The International exhibition of art photography Mirage 2022 is exhibition of art photography organized by photo club Fenix from Tirana, Albania.

The contest is divided into following sections:
a) OPEN (PSA PIDC)
b) OPEN (PSA PIDM)
c) NATURE (PSA ND)
d) PHOTOJOURNALISM (PSA PJD)
e) TRAVEL (PSA PTD)
f) STREETS (PSA PIDC)

Closing date: 19 June 2022
Judging date: 29 June 2022
Notification date: 05 July 2022
Delivery date: 03 August 2022
Gallery publish date: 03 August 2022
Catalogs posted by: 03 August 2022

Depending of the number of sections participant enters, the entry fee cost as follow:
- any 1, 2, or 3 sections = 20 EUR
- any 4, 5, or 6 sections = 25 EUR

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.

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.

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), or words such as "untitled" or "no title". Titles may not consist solely of numbers.
Digital images cannot be altered, including resizing in either direction, by the exhibition or by the exhibitions equipment before or during judging.

The photographs of participants with the application are submitted in these ways:
- uploading thought our website
- by e-mail: [email protected]

To participate in this contest entrants will apply with black & white or color works. The maximum number of photographs per section is 4. No title or identification of the maker shall be written anywhere on the face of an image.
Photographs must be sent in digital form, as a picture file with dimension 1920x1080 pixels at 300 dpi. The maximum file size is 4 Mb.

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.

- Jan Valo (KMF FSS, Serbia)
- Marjan Janevski (AFIAP, North Macedonia)
- Dimitar Cungovski (North Macedonia

At international exhibition Mirage 2022 there will be awarded these medals:
FIAP Blue Badge for the best Author
6x FIAP Gold; x12 FIAP ribbons
6x PSA Gold; x18 PSA ribbons
6x IAAP Gold, Silver, Bronze medals and 18 ribbons;

The organizer reserves the right to award the most successful authors of Mirage 2022 depend on the total number of the entrants.

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.

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 recorded. 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.
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 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 derivations are not allowed.
Multiple images of the same subject that are combined in camera or with software by focus stacking, exposure blending or stitching (images taken consecutively and combined by overlapping) are allowed.
Attention is drawn to the PSA Statement on Subject Matter which applies to all sections

Vignettes and Borders
Vignettes are not allowed in Nature Images. Any border added must be a single border of white or grey, no greater than 3 -5 pixels in width.

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.
Vignettes and Borders
Vignettes are not allowed in Photojournalism images. Any border added must be a single border of white or grey, no greater than 3 -5 pixels in width.

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

Vignettes and Borders
Vignettes are not allowed in Photojournalism images. Any border added must be a single border of white or grey, no greater than 3 -5 pixels in width.

Notification cards will be sent by email.
All entrants of the event (participants which submitted works and paid entry fee) will receive on-line PDF catalog of the photo event.
The organizer will take all possible care while handling the emails, awards and catalogs, however will assume no liability for damages and loses during shipment.

Chairman:
Ylber Idrizi
Rruga Xhanfize Keko 82;
1001 Tirana; Albania

Web: photofenix.com
Email: [email protected]