NATURAL WORLD PHOTO CIRCUIT 2025

FOREWORD

Please do not use the following characters: Şş Ğğ Çç Ññ Õõ Àà Ää Ââ Éé Èè Êê Ëë Óó Òò Ŏŏ Öö Øø Ôô Ùù Üü Ÿÿ Îî Ïï ß Ćć Čč Žž Đđ Image titles must not exceed 35 characters including spaces.

This photographic circuit is open to all; however, a registration may be refused if the sponsoring federations and/or the organizers, at their reasonable discretion, deem that such registration does not comply with the rules of the event and these conditions of participation.
Membership in any photographic organization is not required.
A maximum of 4 works can be submitted for each theme. For a maximum total of 16 Photos.
Photos submitted in one theme cannot be submitted in other themes.
Photos submitted in color cannot be submitted in black and white and vice versa.
Digital images, of all themes, must be in JPG format; the size must be 1920 pixels on the longest side (the shortest side is free), with a resolution of 300 dpi (maximum 4 Mb), in both color or monochrome formats. Files must be saved with the RGB color space.
Images without valid titles will be rejected and participants will be asked to re-submit with valid titles. The organizers will not create titles for participants.
There are no special requirements for file names, the file name should be as you would like it to appear in the catalog, the programming system will arrange the file name as required for the minutes. However, it is mandatory to correctly fill in all the required fields when filling out the form.
For the name, it is possible to use only the alphabet from A to Z (see above the letters not accepted) and the numbers from 0 to 9.
The title of the photos must not exceed 35 characters including spaces.

The images will not be presented to the judges consecutively as numbered by the participants, but will be distributed during the four evaluations in the section in which the author has entered them. The distribution of the images will be in the same order sent by the participant.

The images participating in the event must be sent using the appropriate form on the website www.photocontestclub.org

Each author is personally responsible for what is the subject of the image and authorizes its publication. By participating in the Circuit, the author authorizes, without profit, the publication of his/her images (full or partial) in catalogs, projections, websites, magazines and anything else that the organizers and sponsoring bodies deem necessary for the purposes of promoting the Circuit itself.

REGULATION

1) The Photographic Association Photo Contest Club, with the Patronage of FIAF-Italian Federation of Photographic Associations, FIAP-Federation Internationale de l’Art Photographique, GPU-Global Photographic Union, organizes the international circuit of photographic competitions, for digital images, “Natural World Circuit 2025” (https://www.photocontestclub.org), which is a cultural event in the field of artistic photography as it is organized exclusively for the production of artistic works and the awarding of prizes constitutes recognition of the personal merit of the participants.
The Circuit is made up of the following events: Grand Prix Autunno, Grand Prix Inverno, Grand Prix Primavera and Grand Prix Estate. The circuit is open to all photographers in the world, whether amateurs or professionals, who must own all rights to the images presented. All parts, even minimal, of the image must have been photographed by the author who presents the work.

2) PATRONAGES
Grand Prix d’Autunno: FIAP 2025/412 – GPU L250092 – FIAF 2025M28
Grand Prix d’Inverno: FIAP 2025/413 – GPU L250092 – FIAF 2025M29
Grand Prix di Primavera: FIAP 2025/414 – L250092 – FIAF 2025M30
Grand Prix d’Estate: FIAP 2025/415 – GPU L250092 – FIAF 2025M31

3) THEMES
For digital images:
The Circuit is open to digital works in the following themes:
A) Free Color (Digital Color Section)
B) Free Monochrome (Digital Monochrome Section)
C) Flora and Fauna (Digital Section Monochrome/Color)
D) Environment Photos (Digital Section Monochrome/Color)

4) CALENDAR
Deadline: October 15, 2025
Jury Meeting: October 16-25, 2025
Results Submission: November 1, 2025
Catalog Submission: December 1, 2025
Award Ceremony: Saturday, November 29, 2025

5) REGISTRATION FEE
The registration fee, intended as a partial contribution to the success of the event, must be sent to the email address: pagamenti@photocontestclub.org
The registration fee is set at:
40.00 Euros (44,00 US Dollar) for all sections.
The reduced registration fees for groups are as follows:
From 10 to 20 Participants: 36.00 Euros (40,00 US Dollar)
From 21 to 40 Participants: 34.00 Euros (38,00 US Dollar)
Over 41 Participants: 30.00 Euros (34,00 US Dollar)
The photos of authors who have not paid the required fee will not be admitted to the circuit.
Registrations of participants currently sanctioned with the ban on participating in initiatives sponsored by the Federations sponsoring the circuit will not be accepted.

6) JURIES
The acceptance of the works and the awarding of prizes will be at the sole discretion of the jury and will be final.
The jury’s work will be carried out remotely. The judges will use color calibrated monitors (120cd/m2) and the images will not be enlarged or reduced beyond the original resolution. The images will be displayed at 100% of its resolution.
Software Provider: HPCM – Hiho Photo Contest Manager.

The Jury is composed of the following:
Gran Prix Autunno:
Luigi Carrieri, EFIAP/b, PPSA, GPU.CR3-VIP2 (Italy)
Jill Sneesby, MFIAP, ESFIAP, FPSA, HonMPSSA, MPSSA, FPSSA(Dux), HonCPA, HonFIP
(South Africa)
Roald Synnevåg, MFIAP, EFIAP/d3, GPSA, GMPSA, GPU.ZEUS (Norway)

Gran Prix Inverno:
Morena Fammoni, AFIAP (Italy)
Dimo Hristev, EFIAP/p (Bulgaria)
John Sheridan, AFIAP (Ireland)

Gran Prix Primavera:
Mauro Agnesoni, AFIAP, AFI, GPU.CR2-VIP1 (Italy)
Stojan Gorup, EFIAP/p, EIUP (Slovenia)
Anne-Marie Vermaat, MFIAP (Netherlands)

Gran Prix Estate:
Giancarlo Cerri, EFIAP/b, AFI (Italy)
Jacky Martin, MFIAP (France)
Gulay Tansu, EFIAP /b (Turkey)

Executive Chairman: Silvano Monchi, AFI, EFI, EFIAF, EFIAP/p, HonEFIAP, EPSA (Italy)
E-mail: silvano.monchi@gmail.com – Phone: +39 3355747028
Photo Contest Club: info@photocontestclub.org

The acceptance rate will not exceed 30%. The judges’ decision is final and irrevocable.

7) PRIZES
FOR THE CIRCUIT
Best Overall Author of the Circuit: Natural World and reimbursement of US$ 400.00 in Amazon Vouchers

FOR EACH COMPETITION
Best Author of the Competition: FIAP BLUE PIN and reimbursement of US$ 200.00 in Amazon Vouchers.
Best Photo of the Competition: Natural World Trophy and reimbursement of US$ 200.00 in Amazon Vouchers.

Prizes for each Theme of each Competition:
Best photo of the Free Color Theme: FIAP Gold Medal
Best Photo of the Free Monochrome Theme: FIAP Gold Medal
Best Photo of the Flora and Fauna Theme: FIAP Gold Medal
Best Photo of the Environment Theme: FIAP Gold Medal

FOR EACH THEME

Free Theme Color
Gold Medal GPU
Silver Medal GPU
Bronze Medal GPU
3 Special Jury Awards (FIAF Diploma)
12 Honorable Mentions (HM Ribbon)
6 Special Mentions (ISF Diploma)

Free Theme Monochrome
Gold Medal Natural World
Silver Medal Natural World
Bronze Medal Natural World
3 Special Jury Awards (FIAF Diploma)
12 Honorable Mentions (HM Ribbon)
6 Special Mentions (ISF Diploma)

Flora and Fauna Theme
Gold Medal Natural World
Silver Medal Natural World
Bronze Medal Natural World
3 Special Jury Awards (FIAF Diploma)
12 Honorable Mentions (HM Ribbon)
6 Special Mentions (ISF Diploma)

Environment Photo Theme
Gold Medal ISF
Silver Medal ISF
Bronze Medal ISF
3 Special Jury Awards (FIAF Diploma)
12 Honorable Mentions (HM Ribbon)
6 Special Mentions (ISF Diploma)

For a total of 409 Awards

Within the same competition (same Patronage code) no more than 2 prizes will be awarded to the same Author, except for prizes typically transversal to the various Themes or Sections, such as Best Overall Author, Best Overall Work of the Competition, and similar. In any case, no more than 2 prizes/awards obtained with works belonging to the same Theme may be awarded to the same author (excluding from the count the prizes linked to the set of works admitted and awarded). The prizes not collected at the awards ceremony will be sent to the addresses provided with the registration form at the organizers’ expense, but will travel with the responsibility of the recipients.

GOLDEN GRAN PRIX
– The following photographic circuits are part of the Golden Gran Prix:
– Chianti Roads Circuit 2025, Deadline February 20, 2025
– Jewels Photo Circuit 2025, Deadline May 20, 2025
– Tuscany Photo Award 2025, Deadline July 10, 2025
– Natural World Circuit 2025, Deadline October 15, 2025
The Golden Gran Prix award will be assigned to the author who has achieved the highest number of acceptances in the 4 Circuits; in the event of a tie, the number and quality of the prizes won will make the difference; in the event of a further tie, the total sum of the scores received by the photos of each individual author will be decisive.
The Golden Gran Prix award consists of a Trophy and a $400 Amazon Voucher.

8) DATA
The minutes of the juries and all the winning and admitted works will be inserted on the website www.photocontestclub.org and will remain there until the next edition. The results will be sent by email to all participants.

9) – CATALOGUE
The catalog, printed in pdf, will be downloadable from the competition website (www.photocontestclub.org) and the link will be sent to all participants.
CERTIFICATES:
The acceptance certificates will be sent in pdf by email for each accepted photo.

10) DEFINITIONS
Color:
Images in this category must be in color, a grayscale image is not considered color. A grayscale image with the inclusion of one or more colors is considered color.
An image with a color tone in addition to black or white is considered color. This theme does not require RAW files unless the judges deem the image generatively created.

FIAP Monochrome Definition:
A black and white work ranging from very dark grey (black) to very light grey (white) is a monochrome work with various shades of grey. A black and white work that is entirely shaded in a single colour will remain a monochrome work that can be placed in the black and white category; such a work can be reproduced in black and white in the catalogue of a FIAP Patronage salon. A black and white work modified by partial toning or the addition of a colour becomes a colour work (polychrome) that can be placed in the colour category; such a work requires colour reproduction in the catalogue of a FIAP Patronage salon. This theme does not require submission of RAW files, unless the judges deem the image generatively created.

Flora and Fauna: The earth is home to life, which is classified into categories, the plant and the animal, what surrounds us is composed of flora and fauna.
All photos of flora, whether in the wild or in a greenhouse, whether in pots or in the ground, whether in panoramic or close-up shots, and all animals, whether in the wild or domesticated, whether vertebrates or invertebrates, taken in action or in portraits, may participate in this theme.
Color and monochrome images are accepted in this section.
This theme does not require submission of RAW files, unless the judges deem the image generatively created.

What is Flora?
It is the science that studies everything related to the plant kingdom throughout the world; composed of many different environments, each has its own flora, from the most impressive plants to the smallest blade of grass. In a nutshell, flora includes, flowers, vegetables, plants, shrubs, trees even fungi and bacteria (the latter are part of a separate kingdom but very much related to the ecosystem).

What about Fauna?
Ditto as above, also for this great kingdom, it is the totality of all animals on our planet. Both in the sea and on land. Divided into specific areas called ‘habitats’ and ‘ecosystems’. The same principles of the environment they are part of apply to both: marine, coastal, lowland, hilly and mountain environments that make them different in terms of altitudes, habitats.

Environment:
Environment photography means all those images taken in any environment in the world, in
any situation, with or without the presence of human beings. The photos can be taken both in small and large spaces, both in the open countryside and in urban centers.
Close-up portrait photos where the place cannot be seen, still life, macro or micro photography and images created with the computer or with the addition of other images are excluded.
Color and monochrome images are accepted in this section.
This theme does not require submission of RAW files, unless the judges deem the image generatively created.

11) NOTICE TO PARTICIPANTS
NOTICE: When participants complete the entry form to submit their entry, they will see the following function to affirm that they have read these Conditions of Entry ‘I confirm that I have read, understood and accept the Conditions of Participation in this circuit.
‘I hereby expressly accept the FIAP document 018/2017 ‘Conditions and regulations for FIAP patronage’ and the FIAP document 033_2021 ‘Penalties for violation of FIAP regulations and red list’. I am particularly aware of Chapter II ‘Rules and Regulations for International Photographic Events under FIAP Patronage’ of FIAP document 018/2017, which deals in Section II.2 and II.3 of the FIAP Rules of Participation, with penalties for violation of FIAP regulations and red list.’
Failure to agree will result in the application not being accepted.

12) CERTIFICATION
By submitting an image, the entrant certifies the work as his/her own (images may not incorporate elements produced by others, e.g. clip art, images or drawings downloaded from the Internet). Aliases are not permitted. The entrant allows the organisers to reproduce all or part of the entered material free of charge for publication and/or display in contest-related media. This may also include publication in low resolution on a website.
Note: Participants who indicate that their images cannot be reproduced or used ‘will not be awarded’ or included in the contest audiovisuals ‘and may be subject to disqualification’ by the contest organisers. The organisers accept no responsibility for any misuse of copyright.
Alteration and computer generation.
Subject to restrictions, images may be altered, electronically or otherwise, by the producer. Adjustments are permitted to enhance images or creatively modify images, provided that the underlying photograph is preserved in a way that is obvious to the viewer. Images may not be constructed entirely by computer and must be the exclusive work of the author. All parts of the image must be photographed by the author who holds the copyright to all submitted works.
All works must retain the technical EXIF data (camera brand and model, shutter speed, shutter aperture, ISO, original date and time of shooting).

13) ACCEPTANCE OF FIAP RULES
Images created by artificial intelligence are not permitted in contests run under the auspices of the FIAP.
IMAGES CREATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THIS CONTEST! Please note that all parts of the image must be photographed by the author who holds the copyright to all submitted works. Violators will be sanctioned for life!

14) ACCEPTANCE OF FIAF RULES
Participation in the competition, by simply sending photographs to the organizers, constitutes full and unconditional acceptance of these regulations, as well as of the FIAF Competition Regulations, and in particular, but not limited to, full and unconditional acceptance of chapters 4 (Submittable works) and 5 (Sanctions) with all their paragraphs. Participants are reminded that participation in the Nature and/or “Traditional” (TRAD) sections presupposes the availability of the RAW files of the photographs submitted and compliance with the rules that govern their possible supply to the Competition Control Commission, in the event that the submitted photos are subjected to checks for compliance with the FIAF Competition Regulations. The full text of the FIAF Competition Regulations, which it is the participant’s responsibility to know, is available on the FIAF website ( www.fiaf.net ) and can also be requested by email from FIAF itself at the address: Dipartimentoconcorsi@fiaf.net . The participants in the Competition, both FIAF members and non-members, grant FIAF the possibility of managing their participation data and the works presented, both for the purposes of managing FIAF Statistics and the FIAF sites responsible for collecting and disseminating the results of the Competitions Sponsored and Recommended by it and of the related awarded and admitted works.

15) FIAF RESTRICTIONS
In light of the FIAF Contest Rules in force as of 1st January 2025, images that have been admitted in years prior to 2023 may also participate in this initiative. However, please note that any admissions obtained with these images, while not incurring penalties, will not be counted in the FIAF Statistics.
For the sake of completeness, please note that only images that may have had previous admissions in the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 will be counted in the FIAF Statistics, as well as, of course, unpublished images.

16) DATA PROTECTION
By entering this circuit, you explicitly consent that the personal data you have provided, including physical addresses, e-mail addresses, are held, processed and used by the circuit organisers for purposes associated with this exhibition. You also explicitly consent to this information being sent to organisations that have granted official recognition, sponsorship or accreditation to this circuit. You acknowledge and agree that by accessing this circuit, your participation status including your first and last name, the name of the country used when registering for the circuit, the number of sections entered and the number of photos entered in those sections will be made public in a published status list and that the results of your entry will be made public in the circuit’s gallery, circuit catalogue. You also accept the policies regarding violations of FIAP, GPU, ISF and FIAF rules.

17) PRIVACY
We inform you, in accordance with Articles 13 and 14 of EU Regulation 2016/679 of 27/04/2016, hereinafter referred to as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), that the personal data provided in the context of the Natural World Circuit contest will be collected and recorded by the Photo Contest Club Association – on paper, electronic and/or computer and/or telematic media – protected and processed in such a way as to ensure security and confidentiality in accordance with the provisions of the GDPR. We hereby inform you that the data provided will be used solely for purposes strictly connected with and instrumental to the event. To this end, as part of the Initiative, your data may be published online on the contest website (www.photocontestclub.org) and/or in the contest catalogue. The provision of data is necessary in order to participate in the contest. We would like to inform you that you may exercise your rights as a data subject pursuant to art. 15 of the GDPR (including, purely by way of example, the rights to obtain confirmation of the existence of data relating to you and its communication in an intelligible form, indication of the processing methods, updating, rectification or integration of the data, cancellation) by means of a request addressed without formalities to the Data Controller. The data controller is the Associazione Culturale Fotografica Dyaphrama, with registered office in Via della Vetreria 73, Figline e Incisa Valdarno through its president, pro tempore, Sabina Broetto.

18) ORGANISATION
The organization, while ensuring the utmost care in the handling of the files received, declines all responsibility for any damage or loss, from whatever cause.