14th International Photographic Salon Varna 2021 is divided in 6 sections

OPEN (color digital) – FIAP (C), PSA PID
OPEN (monochrome digital) – FIAP (M), PSA PID
NATURE (color/mono digital) – FIAP, PSA ND
PHOTO TRAVEL (color/mono digital) – FIAP PI M & C, PSA PTD
LANDSCAPE (color/mono) – FIAP PI M & C, PSA PID
FACE AND BODY (color/mono digital) – FIAP PI M & C, PSA PID

Accepted entries will be eligible for the following FIAP Honors – AFIAP, EFIAP, EFIAP/b, EFIAP/s, EFIAP/g, EFIAP/p, as well as and GPU distinctions.
Acceptances shall be credited towards Star Ratings for the each division and Who’s Who Listings or the Galaxy/Diamond Ratings requirements as appropriate, credited toward the PSA Distinctions PPSA, EPSA and GPU distinctions.

Closing date: 16 May 2021
Judging: 25 – 28 May 2021
Notification: 10 June 2021
Awards Certificates, Acceptances Certificates sent by email after: 10 June 2021

15 June 2021 Sea Garden Varna – Grand Outdoor Exhibition.

Mailing of the awards and catalogues to the authors by July 2021.

Individual Entries

<b>1,2 sections </b> <span style="color:rgb(250,180,25)">22 euro</span>
<b>3,4 sections </b> <span style="color:rgb(250,180,25)">26 euro</span>
<b>5,6 sections </b> <span style="color:rgb(250,180,25)">32 euro</span>

Group Entries

5 authors – 15% discount
6 – 10 authors – 20% discount
10 – 20 authors– 25% discount

Over 20 authors– 35% discount

Note: Group entries refer to photo clubs, associations and other photo organizations. In order to get the special group entry fee offer, the group secretary should send member list to [email protected] before the registration of each member.

The main requirement is an indication of a single mailing address to send the awards.

Each group member should register individually, and upload images in his personal profile. The organizer would send a general invoice to the group secretary, which once paid, status would be automatically reflected as ‘paid’ in all member profiles.

PAYMENT
Entry fee payment could be made with credit/debit cards through PayPal (even without registration). Each participant would be redirected to PayPal website for payment during entry registration process.

PayPal account: [email protected]

Bank transfer is also possible.

Bank: FIRST INVESTMENT BANK
IBAN: BG71FINV91501017456486
Recipient: VILELA LTD
BIC code: FINVBGSF

Participants should keep in mind that in case of bank transfer, they should add 7 euro to the entry fee to cover bank commission.
Once payment received, the payment status in your profile would be updated.
Entries for which no or no complete payment has been received will not be judged. The entry fee is not refundable.

The exhibition is open to anyone; however, an entry may be rejected when the sponsoring organization, or its agent, in its reasonable discretion, believes the entry does not conform to exhibition 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 work 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. The exhibition assumes no liability for any misuse of copyright. An entry may be rejected when the sponsoring organization or its agent, in its reasonable discretion, believes the entry does not conform to exhibition rules and conditions. All acceptances will count for FIAP, PSA and GPU distinctions.

Patronages:
FIAP – 2021/175, PSA – 2021-1284, GPU – L210064, IAAP: 2021/095, PSV – 2021– 2

• Each author can participate with not more than 4 (four) photos in each category (total 24 photos);each photo can be presented in one category only. One and the same photograph should be uploaded only as a color image or as a monochrome image.
All parts of the image have to be photographed by the author who is holding the copyright of all works submitted.
The exhibition assumes no liability of any misuse of copyright. Images may be altered, either electronically or otherwise, by the maker. All final work 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.
The Salon would be conducted under the approved rules of FIAP, PSA and See Categories Definitions below.
The right to reproduce entries in the catalogue will be assumed and copyright rules will be strictly followed.
Notification of results will be sent via email. Each participant will receive an individual notification of his results.
If a fee has not been received the images will not be judged.
Each author can receive only one medal in each of the sections.
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 shall be in the same round order as submitted by the entrant.
The decision of the jury will be final and without appeal.
The organisers will take great care of the entered work but decline all responsibility in case of loss, theft or deterioration during transit or during the exhibition and/or projection.
<b>IMAGE AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS</b> 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
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 a PSA Recognized exhibition, any identical image, or near identical image, may not, in future, be entered or re-entered in any section of the same Division Star Ratings class in that exhibition regardless of media, format, or title; may not be re-titled for entry into any other PSA Recognized exhibition, including translation into another language.
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 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 must not include file extensions such as .jpg or .jpeg (or any other camera capture filenames), or words such as “untitled” or “no title”. Titles may not consist solely of numbers.
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.

However, PSA members working on Galaxy and Diamond Star Ratings are allowed to continue using different titles of monochrome versions and color versions of the same capture that have already been accepted until the required number of acceptances for those titles has been completed.

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.

An image may be entered in only one section where acceptances of that image in multiple sections would be eligible for the same star path.

<b>Breaches of Rules</b>
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:
In order to ensure that images comply with the Conditions of Entry and definitions, the exhibition organizers may carry out reasonable measures to verify that:
a) the images are the original work of the entrant and
b) the images comply with the rules and definitions as set out in these Conditions of Entry

These steps include, but are not limited to, questioning any entrant, requiring the submission of RAW files or other digital files representing the original capture of the submitted image(s), confronting the entrant with evidence that one or more submitted images fails to comply with the Conditions of Entry (also known as Entry Rules), and offering the entrant a reasonable opportunity to provide counter evidence to refute the exhibition organizer’s evidence by a set deadline. Such entries that are not cleared or are still questionable after the entrant has presented evidence may be considered in breach of these Conditions of Entry, and declined. Such entries may be referred to PSA for further investigation of possible ethics violations

PSA retains the right to investigate in any way all complaints/suspicions of breaches of entry conditions, impose sanctions 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 submitting images on the entrant’s behalf, the entrant will still be held responsible for adhering to these Conditions of Entry (Entry Rules) and will be subject to sanction for any violations to these Conditions of Entry and PSA’s Statement of Ethics that may result.

<b>NOTICE:</b>
PSA NOTICE: 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

FIAP NOTICE
By submitting his/her images to the Salon, the participant expressly agrees the following text :
“I hereby expressly agree to <div style="display:inline;"><a href="https://theiaap.com/new3/contests/host/DOC_018_2017_Patrong_E.pdf" style="color:rgb(250,180,25)">FIAP document 018/2017 « Conditions and regulations for FIAP Patronage »</a></div> and <div style="display:inline;"><a href="https://www.fiap.net/upload/files/1523006965-0c636.pdf" style="color:rgb(250,180,25)">FIAP document 017/2017 « Sanctions for breaching FIAP regulations and the red list »</a></div>. 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 Statement on Subject Matter
There is one hard and fast rule, whose spirit must be observed at all times and applies to all sections offered in PSA recognised exhibitions.

The welfare of the subject is more important than the 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 PSA exhibitions.

There is also a PSA policy on the use of aerial photography – aircraft, helicopters and drones. This policy can be found at https://psa-photo.org/index.php?psa-policies#drone.

The purpose of this policy is to prevent any interference with other individuals or animals which will or may cause a disturbance in their normal activity or disrupt the way any individuals or animals interact with their environment. Entry in this exhibition requires exhibitors to agree to this and other PSA 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 are likely to be disqualified so the entrant may be aware of the problem when considering entry into other PSA recognized exhibitions.

PDF catalog for download will be available on our website.
The Organizer decides which of the accepted images would be included in the Catalog and in the Exhibition.

<b>DATA PROTECTION</b>
By entering this exhibition, you are explicitly consenting to the personal details you have supplied, including 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 which have accorded official recognition, patronage or accreditation to this exhibition. You acknowledge and accept that entering this exhibition means that the status and results of your entry may be made public.

Your email address and contact information will not be made public.

On-Line Entry: Entry to the salon is made via the on-line entry form by clicking on this link <div style="display:inline;"><a href="https://fotosalonvarna.org/?location=form" style="color:rgb(250,180,25)">ENTRY FORM</a></div>.
You will be receiving emails from [email protected]
Please ensure your SPAM filter will always accept emails from this address.

Image requirements :
Accepted file types *.jpg, *.jpeg
Maximum image width (horizontal) is 3840 pix, Maximum image height (vertical) is 2160 pix. The entry will be displayed on 4K TV – 3840 x 2160 pixels.
File size maximum is 5 MB
Images must not have any borders or signatures; images are being judged on black background and exhibited on black/gray background
Embedding a source ICC profile is recommended
<b>The file name should be a maximum of 30 characters. File name should be in English, unique, NOT containing special symbols. File name should be the artwork name. Example: sunrise.jpg. Words such as “Untitled” and “No Title” are not acceptable as part or all of an image’s title, nor are camera capture filenames or titles consisting of only numbers.</b>

Each image must have a unique title. Once an image has been accepted in a PSA Recognized exhibition, that same image, or a like “in camera” or a “reproduction” duplicate of that image.
1. may not be entered or re-entered in any section of the same Division Star Ratings class in that exhibition regardless of media, format, or title.
2. may not be re-titled for entry in any other PSA Recognized exhibition, including translation into another language.
3. images meeting the Monochrome Definition and non-manipulated color images from the same capture shall be considered the same image and must be given the same title.

Mr. Minko Mihaylov (Bulgaria) EFIAP – Chairman
Mr. Vladimir Jovanovski (North Macedonia) MPSA, RISF5, GPU CR3, IAAP President
Mr. Paul Reidy (Ireland) EFIAP

Judging: An entrant’s images (in each Section) will be distributed throughout four rounds of judging.

158 Awards

<b>30</b> Gold Medals – FIAP, PSA, GPU, IAAP, IPSV
<b>18</b> Silver Medals – FIAP, PSA, IPSV
<b>18</b> Bronze Medals – FIAP, PSA, IPSV
<b>36</b> FIAP Honorable Mention Ribbons
<b>18</b> PSA Honorable Mention Ribbons
<b>12</b> GPU Honorable Mention Ribbons
<b>18</b> Judges Choice
<b>6</b> PSV Diplomas
<b>1</b> FIAP Award ”Best Author” SLBP
<b>1</b> Special CLUB CUP Award

The FIAP Award of “Best Author” will be awarded to the Entrant who gains the highest number of Acceptances across all 6 categories.
Special CLUB CUP award would be given to the photographic club with the most members, accepted in the final selection.
Each participant will receive Acceptances Certificates for the accepted photos and and award winning authors will receive Awards Certificates.

All Images entered MUST comply with the PSA, FIAP and GPU Definitions below. Images failing to do so will not be judged.

OPEN COLOUR DEFINITION
Any image that satisfies the general rules may be submitted in the Open section. Any subject, theme or technique is eligible.

OPEN MONOCHROME FIAP DEFINITION
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.

Monochrome PSA Definition
A monochrome image is defined as having varying shades of no more than one color (various shades of that color from very light to very dark) but it may be any single color. Images that appear to be tones of a single color will be considered a monochrome. Multi-toned images (various shades of two or more colors) and greyscale images with an added accent color are not acceptable in Monochrome Class sections and must be entered in Color Class sections.

PHOTO TRAVEL PSA Definition

A Photo Travel image expresses the characteristic features or culture of a land as they are found naturally. There are no geographic limitations. Images from events or activities arranged specifically for photography, or of subjects directed or hired for photography are not appropriate. Close up pictures of people or objects must include features that provide information about the environment. 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 allowed adjustments must appear natural.

LANDSCAPE
This category calls for the most beautiful landscapes from all over the world. Best panoramic landscapes. With or without people, at any weather condition and seasons, at the very best light. Sea / water and under waterscapes, desert / arctic / icy mountain and forest landscapes, cityscapes – whatever you like! Show us the beauty of the world we live in! We expect spectacular and imaginative shots beyond the usual perspective!

NATURE
Images entered in the Nature Section MUST comply with the following PSA, FIAP and RPS definitions. Images failing to do so will not be judged.
Nature Photography Definition
Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict 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 certify 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 where those human elements are integral parts of the nature story such as nature subjects, like barn owls or storks, adapted to an environment modified by humans, or where those human elements are in situations depicting natural forces, like hurricanes or tidal waves. Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible. Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation thatalters the truth of the photographic statement.
No techniques that add, 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, or without altering the content of the original scene, are permitted including HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning. Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise, and film scratches, are allowed. Stitched images are not permitted. All allowed adjustments must appear natural. Color images can be converted to greyscale monochrome. Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivations, are not allowed.
Images used in Nature Photography competitions may be divided in two classes: Nature and Wildlife.
Images entered in Nature sections meeting the Nature Photography Definition above can have landscapes, geologic formations, weather phenomena, and extant organisms as the primary subject matter. This includes images taken with the subjects in controlled conditions, such as zoos, game farms, botanical gardens, aquariums and any enclosure where the subjects are totally dependent on man for food.
Images entered in Wildlife sections meeting the Nature Photography Definition above are further defined as one or more extant zoological or botanical organisms free and unrestrained in a natural or adopted habitat. Landscapes, geologic formations, photographs of zoo or game farm animals, or of any extant zoological or botanical species taken under controlled conditions are not eligible in Wildlife sections. Wildlife is not limited to animals, birds and insects. Marine subjects and botanical subjects (including fungi and algae) taken in the wild are suitable wildlife subjects, as are carcasses of extant species.
Wildlife images may be entered in Nature sections of Exhibitions.

FACE AND BODY
Center of interest is the human face and body in all its forms and manifestations. Portrait and fine art nude photography.
Portraits of people of all colours, races, religions, the whole range of human feelings. Live photography, outdoor photography as well as studio portraits. Men, women, children. The human face as a reflection on emotion and life experience.
Fine-art photography, taken outdoors or under studio conditions, full of idea, creativity, with a touch of erotic mood, which depicts the nude human body with an emphasis on form, composition, emotional content, and other aesthetic qualities.

PDF catalog for download will be available on our website.

The organizers will do their best to deliver safely emails, awards and catalogs however cannot be held responsible if they are damaged or lost during transit or do not reach its recipient.

COPYRIGHT
Each participant should own the copyright of the submitted images. The participant expressly declares, without any time limitation, that images entered in the contest may be used by the organizers to advertise the competition, in whatever way, and wherever, without further compensation by the organizers and their partners. (including not only media partners, but also organization partners and cooperation partners and those third parties who, in whatever form, without prior payment, contribute to the competition). The organizers will take care that images used for advertising are copyright-marked as such and will not be manipulated by digital means; a guarantee however that this actually happens, can’t be taken over by the organizers, because the use of such images for contest advertising purposes does happen outside the sphere of influence of the organizers (in particular use of the photos on magazine cover pages and the associated text placements on such covers). The participant therefore expressly waives the right to assert any claims (in particular copyright infringement) against the organizers in this regard. A right to use images entered in the contest for pure profit purposes (totally apart from advertising the contest) is excluded without a separate approval by the participant. The participant expressly declares that he at least is owner of those rights, which are necessary for the contest participation and handing over the above rights in contest promotion matters to the organizers (especially the right the publish images showing people); he holds in this respect the organizer harmless and indemnify. The participant accepts these conditions by participating in the competition.

Contact person:
Dimitrina Vasileva
INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SALON VARNA
32 Perunika Str.
Varna 9009 BULGARIA

<a href = "mailto:[email protected]">Email: [email protected]</a>

Mob: +359887918533