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Official 2010 GWBCC Photo Contest Entry Rules



WHO IS ELIGIBLE: The GWBCC Photo Contest is open to ALL photographers worldwide who are at least 12 years of age, except members of the George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee (GWBCC), their immediate families and individuals living in the same household as such members. GWBCC reserves the right to verify, in its sole judgment, winner eligibility.

DIVISIONS: Photographers must enter their images in one of the following divisions, within Parade, Re-Enactment, or Historical categories, and specify if they are entering in the Youth or Adult categories:

  • Pro — Full or part-time professional photographers who receive all or a major part of their income from photography.
  • Amateur — Beginning or amateur photographers at least 18 years of age, and experienced photographers who do not receive a major part of their income from photography.
  • Youth — Young photographers ages 12 to 17.

  • CATEGORIES: Photographers must enter each image in one of the following categories. The same photo cannot be entered in more than one category. If you wish to move a photo to another category after you have uploaded, simple delete that photo and upload it again in the other category. Judges reserve the right to switch images to other categories.
  • Re-Enactment
  • Parade
  • Historical (Photos taken from previous years)

    WHAT PHOTOS TO ENTER: We are looking for striking images taken at our sponsored events. These images may show participating units, participants, or people interacting at our events. Previously published photos may be entered; however, please include information on when and where the photos appeared. Winning photos from other competitions may also be entered, but include the name of the contests and the years they won. .

    All photos become the property of the GWBCC once submitted, unless you request to have your photo returned on the hard copy flyer available to print from our website (www.washingtonbirthday.net). Photos retained by the GWBCC will only be used for future publicity efforts, and will not be given to outside parties. 

    Digital Alterations: All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization will be disqualified. Acceptable are adjustments to color, contrast, brightness and sharpness; removal of dust and scratches; cropping; black and white conversions; and use of HDMI (high dynamic range imaging), where multiple exposures of the same scene are combined for a greater tonal range. Not acceptable are photo composites (combination of two or more photos, not of the same scene); the addition, duplication, deletion or moving of objects in the photos; or the use of artistic digital filters and effects. Examples of artistic filters and effects are watercolor, neon glow, posterizing, stained glass, and others which do not show the scene in its natural way.

    DEADLINE: The final date for submitting photos is at March 31, 2010, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. To avoid uploading delays, please do not wait until the final days of the contest to enter. In past years, the large number of entrants trying to upload their photos just prior to deadline caused technical problems which left them unable to enter. GWBCC anticipates notifying winners by May 11, 2010, and prizes will be distributed to winners on that day at 300 King Street, Alexandria, VA in the Vola Lawson lobby at 6 p.m.

    JUDGING: Photographs will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit. All decisions by the judges will be final and binding. Professional photographers who would like to judge the contest, and do not intend to enter any photographs should contact the GWBCC by e-mailing gwbcc@email.com.

    Winning photos may be viewed beginning June 2010 at the photo contest section of the GWBCC site: www.washingtonbithday.net.  A list of winning entrants is also available by sending a request and self-addressed, stamped envelope to GWBCC Photo Contest Winner Request, Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. 

    PRIZES: Gift cards from major credit card companies will be awarded to the winners. There will not necessarily be a winner in each category, or in each place. Awards will be given based on merit of entries received.

    In each division, and for each category, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be chosen, and “Best Overall” may also be awarded. GWBCC will also award Honorable Mentions as the judges deem appropriate.

    YOUR RIGHTS: Your entry to the contest constitutes your agreement to allow your entered photographs—and your name to be published as winners or finalists on the GWBCC website, and used for promotions of the GWBCC including, but not limited to, publications from GWBCC and the City of Alexandria, exhibitions, any calendars that may be created, a compilation book or electronic collection of photographs, online photo features and contests, and web pages and emails providing GWBCC information, updates, rules and photography tips.

    LEGAL CONDITIONS: By entering this competition, you agree to these entry rules and the following legal conditions:

    By entering, participants release and hold harmless GWBCC and the City of Alexandria from any and all liability for any injuries, loss, claim, action, demand or damage of any kind arising from or related to the photo contest, any prize won, any use of the entry materials by GWBCC, the warranties participants make, participation in any GWBCC-related activity, or participation in the photo contest.

    Any attempt by an entrant or other individual to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the photo contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, the City of Alexandria reserves the right to seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.

    The GWBCC and the City of Alexandria are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the photo contest, or by any technical or human error that may occur in the processing of submissions to the photo contest, including but not limited to any misprints or typographical errors. The GWBCC and City of Alexandria assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, photographs. GWBCC and the City of Alexandria are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer equipment, servers, providers, computer on-line systems, software, or failure of email on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, including injury or damage to participant’s or to any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating or uploading images or information in the photo contest.

    All federal, state, and local taxes, fees and surcharges on prize packages are the sole responsibility of the winners. Return of any prize and/or prize notification as undeliverable or failure of any entrant to comply with any Official Rules may result in disqualification.

    If, for any reason, the GWBCC is not capable of completion as planned, including, but not limited to, by reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of the GWBCC or the City of Alexandria that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the photo contest, the GWBCC and City of Alexandria reserve the right at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the photo contest.

    In no event will the GWBCC or the City of Alexandria, their advertising and promotional agencies, or their directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents and representatives be responsible or liable for any damages or losses of any kind, including direct indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages arising out of participant’s access to and use of websites, or the downloading or uploading and/or printing of material from said sites. Without limiting the foregoing, everything on the sites is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Some jurisdictions may not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so some of the foregoing limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. Check your local laws for any restrictions or limitations regarding these limitations or exclusions.

    HOW TO ENTER: All entrants first create their account at www.photobucket.com, providing contact information and a password for their personal entry page. Entrants can then upload their photos to the appropriate categories:
    • Historical entries: http://photobucket.com/historical_photos_2009
    • Parade entries: http://photobucket.com/parade_photos_2009
    • Re-Enactment entries: http://photobucket.com/re-enactment_photos_2009
    • Once you are on this page, look on the left hand side, under “Albums” and choose the appropriate category that describes the photographer (youth, adult, amateur, or professional). Once you click on the category that contains the description for the photographer, you can upload your photos. PHOTOS MUST BE ORIGINAL TO BE SUBMITTED.  A tutorial can be found at http://tutorials.photobucket.com/tutorial_188.html if you are having trouble. CHANGE THE FILE NAME TO INCLUDE YOUR FIRST INITIAL AND LAST NAME BY USING THE “MORE OPTIONS” LINK BESIDE THE “reduce to” DROP DOWN WINDOW. 
    • For example, if you are Joe Smith, and you are uploading 10 photos, you will change the file names to be JSmith 01, JSmith 02, JSmith 03, and so on.
    • THEN, SEND AN EMAIL TO GWBCC@EMAIL.COM TO PROVIDE YOUR FULL NAME, E-MAIL ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER SO THAT YOU MAY BE CONTACTED, IF YOU ARE THE WINNER. PICTURES THAT CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED BY PHOTOGRAPHER WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. THIS INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE NOTED IN THE DESCRIPTION BOXES FOR EACH PHOTO, IF YOU EXPERIENCE TROUBLE CHANGING THE FILENAMES.
  • There is a limit of 10 photos per entrant in the GWBCC photo contest. Entrants that exceed the 10 photo limit will have the excess photos disqualified from judging, and the disqualified photos will be chosen at the judges’ discretion. You do not need to upload all photos at once; you may return to your upload page at any time using your password and entry name. You may delete photos or add new ones at any time up to the deadline. All photos must have complete contact information. The judges use this information to help them contact the winners. Not providing this information may hurt your chances of winning.

    Images may be digitally uploaded or shipped/mailed. Entrants encountering technical problems while uploading may submit their photos on a non-returnable disk or as non-returnable prints via mail or courier. Disks or prints submitted by mail or courier must be postmarked or dated by March 31, 2010.

    Photographers may enter all images in a single category or select different categories as long as the total submission does not exceed 10 photographs. Photos may be color or black and white.

    Prepare Your Photos: Camera-made digital images or scans of slides or prints must be uploaded as jpg, gif or png files. Photos should be no smaller than 4 x 6 inches at 72 pixels/inch. File size cannot be more than 2 mb. Original files of camera-made digital photos must be 3 megapixels or larger. Original slides or negatives for scanned photographs must be available on request, but do not send them unless requested by GWBCC. If you do not have digital scans of your slides or negatives, or the capability to make them, inquire at your local camera store or photo lab. It is quite easy and inexpensive to make digital files of your photos.

    HOW TO CONTACT US: Questions and inquiries regarding contest rules or technical matters, including problems uploading photos, can be emailed to gwbcc@email.com.  We encourage you to visit Photobucket’s “help” link before contacting us regarding the use of the website, as we are not the owners or managers of the site.

    The GWBCC is not responsible for lost, damaged, late or misdirected photographs, or for uploading connections, garbled transmissions, unauthorized intervention or technical malfunctions. Void where prohibited.