There are three categories, each judged separately. In all categories, only images that are totally the work of the individual photographer may be submitted. Work that is not completely your own is not allowed.

• Color - This category is for color images, except those defined as “Creative” below. Digital enhancement in post-processing is allowed but the resulting image must maintain a realistic and natural appearance. If the image is obviously manipulated or over-processed with excessive sharpening, saturation, contrast, etc. or shows evidence that it is a composite, where at least two images are combined, it is not considered a Color image but could go in Creative. Good skills in post-processing are required to prepare an image that maintains a realistic and natural appearance for the Color category. The only exception is a multi-colored infrared image whose color may not be realistic or natural. It is allowed in this category as long as all the other requirements for this category are met.
  An image taken with very narrow depth of field creating bokeh in the background and/or foreground is allowed in Color as long as the image looks realistic and natural except for the intentional blur. Natural looking HDR (High Dynamic Range) images are also allowed in this category.
  Images that have been altered by in-camera processes, such as shaking, zooming, double exposure, excessive blurring, etc. belong in the Creative category if they do not appear realistic and natural.
  A stroke, outline or border of any color is allowed but it must be limited to a solid thin line around the perimeter of the image.
  
  Mono - This category is for monochromatic images, except those defined as “Creative” below. Monochromatic images that have been creatively altered in post-processing, belong in the Creative category. Natural looking HDR images are allowed in this category as long as they are monochromatic. Monochromatic means that the image is in black and white, often having shades of grey, or is toned overall in one single color such as sepia, blue, purple, etc. Digital enhancement in post-processing is allowed but the resulting image must maintain a realistic and natural appearance.
  The only exception is Monochromatic infrared image. It is allowed in this category as long as all the other requirements for this category are met.
  An image taken with very narrow depth of field creating bokeh in the background and/or foreground is allowed in Mono as long as the image looks realistic and natural except for the intentional blur. Natural looking HDR (High Dynamic Range) images are also allowed in this category.
  A stroke, outline or border around the perimeter of the image is allowed but must be limited to a solid thin line in black or white or in the same monochrome tone (e.g. sepia, blue, etc.) as the image.
  
  Creative - This category is for color or monochromatic images that have been recognizably altered by combining elements from more than one image (a composite) or by obvious changes in color, form, shape, or any combination thereof. Creative images may not be constructed entirely in the computer, but must originate from the maker’s photograph or photographs. Abstracts are allowed if the main elements are recognizable as originating from a photograph or photographs. Any type of border or vignette is allowed in this category.