2012 FOTOWEEK DC INTERNATIONAL AWARDS COMPETITION RULES

Sponsor is FotoWeek DC, Inc., a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of photography's role in our world by recognizing photographic excellence, and ensuring that the celebration of this powerful medium is an accessible and inclusive experience. FOTOWEEK DC, 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20004

Photographers retain ownership of copyright to their entries.

The FotoWeek DC International Awards Competition begins July 6, 2012 at 12:01 am Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and ends September 17, 2012 at 11:59 pm EDT. All entries must be received by extended deadline of September 23, 2012 at 11:59 pm EDT. By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to the Official Rules and confirms that his or her entry complies with all requirements set out in the Official Rules and that the decisions of the Judges are final and binding with respect to all matters relating to the Competition.

All entrants must be 18 years of age or older as of September 23, 2012. Entrants who are 18 years of age or older as of September 23, 2012, and who are enrolled in an accredited academic program, may enter the Student Portfolio category. Finalists will be asked to verify student status.Members of the Fotoweek DC Inc. Board of Directors and members of the FotoWeek DC International Awards Competition Committee are ineligible. Advisory Board Members are eligible. The entries will be judged separately, in accordance with the Judging Criteria, as defined herein. Competition is void where prohibited.

Images may be captured with any device, including mobile phones and tablets, toy cameras, film cameras and more. There is a category specifically designed to highlight work captured on modern vintage cameras, but entries are not limited to only this category and may be entered in all, provided the other rules in each category are followed.

(1) Single Image, Photojournalism/Social Documentary: A single image with a documentary/reportage focus. This includes domestic and international spot or general news and issue reporting. Images may not be staged/posed, composites, multiple exposures, or misrepresent reality. Images must fall within acceptable standards of the photojournalism industry, as interpreted by the designated judges. (2) Single Image, Fine Art: A single image that has been created to fulfill the artistic vision of the photographer. May include photo illustration, manipulated imagery, photo collage. (3) Single Image, Contemporary Life: A single image with a lifestyle/human interest focus. Image that represents a fresh view of everyday activities, sports, relationships or emotion. Includes wedding photography. May include photo illustration, manipulated imagery, photo collage.(4) Single Image, Travel: A single image conveying sense of place; from exotic to backyard, urban to wild. Includes architecture and people of diverse cultures. (5) Single Image, Portrait: A single image that focuses on an individual and captures unique aspects of their experience or personality. May include photo illustration, manipulated imagery, photo collage. (6) Single Image, The Natural World: images focusing on nature, including plants, animals (wild & domestic), landscapes, waterscapes, and aerials. (7) Single Image, Commercial: a single image created for the purpose of communicating or selling ideas, services or products. May include photo illustration, manipulated imagery, photo collage. (8) Portfolio, Photojournalism/Social Documentary: A series of related images (minimum 3, maximum 9) exploring the human condition to facilitate social change. Images should focus on the compelling issues of our time, and may include global warming, war, poverty, international justice and the environment. Images may not be staged/posed, composites, multiple exposures, or misrepresent reality. Images must fall within acceptable standards of the photojournalism industry, as interpreted by the designated judges. (9) Portfolio, Fine Art: A series of related images (minimum 3, maximum 9) that has been created to fulfill the artistic vision of the photographer. (10) Portfolio, The Natural World: A series of related images (minimum 3, maximum 9) focused on nature, including plants, animals (wild & domestic), landscapes, waterscapes and aerials. NEW SPECIALTY CATEGORY! (11) Single Image, Modern Vintage: Image can originate with film or digital capture. Experimental, vintage and nostalgic styles, textures and colors are encouraged, whether they be from Brownie, Polaroid, Holga, Diana, Lomography or pinhole cameras. Images captured on mobile devices using app filters are also eligible for submission. Reminder: entries to the competition are by digital submission only so any images sourced from film must be scanned prior to entry. (12) Portfolio, Student: A series of related images (minimum 3, maximum 9) that represents a cohesive body of work by a student (age 18 or older, currently enrolled in an accredited academic program). May include photo illustration, manipulated imagery, photo collage. Single image submissions are not allowed. (13) Multimedia: Work that may include still photography, video, sound and graphics to either communicate a reality-based narrative story or is freely expressionistic. May include photo illustration, manipulated imagery, photo collage.

NOTE: Any image may be entered more than once and in different categories. Students may enter any category but will be competing with the general population unless entries are received in the Student Portfolio category.

(1) A SINGLE IMAGE ENTRY & ENTRY FEES: Each SINGLE IMAGE ENTRY consists of an entry form, a single image and the appropriate entry fee. The discounted entry fee for 1-4 images is $16 per single image entry, $14.40 for 5-9 images and $11.20 for more than 10 entries received before 11.59 p.m. EDT August 6, 2012. The regular entry fee for 1-4 images is $20 per SINGLE IMAGE ENTRY, $18 for 5-9 images and $14 for more than 10 entries received after 12:00 a.m. August 7, 2012 and before 11.59 p.m. PDT September 17, 2012. For an extended deadline, all entries received after 12:00 a.m. on September 18, 2012 and before 11:59 p.m. PDT on September 23, 2012 will be subject to an additional fee: Cost will be $30 per SINGLE IMAGE ENTRY.

(2) A PORTFOLIO ENTRY AND ENTRY FEES: Each PORTFOLIO ENTRY consists of an entry form, a series of related images (minimum 3, maximum 9), a descriptive written statement not to exceed 100 words, and appropriate entry fee. The discounted entry fee is $60 for each PORTFOLIO ENTRY received before 11.59 p.m. PDT August 6, 2012. The regular entry fee for each PORTFOLIO ENTRY received after 12:00 a.m. August 7, 2012, and before 11.59 p.m. PDT September 17, 2012 is $75. All PORTFOLIO ENTRIES received after 12:00 a.m. on September 18, 2012 and before 11:59 p.m. PDT on September 23, 2012, will be subject to an additional fee: Cost will be $95 per PORTFOLIO ENTRY.

(3) A MULTIMEDIA ENTRY AND ENTRY FEES: Each MULTIMEDIA ENTRY consists of an entry form, an URL for the multimedia piece, and appropriate entry fee. The discounted entry fee is $24 for each MULTIMEDIA ENTRY received before 11.59 p.m. PDT August 6, 2012. The regular entry fee for each MULTIMEDIA ENTRY received after 12:00 a.m. August 7, 2012, and before 11.59 p.m. PDT September 10, 2012 is $30. All MULTIMEDIA ENTRIES received after 12:00 a.m. on September 11, 2012 and before 11:59 p.m. PDT on September 17, 2012, will be subject to additional fees: Cost will be $45 per Multimedia Entry.

(4) STUDENT PORTFOLIO ENTRY AND ENTRY FEES: Each STUDENT PORTFOLIO ENTRY consists of an entry form, a series of related images (minimum 3, maximum 9), a descriptive written statement not to exceed 100 words, and appropriate entry fee. The discounted entry fee is $24 or each STUDENT PORTFOLIO ENTRY received before 11.59 p.m. EDT August 6, 2012. The regular entry fee is $30.00 for each STUDENT PORTFOLIO ENTRY received after 12:00 a.m. August 7, 2012 and before 11.59 p.m. PDT September 17, 2012. For an extended deadline, all entries received after 12:00 a.m. on September 18, 2012 and before 11:59 p.m. PDT on September 23, 2012 will be subject to an additional fee: Cost will be $45 per or each STUDENT PORTFOLIO ENTRY.

TO ENTER: All entries must be submitted electronically, at the official website: http://www.fotoweekdcawards.org. There is no mail-in method of entry. Once the registration process has been completed, you will receive an e-mail confirmation. Simply log onto the website and follow the online instructions to upload images from your computer or type in a URL for multimedia entries. Images formatted in JPEG or TIFF measuring at least 1,000 pixels on their long dimension are preferred. Images may be color profiled in sRGB or Adobe-1998. Multimedia work should be submitted as a URL link to a web location where your multimedia piece has been posted and from which it can be streamed. The suggested time frame is three to five minutes for each multimedia piece.

Online entries must be made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, Internet domain owner, or other person or organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.

The entries in each Class will be judged separately, in accordance with the Judging Criteria, as defined below.

Competition consists of two (2) rounds of evaluation for each category. In Round One of each category, a panel of distinguished judges will each review the entries and select a group of entries to proceed to Round Two on the basis of creative vision, originality and technical competence as appropriate to the category ("Judging Criteria"). In Round Two of each category, the Judges will collectively select, from among the entries selected in Round One, the winners based on the Judging Criteria.

Winners will be notified by email on or about October 8, 2012. Note: In order for winning images and multimedia pieces to be included in the exhibition, high-resolution files must be submitted by October 15, 2012 at 11:59 pm PDT.

Decisions of the Sponsor and Judges are final and binding.

Sponsor reserves the right not to award all prizes in the event an insufficient number of eligible entries meeting the minimum judging criteria are received, as determined by Sponsor and Judges in their sole discretion.

The following prizes will be awarded in 12 CATEGORIES: 1st Place: CASH AWARD OF $1,000, 2nd Place: CASH AWARD OF $450, 3rd Place: CASH AWARD OF $150 in the form of a check or bank transfer.

The following prizes will be awarded in the STUDENT PORTFOLIO CATEGORY: 1st Place: CASH AWARD OF $500, 2nd Place: CASH AWARD OF $200, 3rd Place: CASH AWARD OF $100 in the form of a check or bank transfer.

The winners, at the discretion of the Sponsor, will be included in an exhibition during the FotoWeek DC festival on November 9-18, 2012.Total cash value of the awards: $20,000. In addition, submitted work will be shown online at www.fotoweekdc.org.

The People's Choice Award Prizes:

• One free FotoPage Annual Subscription for each winning photographer
• The Top 20 images will be featured in FotoDC.org's People's Choice Gallery

Each submitted photograph and multimedia piece, in its entirety, must be a work of original material taken by the Competition entrant. Photographs must have been taken within five (5) years before the date of entry. Winning entries from the previous years' FotoWeek DC Competition are not eligible for entry. By entering the Competition, entrant represents, acknowledges and warrants that the submitted entry is an original work created solely by the entrant, that the entry does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the entry.

The entry must not, in the sole and unfettered discretion of the Sponsor, contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content. Entries deemed inappropriate will be disqualified. Entries that include sculptures, statues, paintings, and other works of art will be accepted as long as they do not constitute copyright infringement or fraud; provided that entrants must be prepared to provide a release form as described below in "Third Party Releases/Licenses." When photographing the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment and not a full-frame close up of another person's art. If the entry includes other people, you must be prepared to provide a signed written personal release from all persons who appear in the work submitted, authorizing use of the entry as provided below in "Third Party Releases/Licenses." If you are unable to provide a personal release, upon request by Sponsor and in the form provided by Sponsor, then your entry may be disqualified. You do not need to send the release with your entry. If you win, we will contact you if a model release is needed. The entries will be judged in accordance with the Judging Criteria, as defined herein.

If the entry contains any material or elements that are not owned by the entrant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, and/or if any persons appear in the work, the entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the entry, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the work in the manner set forth in these Official Rules without additional compensation. If any person appearing in any work is under the age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence, the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required on each release.

Upon entering a photograph in the International Awards Competition, you, the photographer grant Fotoweek DC the rights to use said image for promotion of Fotoweek DC and for other FotoDC purposes only for a period of five (5) years from the date of entry. The copyright remains solely with the photographer. Fotoweek DC will in no way grant usage to any third party or use said image for any purpose other than for promotion of Fotoweek DC itself.

Upon request of Sponsor, entrant may be asked to provide a signed release from all persons who (1) appear in the photograph or (2) who have copyrighted material of any kind that appears in the photograph, granting the Authorized Partners the rights to display their likeness or their copyrighted material as it appears in the photograph in any media whatsoever in connection with the Competition, its advertising, at the Competition website, in Competition exhibitions in publicity releases or other Competition or winner related materials. Failure to provide such release in a timely manner may result in disqualification.

a) For the category of Photojournalism/Social Documentary, the following rules apply:
Images may not be staged/posed, composites, multiple exposures, or misrepresent reality. Images must fall within acceptable standards of the photojournalism industry, as interpreted by the designated judges.

b) For the categories of Commercial, Fine Art, Contemporary Life, Portrait, Natural World, Travel, Multimedia and Modern Vintage, the following rules apply:
May include photo illustration, manipulated imagery, photo collage.

By participating, entrants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless FotoWeek DC, Inc., and each of their respective partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in this Competition or any Competition-related activities and the acceptance and use, misuse, or possession of any prize awarded hereunder.

Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay in operation or transmission; communications line failure; theft or destruction of or unauthorized access to Competition entries or entry forms; or alteration of entries or entry forms. Sponsors are not responsible for any problems with or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, human errors of any kind, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrants' or any other persons' computers related to or resulting from participation, uploading or downloading of any materials related to this Competition.

Sponsor is not responsible for electronic transmission errors resulting in omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions or limitations of any kind, or inaccurate transmissions of or failure to receive entry information by Sponsor or presenter on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site or any combination thereof. If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Competition, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Competition. Sponsor reserves the right to select winners from eligible entries received as of the termination date. Sponsor further reserves the right to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process. Caution: Any attempt by a contestant to deliberately damage any Web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the competition is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such contestant to the fullest extent of the law.

THIS COMPETITION IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. This Competition is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Certain restrictions may apply. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, stolen, mutilated, incomplete, illegible, misdirected, or postage-due mail. Entries void if the Sponsor determines the entry not to be an original, or if the entries are illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error or obtained through fraud or theft.

Participants also agree (a) to be bound by these Official Rules; (b) that the decisions of the Judges are final on all matters relating to the Competition; and (c) if he/she wins that Sponsor may use each winner's name, photograph, likeness, and/or voice in any publicity or advertising relating to the Competition or future promotions without compensation or approval (except where prohibited by law). All federal, state and local taxes, fees and surcharges on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prizewinners. In the event that the selected winner(s) of any prize are/is ineligible or refuses the prize, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsor, in their sole discretion, may choose whether to award the prize to entrants.

If for any reason the Competition is not capable of running as planned, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, worms, Trojan horses, denial of service attacks, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsors that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Competition, Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Competition. If Sponsors elect to cancel or terminate the Competition, Sponsors will not retain any rights in the submitted photographs and will return the entry fees.

Except where prohibited by law, all issues concerning the construction, validity and enforcement of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor, shall be construed and governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, without regard to conflicts of law. All suits or claims brought in connection with this Competition must be brought in a state or federal court in Washington DC.

Winners' names will be available online at http://www.fotoweekdcawards.org after November 9, 2012, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: FotoWeek DC International Awards Competition, 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20004.