Judging: General Guidelines - 2026

This document exists to ensure consistency, fairness, and defensibility across judging panels.

Judges are expected to interpret rules as written, not as intended by entrants.

1. Primary Judging Principles

Judges should assess every image against four pillars:

1. Category Compliance
2. Intent & Authenticity
3. Technical & Visual Execution
4. Creative & Commercial Effectiveness

Failure in Category Compliance or Authenticity should override all other considerations.

2. Category Compliance (Gatekeeping Stage)

Before scoring:

• Does the image clearly belong in this category?
• Would a reasonable professional agree with the categorisation?
• Does the image avoid explicit exclusions?

If the answer is no, the image should be:

• Disqualified, or
• Moved only if competition rules explicitly allow reclassification

Judges should not reward strong images in the wrong category.

3. Commercial Intent Assessment

Judges are not required to verify client details, but should assess plausibility.

Indicators of commercial intent:

• Professional production values
• Clear audience or purpose
• Industry-relevant styling, execution, or narrative

Red flags:

• Casual snapshots
• Test shots with no intent beyond practice
• Workshop-style compositions replicated widely online

4. AI & Digital Integrity

Judges should assume:

• No generative AI is permitted, regardless of quality or subtlety

If an image raises concern:

• Unrealistic textures, lighting mismatches, or anatomical errors
• Inconsistent noise patterns
• Impossible environmental combinations

Judges should flag the image for verification rather than speculate.

5. Compositing & Manipulation Thresholds

Digital Creation

• Extensive compositing is expected
• Judges may consider concept, execution, and coherence equally

All Other Categories

• Manipulation must support, not redefine, the image
• The core subject, moment, or environment must be real

If the image’s impact relies primarily on digital construction:

• It likely belongs in Digital Creation
• Or should be disqualified if mis-entered

6. Truthfulness & Representation

Judges should ask:

“Does this image honestly represent what it claims to show within the category rules?”

Photojournalism, Natural World, and Wedding require especially strict interpretation.

Staging, direction, or reconstruction:

• Invalidates Photojournalism
• Invalidates Natural World
• Invalidates Wedding if presented as documentary coverage

7. Ethical Considerations

Judges should consider:

• Subject welfare
• Power dynamics
• Consent and dignity

Images that appear exploitative, unsafe, or unethical should not be rewarded, regardless of technical merit.

8. Scoring Guidance (When Applicable)

Judges should weigh:

• Technical perfection in service of purpose
• Creativity appropriate to category
• Consistency with professional standards

Judges should avoid:

• Penalising simplicity
• Rewarding complexity for its own sake
• Letting personal style preferences override category intent

9. Verification Requests

Judges are encouraged to request:

• RAW files
• Sequences
• Layered files (Digital Creation only)
• An explanation of the circumstances under which the image(s) were made

Verification is a neutral process, not an accusation.

Failure to provide requested files should result in disqualification.

10. Final Note to Judges

The competition’s credibility depends on:

• Consistency
• Clear boundaries
• Confidence in enforcement

Judges should remember:

It is better to disappoint one entrant than to undermine trust in the award.

• 27th July 2027: Page header, add option to request explanation of image creation, link IPM26.
• 13th January 2026 – Initial publication