International Nowruz Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution A/RES/64/253 of 2010, at the initiative of several countries that share this holiday (Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan. Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a cultural tradition observed by numerous peoples, Nowruz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighborliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.
NOWRUZ 2016 INTERNATIONAL SALON OF PHOTOGRAPHY is the very first ever Photo Salon in Tajikistan with the patronage of both the <b>Federation Internationale de l'Art Photographique (FIAP), 2016/343</b>. It is also conducted under the approved rules of the <b>Photographic Society of America (PSA), 2016/270</b>. Acceptances obtained in this salon will be taken into account for FIAP Distinctions, PSA Star Rating listings in the worldwide PSA Who’s Who of Photography and credited for PSA Distinctions.

A. Open Monochrome (PID Monochrome)
B. Open Color (Only Color) (PID Color)
C. People (Color/Monochrome) (PID Color)
D. Landscape (Color/Monochrome) (PID Color)
E. Nature (Color/Monochrome) (ND)
F. Travel (TRAD) (Color/Monochrome) (PTD)

Closing Date: 7 October 2016
Judging Date: 20-28 October 2016
Notification emails sent: 11 November 2016
Exhibitions and slide shows: 13 January 2017
Catalogues & awards sent: 13 January 2017

<b>In an attempt to encourage entrants not to delay submitting their entry until the last minute we have introduced an "Early Bird" system of entry fees. It is much cheaper to enter early!</b>

<b>International Single Entrants:</b> <b>For entries received on or before 8 June 2016:</b>
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp 1-3 Section: $21 USD
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp 4-6 Sections: $30 USD

<b>International Single Entrants:</b> <b>For entries received after 8 June 2016:</b>
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp 1-3 Section: $30 USD
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp 4-6 Sections: $40 USD

<b>Group/Club Entries - Discount Rates</b>
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Entrants 5-9: Discount 5 % of Total Fee
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Entrants 10-20: Discount 10 % of Total Fee
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Entrants 21-40: Discount 15 % of Total Fee
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Entrants 40+: Discount 20 % of Total Fee

Entry fee is mandatory for every participant. Entry fee can be paid with PayPal through our web site by the email [email protected]. Entries for which no fee is received will not be judged.

<b>ENTRIES</b>
a) Entry is open to all photographers, amateur and professional, worldwide.
b) Sections: Each entrant may submit a maximum of four images in each of the 6 sections. There are no restrictions as to subject matter except as outlined in the rules and definitions of specific sections, or specified by law in the country.

<b>AN AUTHOR MAY NOT ENTER IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR PHOTOGRAPHS INTO DIFFERENT SECTIONS.</b>
c) Copyright: All parts of the image have to be photographed by the author who is holding the copyright of all works submitted. Clip Art and Copyright Free material are not acceptable. The PSA, FIAP and organizer assume no responsibility for misuse by anyone of the copyright of published images.
d) Submission: Images and a completed entry form must be submitted on line using the salon website (www.NowruzSalon.com). Entrants MUST use only the Western/Latin alphabet when submitting an entry.
e) File size: All images are to be submitted in JPEG format. It is recommended that images should use RGB Colour Space. Digital Files (including any borders) must not exceed 1980x1080 pixels. Smaller images are acceptable but will be projected smaller on the screen. Maximum file size is 2 MB. If you submit files larger than 2 MB, you will receive an error message, and your images will be rejected. Please check all image sizes before submission, images with sizes greater than specified will be rejected. The projection background is black, Please DO NOT fill empty space with/or add large borders. Any borders should be no greater than 2 pixels wide.
f) File Naming: Files do not need to be renamed when submitting an entry. However, the titles should appear on the entry form as you wish them to appear in the catalogue.
g) Image Titles: 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:
I. May not be re-entered in any section of the same Division Star Ratings class in that exhibition regardless of media, format, or title.
II. May not be re-titled for entry in any other PSA Recognized exhibition.
Words such as “Untitled” and “No Title” are not acceptable as part or all of an image’s title, nor are camera capture filenames.
h) Judging: Entries are limited to not more than 4 images per section. An entrant’s four images will be distributed throughout four rounds of judging in that section.
i) Names: No information about the entrant, title of the image or country will be given to the judges. No title or identification of the maker shall be visible anywhere on the face of an image entered in a PSA Recognized exhibition.
j) Public Showings: A representative selection of the accepted images will be projected at public showings.

<b>ETHICAL INVESTIGATIONS</b>
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.
IMPORTANT: Concerning digital entries, FIAP recommends that authors should preserve intact, with no alteration, the original metadata of images. In case of contestation for incompliance with FIAP regulations the fact of not being able to access this important data could mean that the author could be sanctioned.
Each author whose image shows any suspicions about the compliance with FIAP regulations or definitions can be requested by the organizer or by FIAP, to submit the original file (file containing the data recorded by the sensor, if so, the RAW file) plus the file of the image immediately before and immediately following the questionable image. If he/she failed to provide what is required, he can be sanctioned.
Persons who are found guilty of plagiarism are excluded lifelong from FIAP activities.

<b>DISPUTES</b>
In any case of dispute regarding compliance with the Conditions of Entry, payment of fees or matters pertaining to an image (such as receipt, acceptance, compliance, score or award), the decision of the organizers and judges to accept your application (or not) will be final. Violations and perceived violations of the Conditions of Entry may be reported to the various accreditation bodies and may result in a declination of your application to have your images included in this and other exhibitions.

<b>COMPLIANCE</b>
The salon 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 salon rules and conditions.
Take special note: Nude photography is excluded in this salon.

<b>REPRODUCTIONS</b>
By submitting an entry for NOWRUZ 2016 INTERNATIONAL SALON OF PHOTOGRAPHY the entrant permits the organizers to reproduce all or part of the entered material free of charge for publication in a catalogue, on an internet site and/or in other media related to NOWRUZ 2016 INTERNATIONAL SALON OF PHOTOGRAPHY.

<b>Open Monochrome, Open Color & People Sections:</b>
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Ebrahim BAHRAMI, AFIAP
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Mamdooh ALSALEH, AFIAP
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Mohammad Reza CHAIFOROOSH
<b>Landscape, Nature & Photo Travel Sections:</b>
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Ebrahim BAHRAMI, AFIAP
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Mamdooh ALSALEH, AFIAP
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Farid SANI, EFIAP
<b>Reserve:</b>
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Mehdi MONTASERI, AFIAP

<b>Totally $1500 USD cash Prizes and 124 Awards!</b>
<b>Best Author Award:</b> FIAP light Blue Badge
<b>Best Club Award:</b> FPC Gold Medal
<b>Nowruz Award:</b> Best photo with Nowruz subject
6 FIAP & 6 PSA Gold Medals
6 Gold, 6 Silver & 6 Bronze FPC Medals
IAAP Gold, Silver, Bronze Medals, 6 Ribbons & 6 Diploma
Roudaki Trophy
12 FIAP Ribbons
66 Salon Honorable Mention Certificates

All entries shall conform to the stricter of these definitions for acceptances and awards to be validated by all the International Organizations granting recognition or patronage. <b>Monochrome</b> images may not be entered in the <b>Open Color</b> Section.

<b>Nature (FIAP, PSA & RPS):</b>
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 to 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 that alters 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 to the viewer. Color images can be converted to greyscale monochrome. Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivations, are not allowed.
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.

<b>a) FIAP Definitions:</b>

<b>Monochrome:</b>
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.
Traditional Photo
A traditional photograph maintains the original image content with minimal adjustments which should not alter the reality of the scene and should appear natural. Rearranging, replacing, adding to or removing any part of the original image except by cropping is strictly forbidden.

<b>b) PSA Definitions</b>

<b>General:</b>
“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 salon. 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. Images may be altered, either electronically or otherwise, by the maker, subject to divisional restrictions. All final work must be on photographic film, or on electronic file, or on photographic or electronic print material, mounting excepted.

<b>Monochrome:</b>
An image is considered to be Monochrome only if it gives the impression of having no color (i.e. contains only shades of gray which can include pure black and pure white) OR it gives the impression of being a grayscale 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.

<b>Photo Travel:</b>
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.

Notification of results will be sent by email. Entrants should ensure that they provide an active email address and that spam filters are set to accept emails from [email protected]. Notifications will not be sent by post.

All entrants who paid the entry fee will be sent a free copy of the Electronic Catalog on CD/DVD. Catalogues will be sent by surface mail for overseas addresses. Awards will be sent with the catalogue.

Salon Chairman
Ali Samei, EFIAP, ESFIAP
Soroosh Baynolmelal, Filarmonia Palace
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Mobile: +994915270497
Email: [email protected]