2026 Interclub - PSSA KZN CONGRESS

PSSA KZN INTERCLUB 2026

Queries info@maritzburgcameraclub.co.za

The PhotoVault Event for this Interclub Competition, will be open from 20 May 2026.

A SUMMARY

All images to be submitted via PhotoVault, with captions. Entry forms are now online, and you will be required to enter the Caption and the Name of the Photographer.

Date Limitation
Photos must have been entered into your club's competitions, from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026.

Deadline
PhotoVault event closes at 23:59 on 10 June 2026.

Payment is required by 23:59 on 10 June 2026.

The Online Entry forms must be received by the hosting club by 23:59 on 10 June 2026.

Entry Forms
The entry forms are online - please the link below... you will be required to upload your club's POP here too...

CLICK HERE FOR THE
ONLINE ENTRY FORMS

DEFINITIONS - MAIN COMPETITION - Nature/Wildlife and Open

OPEN COLOUR / MONO – manipulation allowed.
In this category the subject is totally open.

For the purpose of this Interclub 2026, Scapes should be entered into Open.

NATURE/WILDLIFE – manipulation is not allowed - colour or mono
Nature photography records all branches of natural history except anthropology and archaeology. This includes all aspects of the physical world, both overwater and underwater. Nature images must convey the truth of the scene. A well-informed person should be able to identify the subject of the image and be satisfied that it has been presented honestly and that no unethical practices have been used to control the subject or capture the image. Images that directly or indirectly show any human activity threatening a living organism's life or welfare are not allowed.

The most important part of a Nature image is the nature story it tells. High technical standards are expected, and the image must look natural.
• Objects created by humans, and evidence of human activity, are allowed in Nature images only when they are a necessary part of the Nature story.
• Photographs of human-created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domesticated animals, human-created hybrid animals, and mounted or preserved zoological specimens are not allowed.
• Photographs made where the scene is natural and the animal is unharmed in a carefully managed environment, such as Zoo, rescue centers, and ethically managed natural environment farms are permitted.
• Attracting or controlling subjects using food or sound for the purpose of photographing them is not allowed. Maintained situations such as provided supplemental food due to hardship caused by weather conditions or other conditions beyond the animals' control, where photography is incidental to the feeding of the animal does not fall under this provision.
• Controlling live subjects by chilling, anesthetic, or any other method of restricting natural movement for a photograph is not allowed.
• Human-made elements shall be permitted under the following circumstances:
a When they are an integral part of the nature story, such as a songbird singing atop a fence post a man-made object used as nest material, or a weather phenomenon destroying a man-made structure.
b When they are a small but unavoidable part of the scene, such as an unobtrusive footprint or track in the background.
c Scientific tags, collars, and bands are specifically allowed.
• When photographing at a zoo, sanctuary, or rehabilitation center, it would be construed that the photographer ensured that it is properly accredited and conforms to best practices.

DEFINITION - CHALLENGE COMPETITION - Through the Window

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
• Full Editing/Manipulation allowed, including composite work.
• All elements of the submission must be the Author’s own work.
• Colour or Monochrome.
• No limit to date taken, but has to be submitted to the Photographer’s club between 1st June 2025 and 31st May 2026.
• The use of AI in editing is as per PSSA guidelines on the PSSA webpage.

"Through the window" means observing from inside to out, or outside to in. It can also symbolise a sense of observation, reflection, or a desire to escape or explore something beyond one's immediate surroundings.

It can be literal as in looking through an opening in a wall, roof, building, vehicle etc, or a viewpoint in nature such as viewing through a crack in a rock, or branches that "act" as a window.

The interpretation can be a metaphorical one, such as "the window to the soul" or "window to the world"; that means something provides a broader perspective and understanding of the world beyond one's immediate experiences.

Photography through windows can be a way to capture a transitional space, find a new angle for candid photos, or tell a story through framing and perspective. Windows can provide a new angle for candid street photography too.

PSSA KZN INTERCLUB RULES 2026

1. ELIGIBILITY
All Camera Clubs within the KZN Region AND who are affiliated to PSSA, with fully paid up membership fees, are eligible to enter this competition.

2. ENTRY FEE
There is an entry fee of R250.00 per Club, if you enter all 3 Categories. Should you wish to only enter the Main Competition (and not the Challenge Competition) the fee is R200.00 per Club.

THE HOSTING CLUB BANKING DETAILS
Maritzburg Camera Club
First National Bank
Current account
Branch code 257355
Account no. 6219 0777 543

EFT only, no Cash Deposits accepted.
Please use your Club’s name as a reference.
Payment must be made before you submit your entries by 23:59 on Wednesday 10 June 2025.

3. THE COMPETITIONS
The PSSA KZN Interclub Competition is divided into two sub-competitions as follows:

The Main Competition (Interclub Shield):
There are Two (2) categories, which are Open and Nature/Wildlife;
and
The Challenge Competition (Interclub Cup):
This is One Category or Theme, that is selected by a majority vote from clubs that are in the KZN region, AND are affiliated to PSSA, AND that wish to enter into the PSSA KZN Interclub Competition. The theme for the 2026 is “Through the window”.

4. ENTRIES
• A maximum of TWENTY (20) images may be submitted per category, per club.
• No more than THREE (3) images from any individual club member may be included in that club’s submissions for each category. Images may be from Junior or Senior members, as club star-ratings are irrelevant.
• Entries must be uploaded via Photovault Online using a single account (not by individual authors).
• Entries must be named with the image NAME only - no other details are necessary.
• The ENTRY FORMS for each category must be completed online HERE. These entry forms will have the image name AND the photographer’s name. You will be required to upload your POP here too.
• No late entries will be accepted.

5. “MULTIPLE” CLUB MEMBERS
When choosing your club’s images, please be aware of those members who belong to other clubs. Some of these members would have stipulated who their “primary” club is, and that the other club/s may not use their images for KZN or PSSA interclub competitions.

However, if an image has been chosen and submitted by a club, and that same image is found in another club/s entries, the offending image will be disqualified from BOTH/ALL of the submitting clubs’ entries. An opportunity for the replacement of the disqualified images will be granted to both/all club/s, provided that this is done within 3 (THREE) days of notice of disqualification.

6. DATE LIMITATION
This competition runs from 1st June of the previous year to 31st May of the year of the congress. Only images submitted into a club during this period are eligible for entry into the PSSA KZN Interclub Competition.

7. DEADLINE
The Photovault Event for all Categories will be opened on Wednesday 20 May 2025, and closed at 23:59 on Wednesday 10 June 2026.

8. WINNERS
• The winner of the Interclub Shield will be decided on the total score of all images submitted by a club in the Open and Nature/Wildlife categories.
• The winner of the Interclub Cup will be decided on the total score of all images submitted by a club in the category decided by the host club.
• Highest individual points award – an individual photographer’s total points will be the highest points achieved in their entries through any single club.

9. GENERAL RULES
• Images previously submitted to any PSSA KZN Interclub Competition, in any category, may not be re-entered in this competition (eg. an image previously entered in “Open” may not be re-entered in “Nature/Wildlife”).
• Images must be submitted by the Club as they were judged on the month of club-submission and may not be edited; mentored or resubmitted prior to submission in this interclub competition. All photographs must have been judged.
• Similar or identical images from any one photographer may not be entered in two or more categories of a club’s entry.
• All images submitted must be the author’s own work.
• PSSA definitions and restrictions regarding AI are applicable to this competition, in all categories.

10. DISQUALIFICATION OF IMAGES
Images that do not conform to the category definition, will be disqualified by the Competition Image Steward.

11. DEFINITIONS
• PSSA definitions and restrictions apply to the “Nature/Wildlife” and “Open” categories. Colour and Mono images are allowed.
• The host club will provide the definition and restrictions (if any) for the Challenge Competition category.
• PSSA definitions and restrictions regarding AI are applicable to this competition, in all categories.

12. JUDGING
1. A panel of three judges, who do not belong to any KZN affiliated club, will be chosen by the host club, for each competition/category.
2. The judges will each award a mark from 1 to 15 points for each image.
3. At the conclusion of the judging, the judges will have the option, as in keeping with the Standard PSSA Salon Judging Practice, to review the top scoring images and increase their scores, if they so wish, in order to select the winning image in each section. The revised scores will be used in the final count towards Club positions.
5. The Club’s score will be the total points received for all images in each section.
6. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be considered.
7. The Host club will meet with the PSSA Regional Director to verify the results prior to the KZN Regional Congress.
PLEASE NOTE
FOR THE 2026 CONGRESS, at the current Regional Director, Des van Tonder, is a member of the hosting club, Bridgid Wickham (PRO PSSA) and Dave Wickham have agreed to verify the results.
8. The results will be announced at the PSSA KZN Congress on Saturday 15 August 2026.

13. AWARDS
The following awards will be made:
Top Open Image – PSSA Bronze Medal
Top Nature Image – PSSA Bronze Medal
Top Challenge Category Image – PSSA Bronze Medal
Top Scoring Club Main Competition (Open and Nature) – KZN Interclub Shield
Top Scoring Club Challenge Competition – KZN Interclub Cup
Highest Individual Total Score – Certificate
Certificates of Merit will also be awarded in each category