Smithsonian
15th Annual Photo Contest begins March 28, 2017, and ends November
30, 2017. By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the
contest and states that he or she is 18 years old or older.
15th Annual Photo Contest begins March 28, 2017, and ends November
30, 2017. By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the
contest and states that he or she is 18 years old or older.
Who
may enter:
may enter:
The
Grand Prize, Readers’ Choice prize, Natural World, Travel, People, The American
Experience and Mobile category prizes are open to photographers who are 18
years old or older. Individuals affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution,
including employees, emeriti, Regents, trustees, interns, volunteers, fellows,
research associates and their immediate families (children, siblings and
spouses), and others living in their households, are not eligible for any
prize. The Smithsonian will determine winners’ eligibility in its sole
discretion.
Grand Prize, Readers’ Choice prize, Natural World, Travel, People, The American
Experience and Mobile category prizes are open to photographers who are 18
years old or older. Individuals affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution,
including employees, emeriti, Regents, trustees, interns, volunteers, fellows,
research associates and their immediate families (children, siblings and
spouses), and others living in their households, are not eligible for any
prize. The Smithsonian will determine winners’ eligibility in its sole
discretion.
What
to enter:
to enter:
The
following six contest categories are drawn from subjects of special interest to
Smithsonian.com:
following six contest categories are drawn from subjects of special interest to
Smithsonian.com:
- Natural
World: Animals,
plants and landscapes; geological or climatological features; and
scientific processes and endeavours. - Travel: Locales,
peoples or activities in the United States and abroad that convey a sense
of place. - People: Portraits
and photos of groups or individuals. - The
American Experience: Events, objects or
activities connecting the American people to their history or their
cultural heritage; photographs that tell us what it means to be an
American and provide a sense of what it is like to live in this country. - Altered
Images: Photographs
manipulated for artistic purposes by applying digital and/or traditional
special effects (i.e., colourizing, toning, collage, photo composites,
HDR, etc.). - Mobile: Any
photograph taken with a mobile device (phone or tablet).
To
be eligible for any category, a photograph must have been shot by the entrant
since January 1, 2015.
be eligible for any category, a photograph must have been shot by the entrant
since January 1, 2015.
Cropped
photos are eligible in all categories. We do not accept digitally or otherwise
enhanced or altered photos, except for those entered in the Altered Images.
Minor adjustments, including spotting, dodging and burning, sharpening, contrast
and slight colour adjustment or the digital equivalents, are acceptable for all
categories. If the judges determine that a photographer has altered his or her
photo, they reserve the right to move the photo to Altered Images or to
disqualify it.
photos are eligible in all categories. We do not accept digitally or otherwise
enhanced or altered photos, except for those entered in the Altered Images.
Minor adjustments, including spotting, dodging and burning, sharpening, contrast
and slight colour adjustment or the digital equivalents, are acceptable for all
categories. If the judges determine that a photographer has altered his or her
photo, they reserve the right to move the photo to Altered Images or to
disqualify it.
For
a photo in which a person is recognizable, you must secure a model release from
the subject or, in the case of a minor, the subject’s parent or guardian and
provide it to the Smithsonian upon request. A sample model release is
available here.
a photo in which a person is recognizable, you must secure a model release from
the subject or, in the case of a minor, the subject’s parent or guardian and
provide it to the Smithsonian upon request. A sample model release is
available here.
Similarly,
entrants whose photos depict other people’s work (such as sculptures, statues,
paintings, and other copyrightable works) may need to obtain a release from the
rights holder and provide it to the Smithsonian upon request. When
photographing the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment
and not a full-frame close-up of another person’s creation. A
sample art release is available here.
entrants whose photos depict other people’s work (such as sculptures, statues,
paintings, and other copyrightable works) may need to obtain a release from the
rights holder and provide it to the Smithsonian upon request. When
photographing the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment
and not a full-frame close-up of another person’s creation. A
sample art release is available here.
Photographs
that have won other major photo contests, either online or in print, as
determined by the Smithsonian, are not eligible for submission. We define
winning as having won a grand prize or 1st, 2nd or 3rd place overall.
Photos that violate or infringe upon another person’s rights, including but not
limited to copyright, are not eligible.
that have won other major photo contests, either online or in print, as
determined by the Smithsonian, are not eligible for submission. We define
winning as having won a grand prize or 1st, 2nd or 3rd place overall.
Photos that violate or infringe upon another person’s rights, including but not
limited to copyright, are not eligible.
Photos
that contain sexually explicit, nude, obscene, violent or other objectionable
or inappropriate content, as determined by the Smithsonian in its sole
discretion, are ineligible for all categories of this contest.
that contain sexually explicit, nude, obscene, violent or other objectionable
or inappropriate content, as determined by the Smithsonian in its sole
discretion, are ineligible for all categories of this contest.
How
to enter:
to enter:
Please
submit photographs and requested information online through our website
at smithsonian.com/photocontest. You may
submit no more than 15 photographs per category for a contest total
of 90 submissions. In order to be displayed in our online gallery
without being stretched or distorted, photographs must be submitted in
.jpeg, .jpg or .gif format, edited for the web, at least 2,000 pixels wide
and no larger than 10 MB. You must complete a separate form for each
photo submitted.
submit photographs and requested information online through our website
at smithsonian.com/photocontest. You may
submit no more than 15 photographs per category for a contest total
of 90 submissions. In order to be displayed in our online gallery
without being stretched or distorted, photographs must be submitted in
.jpeg, .jpg or .gif format, edited for the web, at least 2,000 pixels wide
and no larger than 10 MB. You must complete a separate form for each
photo submitted.
We
do not accept photographs submitted through the email and do not accept more
than one contestant per e-mail address. High-quality scans of
non-digital photographs are acceptable. Digital photographs should be taken at
the highest resolution possible.
do not accept photographs submitted through the email and do not accept more
than one contestant per e-mail address. High-quality scans of
non-digital photographs are acceptable. Digital photographs should be taken at
the highest resolution possible.
Finalists
will be asked to submit an original, unedited digital file or an
original negative, print or slide. Original negatives, prints or slides
will be returned to finalists. The Smithsonian Institution reserves the right
to disqualify incomplete entries and/or contestants who are unable to submit,
upon request, a high-resolution photograph of at least 300 dpi at 3,000 pixels
on the longest side or an original photo negative, print or slide. Mobile
photographs are exempt from this size requirement but must be submitted at
their highest resolution upon request.
will be asked to submit an original, unedited digital file or an
original negative, print or slide. Original negatives, prints or slides
will be returned to finalists. The Smithsonian Institution reserves the right
to disqualify incomplete entries and/or contestants who are unable to submit,
upon request, a high-resolution photograph of at least 300 dpi at 3,000 pixels
on the longest side or an original photo negative, print or slide. Mobile
photographs are exempt from this size requirement but must be submitted at
their highest resolution upon request.
The
Smithsonian may collect a photograph’s metadata upon entry.
Smithsonian may collect a photograph’s metadata upon entry.
You
retain your rights to your photograph; however, by entering the contest, you
grant the Smithsonian Institution (and those authorized by the Smithsonian) a
royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to publicly display,
distribute, reproduce and create derivative works of the entries, in whole
or in part, in any media now existing or later developed, for any Smithsonian
Institution purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion
of the magazine and its website, exhibition, and commercial products, including
but not limited to Smithsonian Institution publications. Any photograph
reproduced will include a photographer credit as feasible. The Smithsonian
Institution will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek
any additional approval in connection with such uses.
retain your rights to your photograph; however, by entering the contest, you
grant the Smithsonian Institution (and those authorized by the Smithsonian) a
royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to publicly display,
distribute, reproduce and create derivative works of the entries, in whole
or in part, in any media now existing or later developed, for any Smithsonian
Institution purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion
of the magazine and its website, exhibition, and commercial products, including
but not limited to Smithsonian Institution publications. Any photograph
reproduced will include a photographer credit as feasible. The Smithsonian
Institution will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek
any additional approval in connection with such uses.
Entry
deadline:
deadline:
The
contest begins on March 28, 2017. All entries must be received through
Smithsonian.com by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on November 30,
2017.
contest begins on March 28, 2017. All entries must be received through
Smithsonian.com by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on November 30,
2017.
Judging:
Photo
entries will be judged based on creativity, quality, originality,
responsiveness to the prompt and overall impact.
entries will be judged based on creativity, quality, originality,
responsiveness to the prompt and overall impact.
The
Smithsonian will select 10 finalists per category, a winner for each
category, and a Grand Prize winner from the 60 finalists. The 60 finalists will
be notified of their status by the end of February 2018 and will appear on
our website in spring 2018. At that time, the public can vote on our website
for the Readers’ Choice winner from among the 60 finalists. The
Readers’ Choice winner, Grand Prize winner and category winners will be
revealed online in spring 2018.
Smithsonian will select 10 finalists per category, a winner for each
category, and a Grand Prize winner from the 60 finalists. The 60 finalists will
be notified of their status by the end of February 2018 and will appear on
our website in spring 2018. At that time, the public can vote on our website
for the Readers’ Choice winner from among the 60 finalists. The
Readers’ Choice winner, Grand Prize winner and category winners will be
revealed online in spring 2018.
The
Smithsonian will notify the winner via the contact information provided at the
time of entry; the Smithsonian may disqualify anyone who fails to respond to
the notification within five business days.
Smithsonian will notify the winner via the contact information provided at the
time of entry; the Smithsonian may disqualify anyone who fails to respond to
the notification within five business days.
Please
do not contact us about the status of entries or judging.
do not contact us about the status of entries or judging.
Prizes: Eight prizes
will be awarded, as follows:
will be awarded, as follows:
Grand
Prize: $2,500
Prize: $2,500
Category
Winners: The
winners of each of the six categories will receive $500.
Winners: The
winners of each of the six categories will receive $500.
Readers’
Choice: The
winner of the online Readers’ Choice award will receive $500.
Choice: The
winner of the online Readers’ Choice award will receive $500.
One
cash prize per person; winners may receive additional noncash prizes. Winners
must sign a release and license, as well as a declaration of eligibility, and
will be responsible for paying any notary public fees or taxes they may owe on
a prize.
cash prize per person; winners may receive additional noncash prizes. Winners
must sign a release and license, as well as a declaration of eligibility, and
will be responsible for paying any notary public fees or taxes they may owe on
a prize.
Online
Features: The
Smithsonian may select photos for the highlight on its website or display in a
publicly accessible contest archive; such selections will be made in the
Smithsonian’s sole discretion.
Features: The
Smithsonian may select photos for the highlight on its website or display in a
publicly accessible contest archive; such selections will be made in the
Smithsonian’s sole discretion.
