1. Technical Quality
1.1 Sharpness & Focus
The primary subject (aircraft) must be sharp and in focus. Motion blur on the aircraft body is not acceptable. Propeller and rotor blur is permitted and expected.
1.2 Exposure
Images must be correctly exposed. Heavily blown highlights on the airframe or severely underexposed subjects will be rejected. Minor clipping on reflective surfaces (windows, polished metal) is acceptable.
1.3 Noise & Grain
Excessive digital noise that significantly degrades image quality is grounds for rejection. Moderate noise in low-light or night photography will be judged on overall quality.
1.4 Resolution
Images must be submitted at a minimum of 1280px or a maximum of 1920px on the longest edge. Low-resolution or heavily compressed images will not be accepted.
1.5 Chromatic Aberration & Distortion
Severe lens distortion or colored fringing that noticeably detracts from the image is not acceptable.
2. Composition
2.1 Framing
The aircraft must be the clear primary subject. Significant clipping of wings, tail, nose, or engines is not permitted unless it is an intentional and artistically justified detail shot.
2.2 Horizon
The horizon must be level unless a deliberate creative tilt is clearly intentional and well executed.
2.3 Distracting Elements
Obstructions such as fences, vehicles, equipment, or people that significantly detract from the aircraft should be avoided. Screeners should use discretion — some environmental context adds authenticity.
2.4 Background
Heavily cluttered or distracting backgrounds that draw attention away from the aircraft may be grounds for rejection at screener discretion.
3. Content Standards
3.1 Acceptable Subjects
Squawk Aviation Photos accepts civil, commercial, military, and historic fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
3.2 Aircraft Identification
The registration, type, or military serial must be identifiable either visually in the image or confirmed by the submitter. This can include nose gear numbers and/or registration numbers. Unidentifiable aircraft will be held pending clarification.
3.3 Duplicate Submissions
Near-identical images from the same shoot of the same aircraft will not be accepted. Only the strongest frame should be submitted.
3.4 Watermarks & Overlays
No watermarks, logos, borders, date stamps, or text overlays are permitted anywhere in the image. A watermark of the graphic within the logo is offered upon photo submission.
3.5 Post-Processing
Reasonable adjustments to exposure, contrast, color, and sharpness are permitted. Heavy-handed HDR, artificial backgrounds, composite images, or AI-generated content will be rejected.
3.6 Copyright
Submitters must be the original photographer and copyright holder. Screenshots from video, images copied from other websites, or scanned images from publications will be rejected.
3.7 Scanned Photographs
Lower standards are applied to scanned photographs of rare or historic aircraft, particularly where the image is the only surviving record of the subject. The composition rules in Section 2 and the obstruction rules in Section 2.3 do not apply to qualifying scans. If retouching has been performed to clone out scratches, dust, fold marks, or other physical damage to the original print or negative, the submitter must note this in the Comments to the Screeners field on submission.
3.8 Daily Upload Limit
Members may upload a maximum of 5 photos per day. The counter resets at 00:00 UTC each day. This cap is in place to keep the screening queue manageable and to encourage submitters to send their strongest frames rather than every shot from a session. The current remaining count is shown at the top of the Submit Photo page.
3.9 Hot & Priority Tags
To earn a Hot or priority tag, an upload should match at least one of the following:
- Special liveries — A promotional or special-event scheme spanning the full tail or a large portion of the fuselage.
- New airline or military type — The first time a given aircraft type enters service with an airline or air force.
- New livery or paint scheme — The earliest photo of an airline wearing a brand-new color scheme, alliance liveries (oneworld, Star Alliance) included.
- New aircraft type — The earliest photo of a newly built aircraft model or subtype.
3.10 Staff Choice
When approving an exceptional submission, screeners may mark it as Staff Choice using the checkbox on the approval panel. Staff Choice photos are featured on the home page. The tag should be reserved for images that genuinely stand out for technical excellence, composition, rarity, or storytelling — not simply a competent frame. Staff Choice is a screener-awarded distinction and is separate from the member-driven Photographers Choice (most votes in the last 24 hours) and Photo of the Day (most-viewed in the last 24 hours) features.
4. Safety & Legal
4.1 Airside Photography
Images must have been taken from publicly accessible or authorised locations. Squawk Aviation Photos will not knowingly publish images taken from restricted airside areas without proper authorisation.
4.2 Sensitive Subjects
Images that could compromise aviation security or depict restricted military operations will not be accepted.
5. Screener Conduct
- Decisions must be based solely on these guidelines, applied consistently and without bias.
- When rejecting a submission, screeners must select at least one rejection reason — the system will not accept a rejection without one — and are encouraged to add a constructive note to assist the photographer.
- Appeals submitted by photographers must be reviewed promptly and fairly by the Lead Screeners (see Section 6.3).
- If a screener is uncertain, escalate to the Lead Screener rather than making an arbitrary decision.
- Screeners must not approve their own submitted photographs.
- The Lead Screener will make the final decision on any image that isn't clear cut.
6. Rejections, Appeals & Enforcement
6.1 Rejection Reasons
Every rejection must carry at least one rejection reason. This is enforced — a rejection cannot be submitted without a reason selected. Screeners are encouraged to add a short, constructive note explaining what would make the image acceptable, particularly for borderline cases.
6.2 Rejected Photo Retention
Rejected photos remain visible to their photographer on the Rejected Photos page for 14 days after the decision. A countdown shows the days remaining. After 14 days the photo is automatically and permanently removed — both the image file and its record — so photographers should review and appeal within this window if they wish to.
6.3 Appeals
Within the 14-day retention window a photographer may appeal a rejection by submitting a written message (20–2000 characters) from the Rejected Photos page. Appeals are emailed to the Lead Screeners and SuperAdmins, together with the photo, its original rejection reasons, and any screener note. A photographer may submit one appeal per rolling 24-hour period. Appeals should be reviewed on their merits against these guidelines.
6.4 Upload Suspensions
Administrators and Lead Screeners may suspend a member's upload privileges in response to repeated or serious breaches of these guidelines. Suspensions may be set for 7 days, 14 days, 1 month, 3 months, or permanently. A reason is required and is emailed to the member. A suspended member cannot access the Submit Photo page until the suspension expires or is lifted. SuperAdmins, and a member acting on their own account, cannot be suspended.