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| Black River Publishing P.O. Box 10091 Marina del Rey, CA 90295 Voice: (310) 694-0060 Fax: (310) 694-0080 Sales Information Photo Contest Information |
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Photo Contest FAQ |
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The following are responses to the more frequently asked questions about the Outdoor Photo Contest.
Must the pictures be from the US, or can they be from anywhere in the world?
Answer :The content of images is not restricted. Acceptable images can be of locations anywhere in the world. The only restriction is with regard to people as primary subject matter. Images with people as primary subject matter are not acceptable.
Can underwater images be sent?
Answer :Yes! We don't often receive images of this sort, but we would certainly like to see more for the judges to choose from. Winter scenes are also usually under-represented.
What does 'Non-Exclusive Basis' mean?
Answer :Our reference to the term 'Non-Exclusive Basis' is to indicate that we do not ask for, nor are we seeking, the 'exclusive rights' to the use of your images when selected as a winner in the contest. An organization seeking 'exclusive rights' generally means they are seeking to have the sole rights to use your image, or the control of its' use. You may still own the image, but the organization who has the 'exclusive rights' controls who and how that image may be used. Agreements like this are usually setup so a selected image used by an organization can not be subsequently used in a conflicting manner. For example, a magazine publisher may ask for 'exclusive rights' to a picture to be used on the cover of an issue, thus preventing you from selling the same picture to a competing magazine.
Conversely, when we use your image on a 'non-exclusive basis' in our calendar and promotional materials, you as the owner of the image still own the rights for any other subsequent use. In other words, you can still freely sell and use that image for any purpose, including another calendar. We only ask for the right to use your image in our calendars and promotional materials.
This also means if you as the owner of an image have previously granted 'exclusive rights' to someone else for an image you are submitting to our contest, you should probably get a written release from them. This would be along the same lines as a copyright release.
I do not shoot 35mm slides, all of my pictures are in print format, is it ok to send prints?
Answer :Yes. You may send your images in any form you like, but we prefer 35mm duplicate slides. Slides make it easier to judge since they can be loaded in carousels and viewed quickly by a large group of judges.
Duplicate slides also protect you in case your entries are lost or damaged in the mail. We suggest you protect your slides with padded shipping envelopes and stiff cardboard. We do not assume responsibility for lost or damaged pictures.
It is also a good idea to mark each slide or picture with your name and address. It helps us keep track of who's slide is who's, and if your package accidentally opens up in the mail (and we have known this to happen more than once) the postmaster can at least get the ones they find back to you.
Will my photo get a fair judgment since you prefer slides?
Answer :Absolutely, the judges are looking for the twelve best images to produce the Outdoor Grandeur calendar. They don't care how the image was shot, just that it is good! If your best work is on prints, by all means send it in.
I shoot only print film, should I send the negatives, prints, or both?
Answer :Please do not send negatives! Your images can not be easily judged in this form. Prints are acceptable in any reasonable size (3x5 to 8x10), and do not need to be mounted. If at all possible duplicate slide made from your negatives or prints are preferred. The preference of slides is for judging purposes via a slide projector, but all prints are judged as well. The bottom line is send the material that best represents your work. If your film processor's duplicate slides are not up to par and the prints present your images better, then send good looking prints rather than so-so slide duplicates.
Can photographs taken with a digital camera be submitted to the contest?
Answer :Yes, but the original file resolution needs to be high enough for printing quality purposes. The page size is about 8 x 10 and the image should be at least 150 dpi at this size. (That would be 1,200 x 1,500 pixels.) Higher resolutions are better and submissions should be on a CD in any standard image format. Unmodified TIFF and JPEG files of the original image are preferred.
If you do send submissions in this format we still prefer duplicate slides, or some form of hardcopy print for judging. We have not evolved yet to judging entries directly in a digital format.
I shoot mostly black & white outdoor scenic photography, is this acceptable for the contest?
Answer :Black & White images are acceptable, but color images are the most often selected year to year by the judges. The previous year's winning images are available for viewing on the web site if you want to get a better idea of what the judges have selected in the past.
I live outside of the United States can I still enter the contest?
Answer :Sure! We accept entries and images from all over the world. We only ask that you send the entry fee in as a Postal Money Order in US Funds or a cashier's check drawn on a US bank in US funds. Our bank charges $10 to process checks drawn on foreign banks and it just does not make sense for a $5 check.
You should also see the notes on return postage below if you want your slides to be returned to you at the end of the contest.
Do I have to fill out a separate entry form for each image I send in?
Answer :No. One entry form and one $5 entry fee covers as many images as you wish to send. You may even send in images at different times, as long as it is prior to the contest deadline. All of your images are covered by a single entry form and fee. So if you get back a set of great looking pictures a week after you mailed in you entries, go ahead and send the new pictures in with a note stating they are to be added to your original set of entries. Just make sure the package is postmarked before the contest deadline.
Do you accept entries via e-mail?
Answer :Not at this time.
I want to send my entries via FedEx or UPS, where do I address it to?
Answer :If you choose to ship your entries to us using any other service other than the US Postal Service (USPS) you will need to address the package to our physical address rather than out Post Office Box. The address is:
Black River Publishing
Attn: Photo Contest
3276 Veteran Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034
For Express Mail or Priority Mail please still use the P.O. Box address.
Should I send my entry to you via FedEx or Express Mail?
Answer :No. It is not necessary to send your entries via an express service, such as FedEx or Express Mail. As long as your entry is postmarked on or before June 30th it's fine. We allow a couple of weeks for all the mail to reach us. We don't even start judging the slides until all of the contestants entries are processed.
You may however, choose to use one of these services, registered or insured mail, to ensure your slides are delivered and can be tracked. We would suggest insured mail since it is more cost effective. It is important to note that no service is fool proof, there is always the possibility that your package could be damaged or lost. Some services are better than others.
How can I be sure you have received my entries?
Answer :There are several ways you can find out. The simplest is to pick up the phone and call, or email us. We will be happy to let you know we received your entry. Please allow about two week before calling so we can be sure it's entered in the computer. If there is a problem with your entry, such as damaged slides or missing entry form, we will contact you if we have your address or phone number.
A more direct way of finding out is to use the Postal Services 'Return Receipt' service. Or, if you would like to save some money, just enclose a self addressed stamped postcard with a note asking us to mail it back to you when we get your entry. We will be happy to mail it back to you.
Do I have to send in $5 for each image I submit?
Answer :No. One $5 entry fee covers as many images as you wish to send.
Will my slides be returned?
Answer :Yes, if you enclose a self addressed return envelope, or other packaging material, that is large enough to return your entries. You must also attach the proper postage if the return address is within the United States.
If the return address is outside of the United States, most foreign country's postal services sell some sort of postal equivalent coupon which we can use at our post office to return you entries with.
In either case, make sure enough postage is enclosed to cover its' return. ie: If it costs 78 cents to mail your entries to us, it will probably cost 78 cents to mail back or a little less. Return mail to foreign countries can be significantly more due to exchange rates and different postal rates. You may call, write or e-mail us as to how much it costs to mail packages from the USA to a another country with an approximate weight, we will be happy to look up the required postage for you.
Be sure that your return packaging is large enough to hold all of your slides. If you send in 20 slides you will probably need something larger than a number 10 envelope to have us return them to you. Make sure your submissions easily fit into your return envelope or box. And remember, your return packaging should be at least as protective as your original packaging. Your slides could just as easily be damaged coming to us as going back. They are your slides, you choose how much protection they need.
Another option is for us to return your package via FedEx if you have an account with FedEx that accepts packages billed to the recipient. Simply, indicate the account number, type of service (Overnight, Two-Day Economy, etc.), and the ship to name, address, and phone number. We will take care of the packaging in a standard FedEx box. We can also provide this service to you if you prepay the standard FedEx shipping cost for the desired type of service.
When will my slides be returned?
Answer :Generally in October or November. Entries that have self addressed stamped envelopes or other return packaging will be returned after the final round of judging when the winners are determined. Due to the large number of slides that we receive each year it usually take about two or three months and several rounds of judging before we make the final selection. Our goal is to complete the contest by October 1st and notify the winners. It then takes a week or two to package up all of the entries to be returned and to make sure all of the slides are accounted for. In general, you should have them back by the end of October or early November.
The exception is if you are selected as a winner we need to keep your images until the calendar is produced. Once the calendar is printed a few weeks later we mail the winners their slides, prize money, and several samples of the calendar.
Due to the large number of slides submitted we can not return any of the materials early. There are no exceptions to this policy. - If you think you might need one or all of the slides back sooner or you are uncomfortable with being without your slides until possibly November or later, we can not more strongly suggest to send duplicate slides.
How will I be notified if I am a winner?
Answer :By Mail. Just prior to the final round of judging we will contact all of the contestants who have been selected as finalists by letter. The letter will indicate that you are a finalist and ask for you to forward the original slide or negative for the final round of judging. Once the final round is complete you will be notified by mail that you are a winner or that you did not win.
Do you accept Digital files?
Answer :
Yes, but please provide a good quality 35mm duplicate slide or print from each digital image submitted. We do not currently review digital files in the initial rounds of judging, so it is important to send a good representation of your images for judging purposes.
Can you crop a photo to better enhance a photo?
Answer :
You are more than welcome to provide a image that has been cropped. Your submission can be in slide or print format. For the most part, judging is based on the images as provided. Sometimes, judges will take into account a contending image for which cropping to eliminate dead space or unwanted fringe elements would enhance the composition. Yet, you should not expect the judges consider this option. It is always best to present your work in the best possible condition.
Is this contest open to amateur and professional photographers?
Answer :
Yes, there are no restrictions as to who can enter.
Except for: employees of Black River Publishing, it's related companies, and the judges and their immediate family are not eligible to compete in this contest.
Who owns the copyright of the images selected in the contest?
Answer :
As the owner of the image you may copyright your image as you see fit whenever you have it printed or published.
Our use of the selected images in the calendar and related promotional materials is copyrighted as well. Yet, you still own the rights to your image and our copyright will not limit your use and ability to further market your images.
All requests made to us to reuse your images by third parties will always be deferred to you as the owner of the image. Our copyright may provide you protection if some third party were to use your image without permission and you had not previously placed a copyright on the image.
Is one type of image or picture composition preferred over others?
Answer :
Any image or format of image is acceptable. We state horizontal images are preferred to vertical images due to the fact the calendar's pictures are presented horizontally. Yet vertical images are acceptable and if selected will be cropped to fit the calendar's format.
Beyond that, a picture's content and composition is not limited to any one style such as close-ups, macro shots, panoramic, underwater, aerial, or anything in between. The only true limitation is that people can not be the primary subject matter. As long as the image at least loosely falls into the category of outdoor landscapes we have no problem with it. Images with people and man-made elements, such as buildings, roads, bridges, etc. are acceptable and often selected.
Images from all seasons of the year are needed. In a sense, we are running 12 contests, one for each month of the year.
As far as media, 35mm slides are preferred, but prints of any size are accepted as well.
You may want to review the previous year's winning entries to get a better idea of what type of images actually get selected. These can be viewed on our web site. Yet do not limit your entries to work that looks like previous year's winners. The true determining factor is if the image is really good and would look great in a calendar.
When submitting prints what sizes do you accept?
Answer :
Prints of any size are acceptable. Anything larger than 8x10 is probably unnecessarily large, and prints smaller than 3x5 will most likely not present your image as well as larger sizes. For judging purposes choose a size that allows both the details of your image and the overall composition be easily viewed.
If I submit several photos, can several photos each receive cash prizes?
Answer :
If you review our website's previous year's winners you may notice it is possible for someone to win more than one prize in a given year.
When the judges are judging the contest they generally are not aware of who submitted which image. Thus we often discover after the final images are selected that an individual has more than one winning image and the prizes are awarded accordingly.
Good Luck!
