman to resolve.
REPORT CARD NOTIFICATION: All participants will receive report card notification via e-mail. The results of the exhibition will also be published on our website https://blenda.photobalkana.com
EMAILS SPAM BLOCKING: Confirmations of entry submittals and Report Cards will be sent to entrants Please be sure that this email address gets included in your “safe” email addresses to assure receipt of these emails instead of having them blocked by your security system. Also check your Junk E-Mail or Spam folder to see if your email software placed any messages from the exhibition there.

1. Dragoslav Mirkovic, EFIAP/P, MF FSS, PPSA, ULUPUDS – Srbija, (for all 6 sections)
2. Vladimir Jovanovski, MPSA – Severna Makedonija (for all 6 sections)
3. Biljana Latinovic, EFIAP – Bosna i Hercegovina (for all 6 sections)

The BLENDA 2023 International Exhibition of Art Photography will award the following medals:
1. (A) Open Color (FIAP & PSA PIDC – only color) – FIAP Gold Medal, PSA Gold Medal, IAAP Medal, PBA Medal, FSS Gold Medal, Salon Gold Medal, Salon Silver Medal, Salon Bronze Medal, 2x FIAP Blue Ribbon, 2x PSA HM, 3x IAAP Diploma, 3x PBA Digital Diploma and 6x Salon Digital Diploma.
2. (B) Open Mono (FIAP & PSA PIDM – only mono) – FIAP Gold Medal, PSA Gold Medal, IAAP Medal, PBA Medal, FSS Silver Medal, Salon Gold Medal, Salon Silver Medal, Salon Bronze Medal, 2x FIAP Blue Ribbon, 2x PSA HM, 3x IAAP Diploma, 3x PBA Digital Diploma and 6x Salon Digital Diploma.
3. (C) Portrait (FIAP & PSA PIDC – only color) – FIAP Gold Medal, PSA Gold Medal, IAAP Medal, PBA Medal, FSS Bronze Medal, Salon Gold Medal, Salon Silver Medal, Salon Bronze Medal, 2x FIAP Blue Ribbon, 2x PSA HM, 3x IAAP Diploma, 3x PBA Digital Diploma and 6x Salon Digital Diploma.
4. (D) Nature (FIAP & PSA ND – color and mono) – FIAP Gold Medal, PSA Gold Medal, IAAP Medal, PBA Medal, Salon Gold Medal, Salon Silver Medal, Salon Bronze Medal, 2x FIAP Blue Ribbon, 2x PSA HM, 3x IAAP Diploma, 3x PBA Digital Diploma and 6x Salon Digital Diploma.
5. (E) Photo Travel (FIAP & PSA PTD color and mono) – FIAP Gold Medal, PSA Gold Medal, IAAP Medal, PBA Medal, Salon Gold Medal, Salon Silver Medal, Salon Bronze Medal, 2x FIAP Blue Ribbon, 2x PSA HM, 3x IAAP Diploma, 3x PBA Digital Diploma and 6x Salon Digital Diploma.
6. (F) Photojournalism (FIAP & PSA PJD – color and mono) – FIAP Gold Medal, PSA Gold Medal, IAAP Medal, PBA Medal, Salon Gold Medal, Salon Silver Medal, Salon Bronze Medal, 2x FIAP Blue Ribbon, 2x PSA HM, 3x IAAP Diploma, 3x PBA Digital Diploma and 6x Salon Digital Diploma.
Digital diplomas will be delivered via the participant's email.

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 FIAP patronage or 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 FIAP patronage or 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. This rule applies regardless of whether or not the creature being killed, injured or stressed is visible in the captured image.
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.
Entry in this exhibition is conditional on accepting these policies. The content of images must comply with these General Conditions and with the Division and Section definitions listed in these conditions. Images that - in the sole opinion of the judges or the Exhibition Organizers - do not comply, will be disqualified so the entrant may be aware of the problem when considering entry into other exhibitions with FIAP patronage/PSA recognition. Further details on the PSA's drone policy may be found at https://psa-photo.org/index.php?psa-policies#drone
PSA Monochrome Definition
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.
FIAP Definition of Monochrome
A black and white work fitting from the very dark grey (black) to the very 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; such a work can be reproduced in black and white in the catalogue of a salon under FIAP Patronage. On the other hand 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; such a work requires colour reproduction in the catalogue of a salon under FIAP Patronage.
For the purpose of this exhibition, only greyscale images are allowed in monochrome sections. Toned images are not allowed
Greyscale Monochrome images may be entered for Nature, Photojournalism and Photo Travel but toned images are not permitted for these sections.
Monochrome images may not be entered in PID Color Sections (Open color and People).
PORTRAIT / PSA PIDC (only color)
Color portrait photography, or portraiture, is a type of photography aimed toward capturing the personality of a person or group of people by using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses.
Attention is drawn to the PSA Stament on Subject Matter which applies to all sections.
Editing Guidelines for Nature, Photojournalism and Photo Travel
These sections require images to be truthful records, so there are limits on the amount of manipulation 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 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
For the purpose of this exhibition any border added to a digital file must be a single border of white or grey, no greater than 3-5 pixels in width.
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. Adding a vignette or blurring the background during processing is not allowed.
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.
No modification that changes the truth of a Nature image is allowed. Images may be cropped but no other technique that removes, adds or moves any part of the image is allowed.
Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise and lens flare are allowed.
Complete conversion of colour images to greyscale monochrome is allowed. Partial conversion, toning and infrared captures or conversions are not allowed.
Images of the same subject that are combined in-camera or with software by focus stacking or exposure blending are allowed. Multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively and combined in-camera or with software (image stitching) are allowed.
Attention is drawn to the PSA Statement on Subject Matter which applies to all sections and to the Editing Guidelines for Nature, Photojournalism and Photo Travel.
PSA Photojournalism definition
Photojournalism entries are images with informative content and emotional impact, reflecting the human presence in our world. The journalistic (story-telling) value of the image should receive priority over pictorial quality. Images that misrepresent the truth, such as those from events or activities arranged specifically for photography, or of subjects directed or hired for photography, are not eligible.

Techniques that add, relocate, replace, remove or change any element in the original scene, except by cropping, are not permitted. The only allowable modifications are removal of dust, scratches or digital noise and restoration of the appearance of the existing scene, or complete conversion to full monochrome. Other derivations, including infrared, are not eligible.

Attention is drawn to the PSA Statement on Subject Matter which applies to all sections and to the Editing Guidelines for Nature, Photojournalism and Photo Travel.

PSA Photo Travel Definition
A Photo Travel image expresses the characteristic features or culture of a land as they are found naturally. There are no geographical limitations. Images from events or activities arranged specifically for photography, or of subjects directed or hired for photography are not permitted. Close up pictures of people or objects must include features that provide information about the location.

Techniques that add, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image, except by cropping, are not permitted. The only allowable adjustments are removal of dust or digital noise, restoration of the appearance of the original scene, and complete conversion to greyscale monochrome. Other derivations, including infrared, are not permitted. All images must look natural.

Attention is drawn to the PSA Statement on Subject Matter which applies to all sections and to the Editing Guidelines for Nature, Photojournalism and Photo Travel.

Notification cards will be sent by email.
The organizer will take all possible care handling the emails and awards, however, assumes no liability for damages and loses during shipment.
CATALOGUE
The organizer will produce a PDF downloadable from web site by exhibitors. A link to download the catalogue https://photobalkana.com/blenda will be sent to all participants untill, 13/02/2024.