Don't forget to read the fine print. In section 3 it says, "... All entries and photographs submitted become the exclusive property of Sponsors, and none will be acknowledged or returned." And then in a later section it adds, "... By virtue of a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license for the photographs granted by the Contestants to the Sponsors."
Good point Kurt. Have to wonder if submitting images and allowing them unlimited use for free is going to cheapen the quality art that is out there. Basically giving stuff away for free.
Posted by Jack Garrett on June 23, 2010 at 2:58 PM
Hmmm...I look at it a little differently. First, the contest is geared more for the non professional. They have been running this contest for several years now so it's nothing new. Second, if a budding professional photographer wanted to get some national recognition, it could open up some doors. You still own the copyright and regardless of what the small print says you can still market and sell your photo. You are simply granting them a perpetual use license:
Ownership/Use Rights
Contestants retain the copyright to their photographs, and all rights thereto, except as follows. By virtue of a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license for the photographs granted by the Contestants to the Sponsors and Federal Recreation Agencies, Sponsors and Federal Recreation Agencies shall have the right to edit, adapt and publish any or all of the descriptions and/or photographs submitted (collectively, the “Entries”), and may use them in any media in association with the Contest and/or the promotion of the Federal Lands without compensation to the Contestant, his or her successors or assigns, or any other entity. By entering the Contest, Contestants agree to have their submitted photograph used and displayed, either singularly or in combination with others and in any size, on the National Park Foundation Gallery Contest website without any fee or other form of compensation due at any time for so long as desired by the National Park Foundation. Photographs will be credited to the Contestant named in the Entry form. Descriptions or titles, if any, used with the photos are in the Sponsors’ or Federal Recreation Agencies' sole discretion. In the event that ownership of any photograph submitted is challenged in any manner by any person, Sponsors or Federal Recreation Agencies' may disqualify that photograph and will discontinue use of the photograph.
Do we really need to sell every photo we take or is it OK once in a while to share what we see with others who mat not have that opportunity. There is compensation if you do happen to be one of the winners.
Sorry...just my 2 cents worth.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on June 23, 2010 at 3:30 PM
In a similar vein, last night my neighbor mentioned the Canon in the Parks photo contest
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=1326&fromTips=1&ref=36#/home
But if I can stir the pot a little. Let's say you enter three photos and each make the top 100 images in the contest, but not the top 25. No prize and they can use/display your photographs. They are probably good photos since they made the top 100, but judged not quite good enough. Not being a pro and not selling photos it will give you some free advertisement. How much, I can't say. Good leverage for a jump to the "big time"? Hard to say. Each person must decide if it is acceptable compensation for the photograph(s) submitted. Also, is advertising with "not quite good enough" photos a good idea? That is a business decision one must make.
Maybe some others here have more experience with this and would care to enlighten me on their experience?
I agree with Amy...both sides of the topic can be appreciated but I think your personal decision should be controlled by your motivation. If photography is what you do for a living and you are out to make the most money from each image that you possibly can, then these types of contests are not for you. For some of us, though, there are other motivations that make these terms and conditions acceptable in some cases. Example: Last year I submitted 2 images to the Conrad group for consideration for the 2010 Arizona Weather Calendar and was fortunate (?) enough to have one selected for the calendar. No money in it and I only got a few free calendars for my efforts but here's the payoff. My 10 year old grandaughter lives in Phoenix and while she knows her Poppaw is a photographer of sorts and nearly always has a camera, she was never sure what that meant. When I visited in March I took her a copy of the calendar and we were looking at images and remarking on what nice photos they are. When we got to my image and I pointed out the photo credit, the look on her face was worth more than all the money I've ever gotten from selling images put together. On that trip she asked to go with me to photograph a sunset and has asked me when we're going shooting again. Was it worth prostituting one of my images? Absolutely and for the reward I received in my grandaughter's admiration I'd do it again in a heartbeat but that doesn't mean I intend to give away my images all the time.
Discussion
9 replieshttp://nationalparks.promo.eprize.com/experiencecontest2010/
Contest runs through 12/31/10 with voting next January.
Update: From the official rules: Photographers who derive 5% or more of their income from taking photographs are also ineligible.
Wow, only 5%? It's usually 50%. Wonder if that's a typo.
Ownership/Use Rights
Contestants retain the copyright to their photographs, and all rights thereto, except as follows. By virtue of a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license for the photographs granted by the Contestants to the Sponsors and Federal Recreation Agencies, Sponsors and Federal Recreation Agencies shall have the right to edit, adapt and publish any or all of the descriptions and/or photographs submitted (collectively, the “Entries”), and may use them in any media in association with the Contest and/or the promotion of the Federal Lands without compensation to the Contestant, his or her successors or assigns, or any other entity. By entering the Contest, Contestants agree to have their submitted photograph used and displayed, either singularly or in combination with others and in any size, on the National Park Foundation Gallery Contest website without any fee or other form of compensation due at any time for so long as desired by the National Park Foundation. Photographs will be credited to the Contestant named in the Entry form. Descriptions or titles, if any, used with the photos are in the Sponsors’ or Federal Recreation Agencies' sole discretion. In the event that ownership of any photograph submitted is challenged in any manner by any person, Sponsors or Federal Recreation Agencies' may disqualify that photograph and will discontinue use of the photograph.
Do we really need to sell every photo we take or is it OK once in a while to share what we see with others who mat not have that opportunity. There is compensation if you do happen to be one of the winners.
Sorry...just my 2 cents worth.
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=1326&fromTips=1&ref=36#/home
But if I can stir the pot a little. Let's say you enter three photos and each make the top 100 images in the contest, but not the top 25. No prize and they can use/display your photographs. They are probably good photos since they made the top 100, but judged not quite good enough. Not being a pro and not selling photos it will give you some free advertisement. How much, I can't say. Good leverage for a jump to the "big time"? Hard to say. Each person must decide if it is acceptable compensation for the photograph(s) submitted. Also, is advertising with "not quite good enough" photos a good idea? That is a business decision one must make.
Maybe some others here have more experience with this and would care to enlighten me on their experience?
Doug- I've hyperlinked your link:
http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=1326&fromTips=1&ref=36#/home
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.