Light Hunters 2026, International Exhibition of Art Photography is organized by the Photo club Simanovci from Serbia. Chairman: Zlatko Babic, 22310 Šimanovci – Srbija.
e-mail: [email protected] web: https://photobalkana.com/lighthunters

Light Hunters 2026 International Exhibition of Art Photography is divided into 6 sections, all digital:
1. (A) Open Color (FIAP - only color)
2. (B) Open Mono (FIAP - only mono)
3. (C) Nature (FIAP - color and mono)
4. (D) Photojournalism (FIAP - color and mono)
5. (E) People (FIAP - color and mono)
6. (F) Portrait (FIAP - color and mono)

- Closing date:10/07/2026
- All judging completed by 24/07/2026
- Notifications sent by 03/08/2026
- On-Line Gallery posted by 20/08/2026
- Submit FIAP file: 30/08/2026
- Catalogs posted by 15/09/2026
- Awards mailed by 30/09/2026
Public Exhibition:
o Simanovci - 10/09/2026 and 17/09/2026

Depending of the number of sections participant applies, the fee cost as follow:
- any 1 or 2 sections = 18 EUR
- any 3 or 4 sections = 20 EUR
- any 5 or 6 sections = 22 EUR

The participation fee may be paid through: PayPal or Moneybookers.com (Skrills.com) through our web site at:
1. PayPal: hhttps://photobalkana.com/lighthunters click at PAYMENT in menu.
2. For FSS members/ za FSS članove i srpske autore entry fee/kotizacija je 1900,00 din for all section/sve sekcije.
Bankarski racun: Oliver Vukmirovic 200 132121370 28 kod Postanske stedionice, Uplata kotizacije Light Hunters 2026. Nakon uplate pozeljno obavestenje putem email-a o izvrsenoj uplati.
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%

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 30% 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://photobalkana.com/lighthunters/
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.

When an entrant fills in the Entry Form to submit an entry the entrant will see a feature to affirm he or she has read these Conditions of Entry when he or she fills out the entry form. If the entrant does not so affirm the entry will not be submitted.
“I hereby expressly agree to FIAP document 048/2025 « Conditions and regulations for FIAP Patronage » and FIAP document 038/2023 « 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 048/2025, dealing under Section II.2 and II.3 with the FIAP participation rules, the sanctions for breaching FIAP regulations and the red list.” breaching FIAP regulations and the red list.”

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.

1. Slobodan Cavic, EFIAP, KMF FSS – Serbia (for all 6 sections)
2. Oliver Vukmirovic, EFIAP, EPSA – Bosnia and Herzegovina (for all 6 sections)
3. Vladimir Jovanovski, MPSA – North Macedonia (for all 6 sections)

The Light Hunters 2026 International Exhibition of Art Photography will award the following medals:
• 6x FIAP Gold Medals
• 18x FIAP HM Ribbons
• 6x PBA Gold Medal
• 6x PBA Silver Medal
• 6x PBA Bronze Medal
• 18x PBA Black Ribbons (not digital)
• 6 FPO Gold Medal
• 6 FPO Silver Medal
• 6 FPO Bronze Medal
• 18 FPO HM Certificates (printed)
• 18x IAAP Diplomas (not digital)
• 6 SALON Gold Medals
• 6 SALON Silver Medals
• 6 SALON Bronze Medals
• 36 SALON Digital Diplomas
• 3 FSS (Gold, Silver and Bronze) Medals
• 6 FSS HM Diplomas

Digital diplomas will be delivered via the participant's email.

Pictures created by artificial intelligence are not allowed in this salon! 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!
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
PORTRAIT
Color and mono 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.
PHOTOJOURNALISM
Definition of Photojournalism Photojournalism entries are images with informative content and emotional impact, reflecting the human presence in our world.
Content Guidelines
• 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.
• When Human Interest is specified, those images depict a person or persons in an interactive, emotional or unusual situation, excluding sports action.
Editing Guidelines
Processing or editing must be limited to making the image look as close to the original scene as possible.
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.
PEOPLE
People at home, on the street, at their workplace, at social gatherings, events, etc. Color and monochrome photos. The photography theme of People is the overarching practice of capturing human beings as the primary subject matter. It is the broadest and most universal theme in photography, encompassing everything from a single, intimate portrait to vast crowds in a cityscape. At its heart, this theme is an exploration of humanity—our diversity, emotions, interactions, stories, and our place in the world.
Unlike more specific themes like "Portrait" or "Woman," which have a particular focus, the theme "People" is defined by its inclusive scope. It is about the human presence itself, in all its forms and contexts.
FIAP Nature Definition
Content Guidelines
Nature photography records all branches of natural history except anthropology and archaeology. This includes all aspects of the physical world, both over water and underwater.
Nature images must convey the truth of the scene. 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 threatening a living organism's life or welfare 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.
• Photographs made where the scene is natural and the animal is unharmed in a carefully managed environment, such as Zoo, rescue centers, and ethically managed natural environment farms are permitted.
• Attracting or controlling subjects through the use of food or sound for the purpose of photographing them is not allowed. Maintained situations such as provided supplemental food due to hardship caused by weather conditions or other conditions beyond the animals' control, where photography is incidental to the feeding of the animal does not fall under this provision.
• Controlling live subjects by chilling, anaesthetic, or any other method of restricting natural movement for a photograph is not allowed.
• Human-made elements shall be permitted under the following circumstances:

a) When they are an integral part of the nature story, such as a songbird singing atop a fence post a manmade object used as nest material, or a weather phenomenon destroying a man-made structure.
b) When they are a small but unavoidable part of the scene, such as an unobtrusive footprint or track in the background.
c) Scientific tags, collars, and bands are specifically allowed.
When photographing at a zoo, sanctuary, or rehabilitation centre, it would be construed that the photographer ensured that it’s properly accredited and conforms to best practices.

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 colour 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 colour

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.