Download "2018 WIIFC Conservation Photography Tour Rules"

2018 Tour Rules

 

Milwaukee County Parks Present:

WIIFC Conservation Photography Tour 2018

Revised 10-2-2018

The Tour will begin on May 15, 2018 and end at midnight on May 1, 2019.

Overview:

The Conservation Photography Tour is open to all photographers (both professional and amateur) who visit any park in the Milwaukee County Park system from May 15, 2018 to May 1, 2019. All images submitted to the contest must have been taken at Milwaukee County Parks during the contest period. Photographers may enter as many images as they like at a cost of $25 per image or five images for $100.

How to Register:

1. All registrations will be completed through the Images for Conservation (ICF) Website.

2. Photographers may submit images, via http://imagesforconservation.org/product/2018-wiifc, any time during the contest, but no later than midnight, May 1, 2019.

Camera | Image Capture Requirements:

All cameras must be digital. Images must be created in RAW format when available. If the camera does not offer RAW format, the camera must be set on the highest quality JPEG offered. [We recommend that you set your camera’s image capture format to RAW + HiRes JPEG to ensure the most compatibility with your image processing software.]

All images submitted to the Tour must include metadata that has the date and time of the image capture. [Remember to ensure that your camera’s date and time is current and accurate prior to visiting Milwaukee County Parks.] This will allow the judges to insure the images were taken during the official Tour period. Images without proper metadata may be disqualified.

Prize Categories:

First, second and third place winners will be awarded in each of the five categories based on highest scoring images per category. In the event of a tie, a fourth judge will be brought in to score the tying images. The five categories are below:

  1. Open (Subject and Post Processing Determined by Participating Photographer)
  2. Birds
  3. Mammals
  4. All Other Animals
  5. Landscapes, Plants & Flowers
Prize Money Allocation:
  • (Five) 1st Place Category Winners will receive $1,250 each
  • (Five) 2nd Place Category Winners will receive $500 each
  • (Five) 3rd Place Category Winners will receive $250 each
Treatment of Animals:

Wisconsin Images for Conservation requires all participants to use extreme caution to protect the health and survival of the subjects being photographed.

  1. Any images of wildlife species that all three judges agree look stressed will be disqualified.
  2. No animals may be captured or physically restrained in any form or fashion.
  3. No artificial freezing or cooling of any animal is allowed.
  4. All images submitted must be of living animals; no stuffed animals or artificial plants.
Image Processing (Applies to all categories except “Open”):

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 the Milwaukee County Parks system, all images should accurately reflect the subject matter or scene as it appeared.

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 Tour organizers regarding the acceptability of an image are final.

How to Submit Images:
  1. All images submitted for judging must be received through the ICF website: http://imagesforconservation.org/product/2018-wiifc
  2. By entering the Tour, each photographer accepts the rules as stated and guarantees that all the information provided is correct and truthful. Entries not accurately represented or not abiding by Tour rules will be disqualified. Refunds will not be given in case of disqualification.
  3. 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.)
  4. Tour 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 will be provided at time of request.
  1. To ensure anonymity in judging, images may not contain any watermarks, logos, text, or identifying marks of the photographer. Please do NOT include your name in the filenames of images you submit for judging. (Note: Your name or copyright in image metadata is fine.)
  2. All images submitted to the Tour must have been taken at a Milwaukee County Park during the official tournament period (May 15, 2018 thru May 1, 2019). All Milwaukee County Parks here.
  3. You may submit images any time during the Tour, but no later than midnight, May 1, 2019.
Copyright:

Tour 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 Wisconsin Images for Conservation, Milwaukee County Parks, the Tour 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:

    1. Promotion of future WIIFC Conservation Photography Tours.
    2. Fundraising for Milwaukee County Parks and Wisconsin Images for Conservation.
    3. Creation of commemorative calendars and books.
    4. Sponsor use for limited period of time.

Every effort will be made to give the photographer appropriate photo credit when an image is used.

Releases:

If applicable, photographers are responsible for obtaining model releases from any individual who appears in a submitted photo (or if the individual is under age 18 from their parent/legal guardian). Images without proper release may be disqualified.

Judging:

Images will be judged anonymously by judges experienced in the field of photography. Scores are based on originality, composition, technical quality, and overall impact. Photos will receive a score; photos will not receive a critique. All decisions made by the Judges and Tour officials are final.

For Questions on the Tour Rules:

Contact Nick Resheske, Director of Operations, at [email protected].