Rules for PSI Monthly Competition (Digital)

PSI holds monthly digital competitions for members and beginners, a monthly outing competition, and a quarterly thematic competition. The key details are below — please read the rules carefully before submitting.

General Rules

• The competition is open only to members of The Photographic Society of India (PSI).
• Same or similar work previously exhibited or accepted in any PSI exhibition/competition (including monthly competition) shall not be accepted. Same or similar entry by a member shall not be accepted in any other section. Any entry not conforming to this rule shall be disqualified and points earned deducted suitably.
• Maximum 4 digital images in each section (Monochrome / Colour) may be submitted.
• All images used for final submission must be the original work of the member.
• Members should email their full name, membership number and category (Member / Beginner) along with their images.
• The Jury’s discretion will be final and binding; any prize, acceptance or award may be withheld at the Jury’s decision.
• The calendar year for this competition runs from January to December.
• Members are assumed to hold the necessary Model Release, Property Release or other permissions relating to the photographs submitted. PSI accepts no liability in this regard.
• By submitting an entry, the member certifies the work as their own and permits PSI to reproduce all or part of it, free of charge, for publication or display in media related to the competition/exhibition (including low-resolution images on the website).
• All reasonable care of entries will be taken, but PSI assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage.
• Submission of entries implies acceptance of all the rules of the competition.

Points & Photographer of the Year

Each successful entry earns points: 1st Prize — 5 pts · 2nd Prize — 3 pts · 3rd Prize — 2 pts · each Acceptance — 1 pt. “The Photographer of the Year” in the Members and Beginners sections is based on cumulative points over the PSI photographic year. In case of a tie, weightage is given to the number of awards won during the year.

For the full award rules, read the Photographer of the Year — Official Rules (PDF).

Beginners Monthly Competition

Open to beginners only.

• Any new PSI member who has not completed one full calendar year (1 January – 31 December) is treated as a beginner.
• Provided that such a member is not working or employed as a professional photographer, and does not hold any distinction or acceptance/award from a national or international photographic salon/organisation.
• A beginner may participate in either the Members’ or the Beginners’ monthly competition — but not both.
• There are two sections: Monochrome and Colour.
• The beginner must clearly mention the word “Beginner” in the submission email.

Monthly Outing Competition

• Open only to members/beginners who registered and participated in the previous month’s PSI outing. There is no separate Members / Beginners category here.
• Submitted images must be from the previous month’s PSI outing only, in Monochrome or Colour.
• Images must express the feeling of the place and portray its distinctive features or culture as found naturally. Close-ups of people/objects must include a distinguishable environment. No elements (sky, clouds, water) may be added; no techniques that add, relocate, replace or remove pictorial elements are permitted, except cropping.
• Points: 1st — 5 pts · 2nd — 3 pts · 3rd — 2 pts · each acceptance — 1 pt. “Photographer of the Year – Outing” is based on cumulative points over the PSI photographic year.

Quarterly Thematic Competition

• Separate sections for Members and Beginners.
• Points count towards the “Photographer of the Year” awards.
• The topic is announced by PSI in advance.

How to name your files

Special Note — Conflict of Interest