Rules

Guidelines for Participation

The Online Photo Club is designed to be a welcoming and creative space for photographers of all experience levels. By participating on this site, members agree to follow all posted rules to ensure fairness, respect, and a positive experience for everyone. Each annual competition features clearly defined photographic themes, and all submitted photos must relate directly to the stated theme. Images that do not align with the theme may be disqualified at the discretion of the site moderators.

File Formats, Size, and Original Work

All photo submissions must be the original work of the participant. Accepted file formats include JPG, JPEG, PNG, and WEBP. Images must not exceed 100 MB in file size to ensure fast loading and accessibility across devices. Excessive digital manipulation that significantly alters the natural appearance of the photograph is discouraged. By submitting a photo, participants confirm that they own the rights to the image and grant the Online Photo Club permission to display it on this website for voting and gallery purposes.

Submission Guidelines

Only one photo submission per category per year
Accepted formats: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP
Maximum file size: 100 MB
Photos must follow the announced theme
No copyrighted or watermarked images
Inappropriate or offensive content is prohibited

Photography Categories

Animals

Animals Photography focuses on capturing animals in a natural, respectful, and visually compelling way. This category includes wildlife such as birds, deer, insects, and other animals photographed in outdoor environments, as well as domesticated animals when portrayed in natural or candid settings. The goal is to highlight the animal's behavior, movement, and personality without disturbing its environment. Strong animal photography often requires patience, careful timing, and an understanding of animal behavior to capture authentic moments. Photographers are encouraged to use natural lighting whenever possible and avoid excessive editing that alters the animal's true appearance. Images should tell a story, whether it's a bird in flight, a deer grazing in a field, or a close-up showing texture and expression. Ethical practices are essential, and submissions should never place animals in harm or distress for the sake of a photograph.

Nature

Nature Photography captures the beauty and atmosphere of the natural world, focusing on landscapes, plant life, weather, and natural light. This category includes scenes such as forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, sunsets, and seasonal changes. Photographers should aim to convey mood, scale, and depth through thoughtful composition and lighting. Nature photography encourages participants to observe their surroundings closely and capture moments that showcase the environment's natural balance and detail. Submissions may include wide scenic views or close-up details like leaves, water textures, or rock formations. Minimal editing is recommended to preserve authenticity while enhancing clarity and color balance. A successful nature photograph often makes the viewer feel present in the scene, emphasizing tranquility, power, or natural beauty without artificial elements dominating the image.

Nature & Human Architecture

Nature and Human Architecture explores the relationship between the natural environment and human-made structures. This category highlights how buildings and structures exist within, adapt to, or contrast against nature. Examples may include a cabin in the woods, a lighthouse along a rocky shoreline, a bridge crossing a river, or an abandoned structure being reclaimed by plants and trees. The focus should be on balance and interaction rather than the structure alone. Photographers are encouraged to frame images in a way that shows how architecture complements or contrasts with the surrounding landscape. Natural lighting, perspective, and composition play a key role in creating depth and visual interest. This category allows creative storytelling by showing how humans shape environments while still being influenced by nature's scale and presence.

Nature Appreciation Online Photography Club

File Formats, Size, and Original Work

Submission Guidelines

Photography Categories

Animals

Nature

Nature & Human Architecture