IPF National Nature Competition 2013/2014

The regional qualifying rounds of the IPF National Nature Competition take place over the coming months culminating in the National Finals on February 23rd in Kilkenny.
To follow on from our announcement last week about Mahers Photographic’s generous sponsorship of this competition, we are delighted to release details of the prizes as outlined below. Our thanks once again to Mahers Photographic!
Keep an eye on the website for details of your region’s qualifying round!

Regional Prizes

5 x €100 Vouchers – One voucher for overall winner in each region

National Finals Prizes

5 x €150 Vouchers – One voucher for best non-advanced/intermediate worker in each of the five sections/categories of the competition
5 x €200 Vouchers – One voucher for best advanced worker in each of the five sections/categories of the competition
1 x €750 Voucher – One voucher for overall winner

Important Changes

We have two very exciting changes to the IPF National Nature Competition rules to announce this season!

There will be separation of intermediate and advanced competitors when it comes to medals and prizes. The best overall image will be chosen from the winning advanced images in each of the sections governed by FIAP Nature Definition (open and themed). Check the rules to find out whether you should compete as intermediate or advanced, but remember if you are classed as an intermediate worker, there is nothing stopping you from entering as advanced if you feel you wish to compete at that level and therefore be eligible to win the prizes at that level. If you meet any of the criteria for an advanced worker, you must compete as advanced.
We’re introduced a new open category called “The Natural World”. This category could suit those who don’t necessarily specialise in nature photography, but may want to dip their toes in! This is an open unregulated category which does not follow FIAP Nature Definition. Images from this section are not eligible to win the overall award, nor can they be chosen to represent Ireland in FIAP Biennials (unless they also happen to meet FIAP Nature Definition). They are recognised for the purposes of gathering qualifiers to use in your application for FIAP distinction. To attain a qualifier, you must have an image score in the top 35% in the national final. The definition for images in this section is below:

To qualify for The Natural World category, an author can submit any image, monochrome or colour, which depicts any creature (domesticated or otherwise), any living plant (cultivated or otherwise), any natural/biological/environmental aspect or feature, or any weather phenomenon to illustrate their view of the natural world. Humans may be included, as long as they are shown within their place in the world or interacting with it. A studio portrait of a human being does not qualify. An environmental portrait of a person within their home or any 100% artificially created environment does not qualify. A portrait of a human mountaineer clearly showing their place in the mountains does qualify. Cows in a field are acceptable as would be dogs in a farmyard. A dog sitting on a sofa would not be acceptable. Caged & captive creatures are not acceptable.