RULES & Regulations

Original Work: All submissions must be the photographer's original work, and the participant must hold the copyright to the image.
Ownership & Usage Rights:

By entering the competition, participants grant GENCF limited rights to use the images for promotional purposes, including in online galleries, websites, exhibitions, and promotional materials for all events.
The photos displayed at the venue will be retained by GENCF.
Photographers retain the copyright of their images.

Age Requirement: 18 years and above (Junior category may be introduced later).
Geographical Restrictions: The competition is open to photographers globally. While we welcome participation from all over the world, please note that travel expenses to the award ceremony venue will not be provided. Winners unable to attend the ceremony in person will have their awards delivered via post. We will ensure careful packaging and shipping to maintain the integrity of the awards during transit.
Submissions:

Number of Entries: A maximum of 20 images per participant across all categories.
Entry Fee: 1499 INR or 18$.
50% off in January if the payment is made in January, otherwise full amount to be paid.
25% off in February if the payment is made in February, otherwise full amount to be paid.
March Onwards Full amount to be Paid.
Initial Submissions: Images should be submitted in JPEG format at 300 dpi, with 1920 pixels on the longest dimension.
Final Submissions: Upon selection, the top 250 photographers will be required to submit high-resolution RAW or TIFF files for entries.

Photographs must represent wildlife in a way that promotes conservation. Entries involving captive, domesticated, or restrained animals will not be accepted.
Natural Habitat: All photographs must depict animals in their natural habitat. No zoo or controlled environment shots will be allowed.
No Baiting: Images showing animals lured with bait, food, or artificial attractions are strictly prohibited.
Disturbance: Images must not cause harm or stress to the subject or its habitat. Photographers should ensure they follow local laws and ethical practices when capturing images in the wild.

Image Manipulation: Minimal digital adjustments are allowed (e.g., cropping, minor colour correction). Heavy manipulation, such as adding or removing elements, is prohibited. Judges will request RAW files for verification of authenticity.
Metadata: Images must retain EXIF metadata, including camera model, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and lens details.
Capture Date: Photographs can be dated back to any time; there are no restrictions on the capture date.
Final Judging Requirements:

RAW files (e.g., ARW, CR2/3, NEF, ORF, PEF), or original, unedited JPEGs (including a set of ‘before’ and ‘after’ images if applicable).
High-resolution files (preferably TIFF) suitable for printing. Files should be 8-bit, in Adobe RGB (1998) colour profile, at full resolution, and match the colour and cropping of the originally submitted JPEG. Files should not exceed 500MB.

Prior Awards: We accept entries of photographs regardless of prior awards. There are no restrictions against submitting images that have previously won or been recognized in other international competitions.
Authentication: Any entry that cannot be authenticated or is not of acceptable quality will be disqualified.

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