FOCUSMUSE is international contest of art photography, organized by Student Photo Group Koper from Koper, Slovenia.

The contest is divided into the following sections:
• OPEN (color)
• LINES
• SHADOWS
• DRONE
• OPEN (monochrome)
• TRAVEL
• PORTRAIT
• NUDES
• LIFE
• MINIMALISM
• NATURE
• PEOPLE

Closing date: October 11, 2026
Judging date: October 18, 2026
Notification date: October 25, 2026
Delivery date: November 29, 2026
Gallery publish date: November 29, 2026

The entry fee depends on the number of sections the participant enters. The fees are as follows:
• 1-3 sections = 5 EUR
• 4-6 sections = 10 EUR
• 7-9 sections = 15 EUR
• 10-12 sections = 20 EUR

The entry fee can be paid in the following ways:
• through our website: https://photogroupkoper.com/focusmuse/
• PAYPAL ACCOUNT: [email protected]

Images from participants who have not paid the entry fee will not be considered.

The contest is open to anyone (amateur and professional photographers from all over the world); however, an entry may be rejected when the sponsoring organization or its agent, in its reasonable discretion, believes the entry does not conform to the contest rules and conditions.
Entries must originate as photographs (image-captures of objects via light sensitivity) made by the entrant on photographic emulsion or acquired digitally. By virtue of submitting an entry, the entrant certifies the image as his own (aliases are not permitted). 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.
By submitting an entry, the entrant certifies legal Age, and own all rights to these images, including copyright or parents or guardians gives permission on his/her behalf if he/she is not of Legal Age. The exhibition assumes no liability of any misuse of copyright. Images may be altered, either electronically or otherwise, by the maker. All final image must be on photographic film, or on electronic file, or on photographic or electronic print material, mounting excepted.
No title or identification of the maker shall be visible anywhere on the face of an image, print mat or mount.

Photographs must be in JPEG format, with dimensions 1920x1080 pixels at 300, JPEG compression (if Photoshop used for export): 7-12, file size maximum 4 Mb. Each image must have a unique title. Titles must not include file extensions such as .jpg or .jpeg (or any other camera capture filenames). No title or identification of the maker shall be written anywhere on the face of an image.
The photographs of participants with the application are submitted in these ways:
- uploading thought our website: https://photogroupkoper.com/focusmuse/
- by e-mail: [email protected]

The judging will be done by remote online judging. All judges will be using equipment capable of displaying images at 100% of the image resolution. Judges will be using color calibrated equipment. Target Range will be max 30%.

By entering this contest, you are explicitly consenting to the personal details you have supplied, including physical addresses, email addresses, being held, processed and used by the contest organizers for purposes associated with this contest. You also explicitly consent to such information being sent to organizations that have accorded official recognition, patronage or accreditation to this contest. You acknowledge, agree and accept that by entering this contest, your participation status which includes your first and last name, name of the country used during registration at the contest, 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.

• Dino Hadzidervisagic; (Bosnia And Herzegovina)
• Benny Chung; (Canada)

The judges of the event will present the following awards:
12 x IAAP Gold E-Certificate, 12 x IAAP Silver E-Certificate, 12 x IAAP Bronze E-Certificate, 36 x IAAP Diploma E-Certificate
12 x CLUB Gold E-Certificate, 12 x CLUB Silver E-Certificate, 12 x CLUB Bronze E-Certificate, 36 x CLUB Diploma E-Certificate
Total 144 awards. The organizer reserves the right to adjust the number of awards based on the total number of entrants.

All entries shall conform to the stricter of these definitions for acceptances to be validated by all the international organizations granting recognition or patronage.

[General conditions]
● Every image is the work of the author, made from the author's own photographs.
● A section accepts both colour and monochrome work unless its name or the rules of the event say otherwise.
● Unless the definition restricts it, post-processing is free, but the subject must remain recognisable as the stated theme.
● Where a section is also entered as a FIAP or PSA division, the FIAP or PSA definition prevails over the text given here.
● Whether an image meets the theme is decided by the judges. An image outside the theme may be rejected before judging or left unscored, and the rules of the event say which of the two happens.
● An organizer may narrow a definition and must then publish the narrowing. An organizer may not widen one while keeping the standard section name.
● Images generated wholly or partly by generative artificial intelligence are not photographs and are not eligible in any section defined here.


[IAAP · Monochrome]
Black and white photography is an image that displays a range of shades from black to white, encompassing various tones of gray. Such an image focuses on the nuances of light, shadow, and contrast without incorporating any colors. If the entire image is toned in a single hue, it remains within the black and white category. However, if it is modified by partial toning or the addition of any color, it becomes a color work and no longer qualifies as a black and white photograph.


[IAAP · Nature]
A nature photograph records all aspects of the natural world, both animate and inanimate. The primary subject of a nature photograph should be animals and elements of nature, though human and human-made elements are allowed as long as they do not dominate the scene. The image must convey the truth of the scene and be presented honestly, without unethical practices to manipulate the subject or setting. High technical standards are expected, and the photograph should look natural. Human activity or objects are permissible only if they are a necessary part of the nature story being told.


[IAAP · Travel]
A travel photograph captures the essence of a location, conveying the unique character and atmosphere of a place. It should reflect the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and distinctive features of the destination, providing viewers with a sense of the location identity and spirit. Travel photography encompasses a wide range of subjects, including landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, architecture, people, and customs, all of which contribute to the overall experience of the destination. The primary goal is to transport viewers to the location through the image, allowing them to explore and appreciate the worlds diverse cultures and environments.


[Standard section definitions]

[Portrait]
Portrait photography focuses on a person or a small group, with particular attention to the face, gaze, expression or character. The people portrayed must be the main subject and shown as individuals, rather than simply as figures within a scene. Posed and candid portraits are equally welcome, including self-portraits and head-and-shoulders, three-quarter or full-length views. Environmental portraits are also accepted when the surroundings help convey the subject's character. Images in which people are incidental to a landscape, street scene or architectural study do not qualify. Neither do crowds without an identifiable subject or abstract studies that do not portray an individual.


[People]
The People section explores people and the situations, activities and surroundings that shape their lives. One or more people must be the subject of the photograph. Individuals, groups and crowds are accepted, whether shown at work, at rest, travelling or in their everyday surroundings. Both candid and directed photographs are welcome. The section is broader than Portrait because it considers people within a situation, rather than only as portrait subjects. Portraits are accepted when the event does not offer a separate Portrait section. Images without a visible person, or in which a person serves only to show the scale of a landscape or building, do not qualify.


[Shadows]
In this section, shadows must be a central subject of the photograph, not simply a result of the lighting. They may create a graphic pattern, contribute to a story, describe a shaded form or suggest a subject that is outside the frame. Silhouettes and strong contrasts between light and shade are also accepted. The definition includes sections named Light and Shadow, where both are explored together. Simply including shadows in an otherwise unrelated image is not enough. When the event offers a separate Silhouettes section, silhouette images belong there instead.


[Life]
The Life section documents everyday living in any place or culture. Subjects may include home life, work, school, markets, travel, worship, rest and leisure. Celebrations, mourning, life transitions, different generations together and life in old age are also welcome. The emphasis is on observing life rather than arranging it for the camera. Purely formal or abstract studies without human or living content do not qualify. Neither do constructed or conceptual images made for the camera.


[Minimalism]
Minimalist photography creates a strong image from very few elements. Simplicity, open areas and negative space are central to the composition. A single shape, a line or a small area of colour against an uncluttered background may provide the subject. The essential requirement is deliberate visual reduction, whether found in the scene or achieved through framing. Accepted approaches include a single subject against a plain background, high-key or low-key treatments, and the graphic simplification of a larger scene. Busy or crowded compositions do not qualify. An ordinary record of a scene, without this reduction to essentials, is not enough.


[Nude]
Nude photography explores the unclothed or partly unclothed human body through form, line, light or expression. Full and partial nudes are accepted, including classical and contemporary figure studies, abstract studies of the body, and images that treat the body as a form or landscape. Photographs may be made in a studio, an interior or a natural setting. Every person shown must be an adult who has consented both to being photographed and to the image being exhibited. The author must be able to confirm this on request. Pornographic, sexually explicit or otherwise offensive images are not accepted. Any depiction of a person under eighteen years of age is not eligible in this or in any other section.


[Lines]
In the Lines section, lines must be the main visual subject and the foundation of the composition. They may be straight, curved, converging or repeated. Accepted subjects include lines found in architecture, industry and engineering, as well as natural lines in dunes, branches, waves and layers of rock. Roads, railways, cables, wires, light and shadows may also provide the subject. The emphasis is on using lines to organise the frame. Simply including lines without making them central to the image is not enough.


[Drone / Aerial]
Drone / Aerial photography presents a view taken from the air, using a drone, aircraft, balloon, kite or another airborne platform. The subject must be a view made possible by that height. Both top-down and angled views are accepted, including aerial landscapes, cityscapes and documentary subjects. The author is responsible for complying with flight laws and obtaining any permits required at the location. Photographs taken from buildings, towers, bridges or hills do not qualify. Satellite images and other third-party imagery are not eligible.

Notification cards will be sent by email.

Mila Jovanovska
Koper, Slovenia

email: [email protected]
website: www.theiaap.com