There is much controversy in photographic circles regarding the extent to which an image may be modified before it ceases to represent accurately the essence of the subject.

Even in the early days of film photography and chemical processing, editing has been performed by dodging, burning and superposition of images.

However, in the field of nature and wildlife photography, there are established rules governing the permissible limits of modifying an image.

The Royal Photographic Society (RPS), the Photographic Society of America (PSA) and the Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique (FIAP) have agreed the following definition of nature photography, including wildlife.

Nature photography is restricted to the use of the photographic process to depict all branches of natural history, except anthropology and archaeology, in such a fashion that a well-informed person will be able to identify the subject material and certify its honest presentation. The story telling value of a photograph must be weighed more than the pictorial quality while maintaining high technical quality. Human elements shall not be present, except where those human elements are integral parts of the nature story such as nature subjects, like barn owls or storks, adapted to an environment modified by humans, or where those human elements are in situations depicting natural forces, like hurricanes or tidal waves. Scientific bands, scientific tags or radio collars on wild animals are permissible. Photographs of human created hybrid plants, cultivated plants, feral animals, domestic animals, or mounted specimens are ineligible, as is any form of manipulation that alters the truth of the photographic statement.

No techniques that add, relocate, replace, or remove pictorial elements except by cropping are permitted. Techniques that enhance the presentation of the photograph without changing the nature story or the pictorial content, or without altering the content of the original scene, are permitted including HDR, focus stacking and dodging/burning. Techniques that remove elements added by the camera, such as dust spots, digital noise, and film scratches, are allowed. Stitched images are not permitted. All allowed adjustments must appear natural. Colour images can be converted to greyscale monochrome. Infrared images, either direct-captures or derivations, are not allowed.

I have aimed to comply with this definition, not only for my wildlife photographs, but also for other subject matter. None of my photographs have been taken under the guidance or direction of a third party.