NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY TOURNAMENT
Submission Deadline: Midnight, May 20, 2018 (PST)
Help preserve an imperiled ecosystem and have the chance to win Cash Prizes! Compete for the title of The Laguna del Lagarto Lodge Nature Photographer of the Year!
The deadline for image submission, May 20, 2018, will be here before you know it, so now is the time to upload your images.
ENTER YOUR IMAGES NOW: http://imagesforconservation.org/product/laguna-del-lagarto-lodge-nature-photography-tournament-one-photo/
Frequently Asked Questions:
- When is the deadline for submitting Images? Midnight, May 20, 2018 (PST)
- Where do I register and upload my images? You can register and upload your images at the Images for Conservation Fund website at: http://imagesforconservation.org/product/laguna-del-lagarto-lodge-nature-photography-tournament-one-photo/
- Who is eligible to participate? The Tournament is open to all photographers who visited the Laguna del Lagarto Lodge anytime during the Tournament Period (December 1, 2017 thru April 30, 2018). All images submitted to the Tournament must have been taken on the Laguna del Lagarto Lodge Property during the official Tournament Period.
- How many images can I submit and how much does it cost? Photographers may enter as many images as they like at a cost of $10 per image and/or a group of 20 images at a reduced cost of $150.
- How can I be eligible for the Grand Prize – The Laguna del Lagarto Nature Photographer of the Year? You must submit a portfolio of at least 20 images. The Grand Prize winner will be determined based on the highest score for a given portfolio of 20 images or more. (For portfolios over 20 images, the overall score will be calculated based on each photographer’s highest scoring 20 images.)
- What are the Categories for submission?
- Birds
- Mammals
- Reptiles, Amphibians & Fish
- Invertebrates such as Insects, Arachnids & Arthropods
- Landscapes, Plants & Flowers
Special Categories
- Rarest Image
- Best Cell Phone Image
- What type of post-processing is allowed? Color images only. No digital composites, or black and white conversions, or panoramic composite photos are allowed. Digital manipulation is only acceptable if limited to cleaning (dust spots), levels, curves, color, saturation and contrast work. Compositing and multiple exposures are not allowed. As part of this event is creating (and documenting) a visual inventory of the biodiversity of Lagarto Lodge, all images should accurately reflect the subject matter or scene as it appeared.
Other than by cropping (see below) no element (aside from dust spots mentioned above) may be removed from an image (for example: you may not remove a misplaced tree branch or an inconveniently placed rock). No images may be altered. All decisions made by the Judges and Tournament organizers regarding the acceptability of an image are final.
- Is cropping allowed?Cropping shall not exceed more than 25% of the width and height of the original RAW or high resolution JPEG file while maintaining the camera’s original image proportion or aspect ratio (generally 2:3 for most DSLRs). Cropping must be done IN RATIO. (See Cropping Example in the official rules.) For instance, do not crop a horizontal image into a square format. If the Judges deem that an image has been cropped too significantly or that the final image quality or resolution has been compromised, the image may be disqualified.
- What file types and sizes do I upload to the website?All image submissions uploaded to the website must be JPEG files sized to 1024 pixels on the longest side (For example: 683 pixels high by 1024 pixels wide if the camera has a standard DSLR 2:3 aspect ratio.) JPEGs should not exceed 1MB in file size. (If necessary, please reduce JPEG quality so file size is less than 1MB.)
Note: Tournament officials will request original RAW files (or original high resolution JPEG files) and processed (edited) high resolution JPEGs for all images that make the final round of judging. When requested, the source images must be provided within 7 days of notification or the contending image may be disqualified. Details on how to submit original source files online will be provided at time of request.
- Do I retain the copyright to my images?YES! The Tournament entrant must be the creator of the submitted image, and owner of the copyright for every image submitted.Copyright remains with the photographer. By submitting images for judging, photographers agree to grant Images for Conservation Fund, Laguna del Lagarto Lodge, the Tournament, and its Sponsors an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide non-exclusive license to use, publish, and reproduce their images for promotion, sale and display purposes including, but not limited to:
- Promotion of future tournaments at Laguna del Lagarto Lodge
- Fundraising for native habitat restoration and reforestation at the Laguna del Lagarto Lodge and surrounding areas.
- Creation of Lagarto Lodge Photography Exhibits, Books, Apps, Calendars or other publications
Every effort will be made to give the photographer appropriate photo credit when an image is used.
- Who will be judging the Tournament?We have world-class judges! All experienced in the field of nature and wildlife photography:
- Danita Delimont – Founder & CEO, Danita Delimont Stock Photography
- Susan McElhinney – Photo Editor, National Wildlife Federation (Ranger Rick & Ranger Rick, Jr.)
- Mark Godfrey - An independent photographer, multi-media producer and photo management consultant. Former Director of Photography for U. S. News & World Report and The Nature Conservancy.
- What are the judges looking for in an image? Scores are based on originality, composition, technical quality, and overall impact of the image.
- What prizes will be awarded?
(One) Grand Prize Winner: The Laguna del Lagarto Lodge Nature Photographer of the Year will receive a Cash Prize (25% of Prize Money) and a free 3-night stay at Laguna del Lagarto Lodge (for two, double occupancy) including meals and photo settings. Does notinclude airfare, transportation to lodge, beverages, tips, or other incidentals. Dates subject to availability.
First, Second & Third Place Winners will also be awarded in each of the 5 Main Divisions based on the highest scoring individual images per category. Prize money will be divided equally among the participants with the same final scores.
- (Five) 1st Place Division Winners will share 50% of the Prize Money
- (Five) 2nd Place Division Winners will share 25% of the Prize Money
- (Five) 3rd Place Division Winners will receive a prize from our Sponsors (TBD)
Special Division Prize Winners: Rarest Image: (One) Overall winner will receive $100
Best Cell Phone Image: (One) Overall winner will receive $50
- How does my participation in the Tournament help conservation? A portion of every entry fee will be used to help preserve one of the most biodiverse tracts of habitat in Costa Rica. One of the primary purposes of the Tournament is to raise funds for native habitat restoration and reforestation that is necessary in the Lagarto Lodge area due to the damaging effects of Hurricane Otto.
- Will winning images be published or exhibited?Selected winning images will be featured in:
- Image Galleries on the ICF website and in various social media outlets.
- Wildlife Photographic magazine – Apple App Store http://bit.ly/1aKP3qR or Google Play http://bit.ly/1JOhMcW.
- As Fine Art Prints at the Laguna del Lagarto Lodge.
For More Details on Rules, Prizes, and How to Enter, visit: http://imagesforconservation.org/laguna-del-lagarto-lodge-nature-photography-tournament-rules/
Questions?
Contact Bill Gozansky, Tournament Director, at [email protected] or John Martin, Tournament Chairman, at [email protected].
We appreciate your participation and support! Good luck!
