COMPETITION GUIDELINES
Mission:
We aim to highlight local and international environmental issues by harnessing the creativity of students to generate awareness; and at the same time exhibit elements of the exquisite African landscape that surrounds us. Company Overview:
Exposure was founded in 2010 by two members of the University of Cape Town Biological Society, Robert Raw and Devin Finaughty.
The first year of the competition was a trial by fire, with the organizing committee being stretched to their limits to pull off what was ultimately a very successful competition. We now hope to expand the competition even further, with a goal of making it into a national level, inter-varsity competition. Description:
This year each category has a theme, the purpose of which is to get you to visualize your interpretation of the theme, then go out and take the photo - not just dig through your archives for what you already have.
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How to enter:
1) Read the competition rules and relevant information below.
2) Email your entry to [email protected], with all the information for that photo (as specified below). Use the name of your photo for the subject of the email.
3) On the page's feed, click the "Photo/Video" share tab and select the "Upload photos or videos" option.
4) Add the Title of the photo as well as the Location.
5) Click on the "Browse" button and choose the photo you wish to enter from your computer.
6) Finally, click "Post" and your photo will be posted to the page Newsfeed.
7) Congratulations, you have entered your first photo! All the best!
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Categories of entry & themes:
Plantlife : Secrets of Nature
Wildlife (Animal) : Unique Adaptation
Landscape: Evolving World
Conceptual: Worth protecting
This theme is more focused on conservation, so people can look at it in terms of conservation issues or, for a positive spin, conservation solutions. Action animals and plants: Freeze the moment
Macro animals and plants: Hidden Treasures
As always, there will be some smaller prizes as well, such as for the best underwater photo, the best basic (set zoom) digital camera photo, the best smart-phone photo, the best panorama photo. Each photo should be submitted with a title, which should ideally fit well with the provided themes. This is applicable to all categories. Info to include with entries:
- Category & theme entered
- Title
- Description
- Location & Date taken
- Any adjustments made to photo (see Rules below)
- Camera and lens (if applicable)
- Student number
- please indicate whether you are from UCT or SU. This applies to staff as well. Judging:
> Initial judging will be done by the competition committee. 10-15 images will be chosen from each category.
> Finalists will be asked to submit full quality images for final judging, either via Dropbox or email.
> All finalist images will be printed and displayed at the final exhibition.
> Final judging will be by professional photographers and/or experts from the industry
> Photos will be judged based on composition, photographic technique (exposure, focus, white balance, depth of field etc.), originality, and adherance to the theme. Rules:
> Open to all registered UCT and SU students and staff.
> Each person may only submit three photographs per category (i.e. 18 photos in total) - any additional images will be ignored. NB: spammers will have their images deleted and will be barred from the competition.
> Only photos taken in Africa or on African Islands will be considered.
> Members may comment on and provide constructive criticism of photos entered onto the Facebook group. Any deconstructive or vindictive comments will be removed and the guilty party will be barred from the competition.
> The judges decision is final - no correspondence will be entered into regarding the results.
> Photos must reflect the theme of the category into which they are entered.
> Photographs can be removed and replaced up until close of the competition (Date: TBA)
> With regards to retouching and processing:
- Candidates may use basic processing techniques including contrast, brightness, saturation, vibrance, curves, levels, and shadows/highlights adjustments; and basic retouching techniques such as spot removal and noise reduction. However, advanced techniques such as HDR, cloning features out of photos, and the like are not allowed.
- Candidates who retouch and process their photos must please state what adjustments have been made along with the other required information.
- Candidates whose photos are chosen to be in the top 10-15 will be required to submit both the retouched/processed photo AS WELL AS the original.
- Photos that have been processed to the point that they appear unrealistic will be disregarded. However, exceptions will be made here for photos entered into the "Conceptual" category where "artistic" images are allowed. Terms And Conditions:
By entering photos into the EXPOSURE - UCT Environmental Photography Competition you are acknowledging that you are registered UCT or SU student /staff, that the photographs you submit are your own, and that you have the right to enter the images into the competition. By entering photos into the competition you as the entrant hereby give the UCT Biological Society (AKA: Zoobots) and Associated sponsors the right to publish any images (rightfully credited to the photographer) in their associated publications. NOTE: For final judging, the original photo will be considered more highly than the adjusted image, as we are assessing raw photographic talent, not one's ability to touch up in Photoshop! Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] for more information.
