The 2013 International Loupe Awards has a mission beyond that of most photographic competitions: To deliver opportunities that ensure wider exposure for photographers and allow them to gauge the perception of their work on the world stage.

The Awards are not solely centred on the cult of ‘the winner’ or ‘the competition’ but also offer an educational aspect for participants, such as detailed feedback from the judges. The judges – all high-profile photographic identities – are selected from 10 countries across the globe, and are unable to judge their own nationality to remove regional biases from the judging process.

The awards are open to all with two sections of the competition, Open and Amateur offering 13 categories collectively. The Awards offers a total prize pool of $80,000 with the major prize being $15,000USD prize money and a VIP trip to the Creative Asia imaging expo in Hong Kong in 2014.

Open Awards – Regular Entry Fees $35 per image  Open Awards – Late Entry Fees $45 per image   Amateur Awards – Regular Entry Fees $15 per image  Amateur Awards – Late Entry Fees $25 per image.

Open Category Definitions

1. Commercial, Advertising & Fashion
   Images in this category must have been commissioned or part of a commercial assignment. The image does not need to be the image used by the client or published but must have been part of a commercial shoot. Images eligible for this category include industrial, corporate, food, still life, jewelry, product, lifestyle, architectural, fashion and travel. Subject matter is not important but the purpose the image was created for is. Fashion images must be able to convey the clothing or fashion item in the image. (Images of well lit beautiful people are not fashion.) Commercial and Advertising images are made to illustrate a concept, lifestyle or product to be sold. The addition of non photographic elements such as branding and copy are allowed. High levels of retouching are understood to be part of the industry and the judging will take this into consideration. The Judges will consider camera craft, post production techniques, the direction of the subject and the purpose of the image. A broad view will be taken on how the image could be used in a Commercial, Advertising or Fashion context.
2. Illustrative
   Images in this category are generally more conceptual or produced images that illustrate a topic or subject. This can range from an abstract concept, stock photography, magazine assignments and websites to a carefully constructed scene depicting a story or event. Images in this category can be commissioned or self commissioned. Due to the broad subject matter in the category, judges will be asked to assess the image on the concept that the image is illustrating, and not to judge based on the constraints of the category description.
3. Landscape
   This category includes urban landscapes and depictions of nature images. Landscape’s are images of the visible features of an area, including physical elements such as landforms, living elements of flora and fauna, abstract elements like lighting and weather conditions, and human elements like human activity and the built environment. Images in this category can be interpretations of a scene. An entry can be produced from more than one photographic element. eg. A more dramatic sky could be added. Images in this category can be commissioned or self commissioned.
4. People & Portrait
   This category must capture the likeness of a person or a small group of people, in which the face and expression is predominant. Images are also eligible which are street or environmental photography where people are predominant in the scene. Images in this category can be commissioned or self commissioned.
5. Photojournalism
   Images in this category are ‘Story Telling’ or ‘Documentary’ in their nature. They are in the moment captures. This means that the images are true candid moments where the subjects are not posed or directed. Minor contrast, spot removal and tonal adjustments are allowed however manipulation of the image including the addition or removal of elements in the image are not allowed. Images in this category can be commissioned or self commissioned.
6. Science & Nature
   Images in this category must be of nature, wildlife or scientific. Minor contrast, spot removal and tonal adjustments are allowed however manipulation of the image including the addition or removal of elements in the image are not allowed. Images in this category can be commissioned or self commissioned.
7. Sport
   Images related to any sporting endeavor are allowed in this category. The judging considerations will be based on subject matter, impact, and camera craft. Sporting portraits are allowed in this category. Images in this category are ‘Story Telling’ or ‘Documentary’ in their nature. They are in the moment captures. This means that the images are true candid moments where the subjects are not posed or directed. Minor contrast, spot removal and tonal adjustments are allowed however manipulation of the image including the addition or removal of elements in the image are not allowed. Images in this category can be commissioned or self commissioned.
8. Wedding
   Images in this category are to be related to an actual wedding. Images must be taken as part of an engagement or wedding. Images taken in workshops or self commissioned are not eligible and should be entered into another category

Amateur Category Definitions

1. Illustrative
   Images in this category are generally more conceptual or produced images that illustrate a topic or subject. This can range from an abstract concept, stock photography, magazine assignments and websites to a carefully constructed scene depicting a story or event. Images in this category can be commissioned or self commissioned. Due to the broad subject matter in the category, judges will be asked to assess the image on the concept that the image is illustrating, and not to judge based on the constraints of the category description.
2. Landscape
   This category includes urban landscapes and depictions of nature images. Landscape’s are images of the visible features of an area, including physical elements such as landforms, living elements of flora and fauna, abstract elements like lighting and weather conditions, and human elements like human activity and the built environment. Images in this category can be interpretations of a scene. An entry can be produced from more than one photographic element. eg. A more dramatic sky could be added. Images in this category can be commissioned or self commissioned.
3. People and Portrait
   This category must capture the likeness of a person or a small group of people, in which the face and expression is predominant. Images are also eligible which are street or environmental photography where people are predominant in the scene. Images in this category can be commissioned or self commissioned.