4 Nations Inter-Country Competition

Represent Australia  -   Entry is FREE  -  Entry Open Now - Closing Date 15 June 2026

Send your iamges to 4 Nations coordinator Jacky Lee sklphotography@gmail.com

All APS members are invited and encouraged to enter this competition. The 4 Nations competition is conducted each year between the photographic societies of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. The host country rotates annually. This year, the competition is hosted by the The Photographic Society of South Africa.

Judges

USA Joanne Stolte HonFPSA, MPSA EFIAP ESFIAP HonFPAA	USA Gary Potts FPSA GMPSAB SPSA EFIAP/p	USA Larry Cowles HonPSA GMPSAP SPSA EFIAP/d3 PFIAP
A respected international photographer and judge, has served on the Photographic Society of America (PSA) Board of Directors for many years and has filled many different roles. Her service and dedication to photography has been acknowledged internationally as is shown by all the honours after her name. Joanne is the Founder and President of the Photographic Alliance of America (PAA), the national photography organization for the USA, which is an Operational Member of FIAP.	With over 6000 international image acceptances in digital projected imagery and in prints. Gary is a past Executive Vice President of the PSA and currently serves on the Nominations Committee and is a Portfolio Assessor. Gary is a member of the Photographic Alliance of America (PAA), the national photography organization for the USA. Gary’s achievements have been recognized internationally as the honours after his name show	A retired Electrical Engineer with a passion for Photography. He has been active in exhibitions having achieved over 15,000 acceptances and winning hundreds of awards from 100 countries and was the first person to obtain GMPSA/P, PSA’s highest level. He is a frequent judge, teaches photography and is a mentor. His photographic specialty is portraits. Paul was part of the group that established the FIAP Photo Academy Online Events in September 2020 and is currently the Director of this FIAP service. In November 2024 Paul was elected a member of the FIAP Directory Board. Paul is a keen exhibitor at International Salons and has gained EFIAP/p. He was also honoured to be awarded the ESFIAP distinction by the FIAP Directory Board in recognition for his work in promoting photography worldwide. Paul gained his Fellowship of the Irish Photographic Federation with a panel of Travel Photography in 2013. Paul has presented to clubs throughout Ireland and in the UK and judges extensively in Ireland and internationally.

Awards

4 Nations Award
To the Society that wins the competition, cumulative of the four categories.

4 Nations Gold Award
One Gold Award in each category for individual Society members.

4 Nations Honourable Mention Certificates
Individual Society members receive Honourable Mentions in each category.

Awards are e-certificates. Images are collectively judged by three internationally recognized judges who do not reside in any of the noted countries. 4 Nations is a team competition therefore overall country/competition results will be published in each category however individual scores will not be published.

Categories
OP - Colour Open 
MO - Monochrome Open
NT - Nature - Mono or Colour
OC - Our Country - Mono or Colour

Open Colour, Monochrome, and Nature are as defined by FIAP (Federation Internationale de I’Art Photographique).

Our Country

For the purposes of this competition the definition applying to the ‘Our Country’ category is open to the members’ discretion except that if wild animals are included in the image they should not occupy more than 25% of the image area.

To assist you in seeking out the best image for this competition, we have included below some ideas:

- Cultural heritage
- Geographical uniqueness
- Historical events or locations
- Iconic landscape/city scape
- Uniqueness of Australian landscape

4 Images overall per member may be submitted.
 
Although you may submit several images for possible selection, only image will be chosen from each member for the Australian entry of 80 images.
Please note that any image previously selected for any 4 Nations competition may not be entered again. Images submitted into the last APS National Exhibition are automatically included for possible selection. APS members may submit further images however do not re-submit those which were entered into the last APS National.

Competition Rules

1. Any image previously selected for any 4 Nations competition may not be entered again.
2. Only digital projected images will accepted into this competition.
   All mages may be acquired on a light-sensitive device (e.g. film camera, digital camera, smartphone, tablet, etc…) and recorded on film or in a digital format.
3. All processing procedures performed on the digital image must be done by the photographer.
4. All elements contained in an image must have been captured by the photographer. If graphic elements (such as text, illustrations or logos) are included, they must have been photographed as part of a real-world scene and not digitally added.

5. The use of Generative AI is not permitted in any of the following forms:

   • In-painting: Adding or replacing image elements using AI-generated content.
   • Out-painting: Extending the image beyond its original boundaries with AI-generated content.
   • Image-to-image AI: Altering the image using text prompts or reference styles.
   • Text-to-image AI: Creating images entirely from text prompts.
     Permitted AI Usage:
     AI-based tools for sharpening, de-noising, and resizing are allowed, provided they do not introduce new elements or data not present in the original image.
6. Photographer must hold the copyright for their image and all element contained within their composite image.
7. By a photographer agreeing to have their image selected by their Society for submission into this competition, they agrees to permit the use of their image for publicity and promotional purposes of the Four Nations Inter Society Digital Image Competition in publications, websites and exhibitions of all four participating Societies.
8. Generative AI is not permitted. This includes in-painting, out-painting, image-to-image and text-to-image generation. AI tools used only for sharpening, noise reduction and resizing are allowed, provided they do not add or alter any elements from outside the original capture. The host society may request the original RAW file for any potential winning image.

File and File Name Requirements

To submit an entry for this competition prepare images to the following specifications:

NOTE: Incorrect File and File Name requirements will disqualified, not adjusted

Please forward your entries via email to Jacky Lee at sklphotography@gmail.com. Include your name and telephone number in the body of the email.

Entries must be received by 15 June 2026

Results will be available by 20 August 2026

If one of your images is selected, it will represent Australia on behalf of the Australian Photographic Society Inc.

Individual entrants must hold, and will retain, the copyright of their images. By entering this competition, the individual entrant agrees that images accepted as part of the APS entry may be used for publicity and promotion purposes of the 4 Nations Competition in publications and on websites of all four participating Societies.

Jacky Lee
Coordinator, APS 4 Nations Inter-Country
Email: sklphotography@gmail.com