Terms and conditions

These conditions of entry apply to all photography submissions to the 2016 “Capture Science: Earth, Space and Weather” Photography Competition.

1. The photographic entries must be based on a scientific concept involving Earth, Space or Weather. Any entry not related to any of the three topics will be disqualified.
2. The entries must be accompanied by a description of the science displayed in the photograph. It may include details such as how the picture was taken. The minimum number of words for the description is 30, and maximum is 150.
3. The competition opens at 8am on Thursday, 26th May 2016 and closes at 5pm on Sunday 26 June 2016. No entries will be accepted outside of these dates.
4. All entries must be submitted online via the submission form. If you have problems with the form, please contact us via email: otago.osa.spie@gmail.com 
5. Only digital photo submissions will be accepted. Photo submissions are required to be of the following form

• At least 6 Megapixels
• In the standard 3:2 photo ratio
• Saved in a JPG or PNG format
• File size should not exceed 10 MB
• Free of watermarks or other advertising material

6. Entrants must be living at a residential address in the Otago and Southland region at the time of entry.
7. Photographs must be submitted to one of three categories: (age is your age on the 24th June 2016)

• Over 18: Professional: For the purposes of the competition, you are considered a professional if 20% or more of your income is derived from photography or videography.
• Over 18: Amateur
• 18 and under: For this category please mention your age

8. Maximum of three entries per person (only first three will be considered if you send more than three entries).
9. Groups can enter (e.g.  School classes). Each individual can enter three times individually and three times as part of a group. Any prize won by a group entry will be shared between the members of the group.
10. There will be a prize for the school or schools with the most participation in the competition. The winning school will be based on both the total number of entries and the number of entries relative to the number of students, meaning small schools still have a great chance of winning. Only entries which fit the theme of the competition will be counted toward the total. The decision on which school or schools win the participation prize lies with the Otago Optics Chapter Committee.
11. Members of organising the Capture Science: Earth, Space and Weather Photo Competition are not permitted to enter.
12. The photo entries submitted to Luminescence Photo Competition 2015 cannot be entered.
13. Photograph entries must have been taken no earlier than 1st June 2014.
14. The photograph must not, in the opinion of the Capture Science: Earth, Space and Weather Photo Competition, contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content.
15. Minor digital manipulation of photographs is permitted. Major manipulation of the photographs, including, but not limited to, digital drawing will result in a disqualified entry. The decision on what constitutes major photo manipulation is solely at the discretion of the Judging panel.
16. Work will be judged on originality, aesthetic appeal and the level of clarity of the science portrayed, with clear illustration of a simple concept taking precedent over a poor demonstration of a complex concept.
17. Only selected entries will be displayed at Otago Museum during New Zealand International Science Festival July 8th -16th . The entrants will be notified if their photo will be included before the event.
18. Entrants may be required to provide the original source of their photo for enlargement and display purposes. Please note, images may be cropped for display purposes in the competition exhibition or marketing collateral.
19. The entrant must be the original author of the work entered as described in the Copyright Act 1994. Any attempt at plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.
20. Entrants agree to release the copyright of their entries to the competition organisers for newspapers, magazines, television and internet contexts that specifically advertise, promote or celebrate the competition and following exhibition for a period of two years from the closing date of entries. Entrants also grant the organisers the right to include their entries in a touring exhibition of the competition. Any other use will be negotiated with the copyright holder and agreed in writing. The authorship of the entrant will be clearly acknowledged in each case of use.
21. The organisers acknowledge the moral rights provisions of the Copyright Act 1994, including the right to be identified as the author of the work and the right to object to derogatory treatment of the work. To preserve the artistic integrity of the entry, no work will be intentionally edited (other than as stated in condition 18), altered, demeaned or misrepresented in any way.
22. It is the entrant’s responsibility to obtain appropriate written permission from people or owners of property that are identifiable in their work. The entrant must produce evidence of that consent to the organisers if requested.
23. The entrant fully indemnifies the organisers against any claims arising from the display or use of unaltered work as described herein and from the infringement of intellectual property rights of any third party.
24. Entrants agree to be contacted by the organisers regarding this competition and subsequent exhibition.
25. The entrant’s consent to these Terms and Conditions is through their uploading of photos
26. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
27. Prize winners will be notified by email and invited to a prize giving ceremony which will be held before the conclusion of the ceremony.
28. Prizes are non-transferable and are not redeemable for cash.