FAQ AND SUBMISSION POLICY - MUST READ

Hello, welcome to the new FAQ for this group. (Disregard the previous one, it cannot be deleted).

_{Keep reading to find folder rules}

How do I become a Member/Contributor/Administrator?
To become a member, click on the link “Join Our Group” where your membership will be viewed by the founder and voted upon (probably most requests will be accepted). Membership is open all year around unless notified otherwise.

To receive successful membership one must have photographic deviations in their gallery upon joining the group and be of the group's standards. If you are unaware of the standard browse through the gallery folders.
Selfies do not count as photography.

No other admin are needed at this time. If you’re really curious about having an admin position, feel free to note the founder on their personal account (georgiedeeart.deviantart.com)

How can I contribute to the group?
 There are many ways our members can contribute to the group, such as;
        •Invite new members to the group
        •Suggest ways we can improve our group, including suggestions for contests/competitions, or updates to our Submissions Policy.
       • Join in on group discussions.
       •Donate towards the TeamPhotoUnited points pool at photounited-points.deviantart.…

---

I was invited to join the group but the invitation was withdrawn. Why?
Invitations have been sent out to DeviantArt members who have shown a high-standard of photography in their own gallery. Unfortunately, DeviantArt have a limit to the number of these invitation requests we can hold open in our group log. For this reason, unanswered invitations will be withdrawn. This is not a reflection on you, or your gallery, but to give the more recently active members of the DeviantArt community the opportunity to join the group.
If you were unable to respond to the request you can join PhotoUnited by clicking on the "Join Our Group" button where your membership will be voted upon.

---

What can I submit to the gallery?
When you are submitting, imagine this is going into a professional gallery in the city. Is this a good representation of what my work is all about? Is it conceptually or technically engaging? Am I ready for negative critique in case I might get some?

Featured folder is Founder's choice only!

Photographic submissions of intermediate to high, technical, artistic quality which follow basic rules of photography can be submitted. This includes things like techjour: light, colour, clarity/focus, proportions and composition, originality, etc.

Please submit correctly according to each folder, either Colour, Monochrome/Duotone, Phonoegraphy or Feedback Folder.

Colour All DSLR (and maybe compact digital) camera-made Colour photos. (No photography from phones allowed!)
Mono-Duotone All DSLR (and maybe compact digital) camera-made Black and white, or roughly 2 colours photos. (No photography from phones allowed!)
Black and white: :thumb720883514:
Duotone:

Phoneography High quality and creative photos taken and edited on smartphones and other smart devices.
Please see this journal for more detail: Phoneography - What Is It?...or "phonography" or more popular "iPhonography"
Is something many people in this group, I have noticed, struggle to comprehend. Everyone reading this journal, please take a visit to our RULES to refresh your mind on what is accepted in this group. It is a short read! http://fav.me/da9jw4d
In our rules it states this:
         
Phoneography - High quality and creative photos taken and edited on smartphones and other smart devices.
Wikipedia gives us this, "iPhoneography is the act of creating photos with an iPhone, where the images have been both shot and processed on the iOS device."
WHY THE DIFFERENCE?
PhotoUnited has a separate folder so that new technology like phones and smart devices can have a unique showcase of their capabilities and creative processes within photography, without being impeded on by "superior" cameras.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
Check that your exif data is showing!
What is

Feedback folderFor work that may not be accepted in the other folders but you want community feedback on your work. (These are eventually deleted.)

Yes, Phoneography/iPhoneography IS accepted (and very much encouraged) here. But please still only submit higher quality work. DO NOT SUBMIT PHOTOS TAKEN OTHER THAN SMARTPHONE DEVICES INTO THIS FOLDER. Exif data must be visible, or works will be declined.

If your photos are declined, they were either not of a high enough quality (which I would then try another deviation, until you understand the standard that’s accepted) it’s submitted to the incorrect folder, it’s distasteful or without the appropriate mature filter.

---

I was in this group before the founder swap, what has changed?
All previous works from members have not been deleted, but moved into the “Previous Works” folder. We now have 5 folders, Colour (for colour photography), Monochrome (for any black and white or mono/two-toned photography), Phoneography (for artistic photos taken/created by smartphone technology), Feedback Folder (for you to submit photos to receive comments and critiques) and Featured (selected only by the founder).

Because of the nature of the new folders, this group no longer has concern for the difference between Submission Date and Creation Date. The 2016-2017 on the folder titles dates are just for works submitted into the group during those years

photounited-points.deviantart.… Is the official page to donate points to, to use as prizes for competitions!

The addition of the Phoneography folder.

The addition of the Feedback folder.

The expected quality of work is stricter than previously, however the group’s aim isn’t to become a pretentious elite club. If any member feels the group is being too tough or needs improvement in general, feel free to note or comment.

---

Some of the submissions in the gallery don't meet the guidelines. Why are they in the gallery?
Every effort is made to ensure our gallery submissions follow the guidelines. If you find an image that does not meet the entry criteria please contact our group admin with a link to the image.

---

I am being bullied by a member of this group. What should I do?
PhotoUnited is a strict anti-bullying zone. Any members found violating the anti-bullying terms as stated by DeviantArt will be removed from the group indefinitely. If you are being bullied, threatened, attacked or feel you are being excluded or targeted by any member of this group please contact the administrator with more information on the incident.

To submit questions to the FAQ, please contact the admin via note, or leave a comment below.

Blessings to all of you and may you enjoy this group!


_{Updated: 30-07-17}