The Filipino Photography Biennial - Gulf

RULES ON PARTICIPATION

Who May Enter
The project is open to all Filipinos (or other nationals of Filipino lineage) who are residents of the GULF Region – UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, of any age, and all photography levels (professionals, hobbyists, amateurs, etc.)


How to Enter
• 2010’s theme is “The Gulf through the Eyes of a Filipino Photographer.”

• There are five photographic categories: Local Landscape and Architecture, Local Heritage and Culture, Pinoy Slice of Life, Fashion and Beauty (Filipino). Please see category guidelines for more information.

• Each participant may submit in any category, and up to 10 entries in total, at any time during the submission period. Each entry must comply with the aforementioned Photography Requirements.

• Submissions should be sent to: filphotobiennial@gmail.com or in a properly marked CD delivered to Illustrado’s Dubai Media City office.

• DEADLINE: Submissions should be sent to Illustrado on or before the 25th August 2010. Target launch date is Q4 2010.



Photograph Requirements
• Photographs must be in digital format. However, the photograph need not be shot with a digital camera: scans of negatives, transparencies, or photographic prints are also acceptable.


• All are requested to submit:
o August 25 Deadline - for the SELECTION PROCESS (only): JPEG, Medium resolution, 100DPI – 1 to 2MB, around A5 to A4 size

o After the selection process, qualifying photographers will be asked to urgently submit publishing grade files with the following specs: 300DPI, 30 to 40MB, jpeg format file; suitable for possible reproduction of min. A4 max. A3 size

• Submitted photographs could be from any period/date, but should be strictly “unpublished”, and may not previously have won an award in any contest. Commissioned works will not be accepted as entries.


• POST PROCESSING:
We encourage all photographers to submit “REAL” photographs and discourage over manipulation or heavily digitally altered photographs. To wit –

o Dodging, burning and color correction: Minor dodging (to brighten shadows), burning (to darken highlights) and color correction is fine. The goal is to make the photographs naturally beautiful (based on reality).
o Other effects or filters - solarization, mezzotint, duotone, etc – Discouraged as it constitutes visual gimmickry.
o Black-and-white images: Acceptable.
o Cropping: Acceptable.
o Stitched panoramas and High Dynamic Range (HDR) images: Acceptable as long as all sections or combined parts have been shot at the same time frame and therefore have a consistent look. If your entry is an HDR image, kindly indicate this in the caption.
o Specifically for beauty and fashion category – liquify, distortion, etc. - Acceptable at a certain degree and if done skillfully. The objective should be to refine the image, not to alter the subjects. Subjects/models should look natural and not radically different from reality.
o Graphic art and other composite images: Images containing graphic arts or collaged visuals (usually done to achieve a surreal or hyper-reality effect) are NOT part of this project.


Releases
• For photographs that include MODELS, the photographer is responsible for securing MODELs RELEASE. This release form should be provided to the Publisher upon submission of final selected images.

• The same applies for photographs that include works of art, like painting, sculptures, etc. Photographers should provide the necessary release and ensure that their work is not an infringement of another party’s copyright or a fraud.

• The photograph should be an ORIGINAL WORK in its entirety. By joining the project, participants confirm that all submitted photographs are their sole original work, and that the photograph does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the photograph.

• Photographs submitted should be in accordance with the cultural and religious sensitivities of the region and should not contain any obscene, sexually explicit or inappropriate content. Photographers who are submitting entries should always be reminded of the cultural and religious sensitivities of the Middle East, thus photographs of nude physiques, religious symbols and blasphemous images are not allowed. Even though countries such as the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar allow some level of religious freedom, publication of Christian images are not permitted.


Selection Process
• Selection of qualified photographs will be done using a “blind selection system” where participants will not be named. Photographs will be assigned reference numbers for scoring.

• The selection process will be done in two stages:
• INITIAL SELECTION – where the selection panel will be composed of the Publisher, appointed third parties, as well as representatives from participating Filipino photography clubs.

• FINAL SELECTION - pre-production, where Publishers reserve the right to remove entries which do not meet with Publishing Standards (whether technically or contextually) or may be deemed inappropriate.

• See separate Selection Process Criteria.



License
By joining the project, all participants grant an irrevocable perpetual, nonexclusive license to the Publisher, to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the entries (along with a name credit) specifically in connection with the Illustrado Filipino Photography Biennial – GULF project, in any media, including but not limited to: book publication, display at a possible exhibit, publication in Illustrado magazine or any title in connection to the promotion of the project both print and online, display in a possible website, any other distribution as Public Relations or possible advertising. The Publisher will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use. Usage of the photographs for purposes other than this project will be treated separately.



Limitation of Liability
By entering this project, all entrants agree to release, discharge, and hold harmless the Publisher and its partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in this project or any related activities.


Conditions
By entering this project, all participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and that the selection the selection panel and the Publisher is final with all matters relating to the project.


CATEGORIES & SELECTION INFO.


Category Guidelines
There are five photographic categories:

• Local Landscape and Architecture
o Photos should be taken within the region and should communicate a distinctly “local” flavor. Architecture photos could include both old/native and modern structures in the region.
o Taking photos of famous landmarks in most places is allowed, but be careful that military bases and important government buildings are not captured in the image, as this is not allowed in many cases.

• Local Heritage and Culture
o Photos should be taken within the region and should communicate a distinctly “local” flavor.

• Pinoy Slice of Life
o Photos depicting the “Pinoy way of life in the region” from a myriad of angles.
o Photos depicting a darker or negative subject can be considered. However, we would also request all photographers to provide a more balanced and uplifting view, at the same time.
o The main task of the book is to uplift the image of the Filipinos. The book is not a photojournalistic tome meant to focus on the sad issues and heart-wrenching plight of the Filipinos in the region. Although negative portrayal of the Filipinos is not disallowed, it is not encouraged.


• Fashion
o Photographs submitted in the category of fashion will not only be judged based on typical photography criteria, but also according to credibility as an actual professionally executed fashion photograph – which takes into account models (look, stance, proportions, etc.), fashion (styling, make-up, fashion story, etc.), overall fashion aesthetics.
o Models could be of any nationality. Stylists, hair and make-up artists could be of any nationality as well, but we would encourage tapping Filipino talents in the community.

• Beauty
Subjects should be Filipino or of Filipino lineage – all ages and genders.


Selection Criteria

All photographs will be assessed according to the following criteria –

• Technical criteria - Exposure Focus/sharpness, depth of field, color and/or tonal rendition, contrast, lighting

• Visual and aesthetic criteria - Framing and choice of viewpoint, background, design elements and principles, appropriate application of photographic techniques and elements, visual impact

• Content – Information, emotion, mood, feeling, denotative and connotative content, symbolism, metaphor, meaning, communication through the language of photography and visual art, the moment, relevance, subject impact

• Viewer’s response – Visual, aesthetic, intellectual, emotional, excitement, interest

• General characteristics – Originality, style, context, photographic vision, empathy, insight, validity