Nature Photography Exhibition 2026 – Terms & Conditions

Exhibition Terms & Conditions

Theme: Nature In All Its Glory

1. IMPORTANT DATES

Registration

    • Entries now open
    • REGISTER HERE – you are invited to register your interest now to secure a place in the exhibition, and update your print titles closer to the closing date.
    • Closing date: Sunday 31 May 2026, 11:59pm
    • Entries are open to all members and invited guests.

Artwork Submission

    • Thursday 11 June 2026 between 7.00 and 8.00 pm (or by prior arrangement with the Exhibition Coordinator)
    • Artwork to be delivered, printed, mounted and ready to install to Melbourne Camera Club, corner Ferrars St and Dorcas St, South Melbourne

Exhibition Opening Event

    • Thursday 18 June 2026 at 7.30pm

Exhibition Dates and Hours

    • Saturday and Sunday, 20 and 21 June and Saturday and Sunday, 27 and 28 June, from 11.00am to 3.00pm

Artwork Collection

    • Sunday 28 June 2026 from 3.00 to 4.00pm
    • Thursday 2 July 2026, 7.00 to 8.00pm
    • Or by prior arrangement with the Exhibition Coordinator

2. HOW TO ENTER

    • REGISTER HERE – you are invited to register your interest now to secure a place in the exhibition, and update your print titles closer to the closing date.
    • Closing date: Sunday, 31 May 2026, 11:59pm
    • You are required to accept these terms and conditions, and to confirm you are the owner of the copyright for entries submitted
    • Drop off your works to the Melbourne Camera Club on the specified dates. Each work must be ready for installation. Work must be labelled on the reverse side with:
      • Your full name
      • The title(s) of your work(s)
      • Category – see points 8, 9 and 10
      • Your contact details
      • Arrow showing required orientation
    • Every endeavour will be made to hang all work submitted, subject to Section 7

3. ENTRIES

    • The number of entries is limited to a maximum of 3 per person
    • All entries must be within the theme of ‘Nature In All Its Glory’
    • There are three categories in this year’s exhibition: General Nature, Creative, and Human Connection. See below, points 8,9 and 10, for definitions
    • Prints entered must meet one or more of the appropriate definitions below
    • This is a free exhibition
    • Entrants are invited to submit a 1MB JPEG of their entry to be used for the promotion of the Exhibition on the Melbourne Camera Club Facebook and Instagram pages via email to Exhibition Coordinators. Please note that Melbourne Camera Club may or may not use your image(s) for promotion.
    • Work submitted to this exhibition may or may or may not be on display in the gallery however every exhibitor will have at least one work in the exhibition – subject to Section 7
    • All work submitted must be available for display across all dates of the exhibition
    • Artists with a series consisting of two or more images must provide instructions for the installation of their work, but we cannot guarantee that a series will be hung together
    • Works deemed unsafe to hang will not be exhibited
    • We have an all care, no responsibility policy. Although we take all care, we cannot take responsibility for damage made to work submitted to the exhibition
    • All works must be ready for installation when dropped off
    • All works must be printed and mounted on white mat board with a backing board of foam core or cardboard
    • All works must not exceed an outside measurement of 400mm x 500mm (or 16inch x 20inch) mounted, including mat boards. If you wish to submit works outside these specifications, please discuss with the Exhibition Coordinators.

4. DROPPING OFF WORKS

    • Works must arrive at the Melbourne Camera Club on or before Thursday 11 June 2026, between 7.00 and 8.00 pm
    • Drop off location:

Melbourne Camera Club
254-256 Ferrars Street (cnr Dorcas & Ferrars Sts)
South Melbourne 

    • Dropping off work before 11 June is by prior arrangement with the Exhibition Coordinator
    • Please clearly label all work on the back with the artist’s name, contact details, orientation, title of the work and category.

5. COLLECTING WORKS

    •  Works can be collected:
      • Sunday 28 June from 3.00 to 4.00pm
      • Thursday 2 July, 7.00 to 8.00pm
      • Or by prior arrangement with the Exhibition Coordinator
    • If work is to be returned by post, return postage costs must be included with your submission.
    • Please bring your satchel / bag when collecting images.

6. PEOPLE’S CHOICE

    • There will be a small prize for a People’s Choice Award for the Exhibition
    • The photographer’s work with the most votes will be awarded the winner of the People’s Choice Award
    • Every person who visits the exhibition is entitled to one vote. Multiple votes per person will not be valid. Only valid votes will be counted
    • People’s Choice Prize winner will be announced at the Melbourne Camera club meeting on Thursday 2 July at 8pm and included in the club’s newsletter, social media and website.

7. FURTHER CONDITIONS

    • As this is a curated exhibition, where it is hoped to display all entries, this may not be possible due to space restrictions
    • The Melbourne Camera Club Exhibition Coordinators reserve the right to make selections for the exhibition that may be determined by available space
    • All entries will be displayed (subject to space) unless deemed offensive, too fragile, dangerous or not ready for installation.
    • Insurance is the sole responsibility of the entrant
    • All care will be taken however, the Melbourne Camera Club will not be responsible for any loss or damage caused to the work, however caused
    • We kindly request that all exhibitors assist with staffing the exhibition for a two-hour shift if possible
      • MCC members can sign in at this link
      • Non members please email us with preferred time
      • Shifts are 11am to 1pm or 1pm to 3pm on Saturday 20, Sunday 21, Saturday 27 or Sunday 28 June.

If you are a first time exhibitor and have any questions, need clarification on definitions or wish to arrange alternative drop off / pickup arrangements, please contact our Exhibition Coordinators, via email at ExhibitionsTeam@melbournecameraclub.org.au.

Categories and Definitions

8. GENERAL NATURE

The General Nature definition is based on the Australian Photographic Society (APS) approved nature definition for competitions and exhibitions.

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 that was photographed. 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
  • Photographs made where the scene is natural and the animal is unharmed in a carefully managed environment, such as Zoo, rescue centres, 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 the purpose of a photograph is not allowed
  • Human-made elements shall be permitted under the following circumstances:
    1. 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
    2. When they are a small but unavoidable part of the scene, such as an unobtrusive footprint or track in the background
    3. 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.

9. CREATIVE NATURE

Creative Nature photography can depict any branch of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology.

Human elements may be present but should not be the main subject. Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible.

Post-production processing must be under the direct control of the photographer, whether that processing is manual such as cloning, painting, dodging, etc., or automated such as using filters or plugins.

‘Content-aware Fill’ or similar modification that is entirely based on pixels in the original image/s and which does not extend the image beyond its original boundaries is acceptable.

‘Generative Fill’ or other processes that use content generated by software from written prompts or developed from the work of others is ‘not acceptable’.

Images in this category should show a high level of creativity rather than be photographs that don’t quite meet the definitions in point 8 or 10.

10. HUMAN CONNECTION

Images in the ‘Human Connection’ category should demonstrate human connection with animals including, but not limited to, arthropods, birds, mammals, and marine life.

The subject(s) must be photographed in a setting showing built form or other evidence of human activity. This can be a portrait or behaviour shot. The subject(s) depicted may be either native or feral but must be shown in a setting that indicates the presence of human activity. Captive species are allowed. Domestic animals are not allowed.

Editing – allowed and not allowed – is per point 8.

11. SUBJECT MATTER STATEMENT

Statement on Subject Matter is applicable to all sections: General Nature, Creative Nature and Human Connection

The fundamental rule that must be observed at all times 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 this exhibition. 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. Images that show live creatures being fed to captive animals, birds or reptiles are not permitted.

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. Entrants in this exhibitions must comply with all relevant laws and regulations, associated with aerial photography, in the country in which the image was taken.

Entry into this exhibition is conditional on accepting these policies.