Last Updated: 11-9-2025 11:03

Natural History Trophy

 -  digital and print – 4 images in TOTAL.

SET Subject only. No Open - please select SET otherwise your image will be rejected and not submitted.  

2x Digital - The best digital image (MCC trophy for Natural History Digital Images) entries may be natural history subjects from anywhere in the world.

2x Print - The best print image (Brian Thwaites Trophy entries must be of NZ Natural History subjects only. 

Refer to the PSNZ rules: https://photography.org.nz/about/definitions/

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 photographed. A well-informed person should be able to identify the subject of the image and be satisfied that is 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 for the purpose of a photograph is not allowed.

Only scientific names, common names or descriptive titles shall be used.

Images that have been previously entered in any MCC as "Open" may be re-entered into the MCC Natural History Trophy Competition.

Two images per medium (prints and digital images) can be submitted for a total of four images - so a very unique opportunity.

ALLOWED SUBJECTS

  • Subjects shall illustrate untamed animals, birds, and uncultivated plants in their natural habitat, astronomy, geology and phenomena not produced by man.  Marine and botanical subjects (including fungi and algae) and naturalised subjects are allowed providing taken under natural conditions. 

 

Nature Editing Guidelines (includes all Nature Subcategories) as  per PSNZ rules.

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
  • Exposure blending or focus stacking (the blending of multiple images of the same subject and combining them in camera or with software).
  • Image stitching - combining multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively (e.g. 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.

 

The PSNZ Rules are used for our club topic, so you can submit an image, get a critique, and apply the critique (If you agree). Then our club has a range of images to select for the MCC Club Set" that we will submit to the PSNZ  "Trenna Packer Salver Nature Salon" competition;  Trenna Packer Salver Information 2024 - Nature Photography Society of NZ  So see our topic as a stepping stone into going nationwide. We are building your confidence in your photography to help you expand your submissions. 

Attached is the PSNZ Ethics, Landscape and Nature Rules

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