Photography

Earth in Focus Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year

COMPETITION RULES

Earth in Focus Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year 2024 Competition begins at 12:00 AM (SGT) on 12th June, 2024, and closes at 11:59 PM (SGT) on 8th September, 2024.

Winners will be notified latest by the last week of October 2024.

Enter

To avoid uploading delays, DO NOT WAIT until the final days of the contest to enter.

The large number of entrants trying to upload their photos just before the deadline may

overwhelm servers and prevent you from completing your entry or entering EIF Singapore Nature
Photographer of the Year 2024.

Eligibility

The Earth In Focus Nature Photographer of the Year 2024 competition is open to all photographers who are residents of Singapore only. The competition is open to all professional and amateur photographers who are 18 years of age as of the date of entry. By participating, you accept all terms and conditions, and you warrant that you meet all eligibility requirements. The Participant warrants that their entry is original and does not infringe on any third party’s rights. If a third party is involved, the Participant is responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions from the third party and/or the third party’s property if it appears in the photo.

Photographs can be shot anywhere in the world but must be shot within the last 1 year (i.e. June 2023 onwards).

Rules & Guidelines

Before submitting your entries, please ensure your photographs are technically compliant

with the image editing guidelines below. We expect all participants to document the natural world in a way that is both creative, truthful and ethical.

All submitted photos need to be shot within the last 1 year (i.e. June 2023 onwards).

1. File Naming Naming convention: category_title.jpg » Replace spaces with underscores Example: WingedLife_Flamingos.jpg » DO NOT include your name in any file names. 2. Image Captioning Images should have caption information submitted with the following: » Description of the behaviour pictured and the background story » Location » Species name, if known » If the subject is captive, restrained, deceased, or taxidermy, the photo caption must disclose that information, please include details. Please note: » DO NOT include your name in the caption or on the image itself. » Keep intact any EXIF details (e.g. camera, lens, exposure etc). 3. Image Specifications Entries must be submitted as digital files uploaded through the EIF entry platform. Photographs from prior years are eligible. Images that have won any other competitions in the last year are not eligible. For judging purposes submitted images must meet the following qualifications: » Submitted as JPG or JPEG files in Adobe RGB or sRGB » Images should be a minimum of 1920 px on the long edge and max file size of 5MB » No borders, watermarks, or signatures are allowed. Your image will be immediately disqualified if these elements are included. For proof of authenticity: » Original digital camera RAW files (e.g. CR2, NEF, ARW, ORF, etc.) will be requested if your image is selected for the final judging round. » DNG files are acceptable only if that is the native recording format of the camera. » Digital images captured as JPEG are allowed, providing the original un-retouched JPEG is available for inspection. For printing in all media and for possible inclusion in an exhibition: » A full-res uncropped image (preferably TIFF) will be requested if your image is selected as a finalist or winner. This should be an 8-bit or higher file at 300 dpi. * Adjustments that are allowed » Removal of sensor dust spots, backscatter in underwater images, chromatic aberration, and background noise » Adjustments to: levels, curves, color, saturation, contrast work, shadow and highlights, sharpening, dodging, burning, toning, neutral density gradients and removing of lens vignetting » Cropping is permissible in moderation and as long as a suitable high-res TIFF file can be supplied for printing a large exhibition display if requested » Black and white conversion » Focus-stacking is allowed for images submitted to the Landscapes, Waterscapes, and Flora category as well as the Art of Nature category. All images used in the stack must be made available for review if requested *Adjustments that are not allowed » Composites » Removing elements from the scene » Use of the cloning, stamping, and healing brush tools (except for dust/backscatter removal) » Use of generative fill » Multiple exposures that are not a part of a focus-stacked image » HDR composites » The use of artistic digital filters and effects which do not show the scene in its original Should any dispute arise in the competition, or with the implementation/interpretation of these rules and guidelines, the Judges' decisions will be final and no appeal will be entertained.

Character of Ethics for Participants

By participating in the Earth In Focus Film and/or Photography Competition, I commit myself to the following code of ethics. Working in the natural environment, I will aim to use my skill sets to bring education and awareness during my encounters to help advocate for its preservation. •Using my skill sets and abilities, I will attempt to faithfully reproduce the beauty and majesty of the natural world by encouraging others to be engaged in its protection. •Using my platform, my voice and through my actions, I will document challenges faced by the natural world, and help to raise awareness as a call to action. •I will not stress, endanger or put any flora or fauna in a disadvantaged situation for the sake of documenting it even if it does not contribute to a good image / outcome. •I will not manipulate the surroundings or the environment by touching or provocation. I will choose to leave it or document it as it is. •I will aim to contribute time to document and tell stories to support local conservation efforts in and around my own region. •I will consider the consequences of my films and/or images to ensure that its delivery will carry across the appropriate messages to the audience. •I will take utmost effort to research the subject matter before documenting them, especially in the case of wildlife to respect their boundaries, behavioural patterns and how they will react. I understand that this will ensure my own safety and avoid situations that can be potentially dangerous for both me and the subject matter. •I will lead by example to build a better planetary future. e.g. refusing single-use plastics where possible and encouraging others to do the same, making informed consumption choices in a polite and respectful way. •I will contribute where I can in dialogue to those keen to learn and to inspire next generations. •If my images are used, I will commit to a fair price for commercial purposes so that these images with an impact can continue to tell important stories for the preservation of our natural world. •I will help to communicate the activities and take part in promoting Earth In Focus Singapore Nature Film Festival and its competition. •Where I am able to, I will participate in the Earth In Focus Singapore Nature Film Festival and spread the word on my own platforms, and tag @earthinfocus.co and encourage others to join the festivities throughout the year. •I will commit to finding constructive solutions when challenged and understand the power of compromise, diplomacy and peaceful resolutions to obtain a common goal for conservation of our natural world.

Terms & Conditions

By participating in the competition, the participants agree to grant the Organiser the exhibition and publication rights in print, broadcast, electronic media and to use the photos on their social media channels without any fee payable. Participants further consent to the collection, use and processing of their personal data (such as their names and their social media profile handles for administering the competition and for promotional, marketing and publicity purposes relating to the competition.