See your photo on the front page of
The Oak Ridge Observer!

We are now accepting entries for the 2008 Oak Ridge Observer Fall Photo Contest. The winners will see their photo on the front page of our weekly newspaper, and receive cash prizes.

Photos may be submitted as prints or in digital format; see contest rules for details.

Please read the complete contest rules before entering.

What can I win?

What types of photos can I enter?

How do I  enter?

Where do I send my entry materials?

Click here for entry form.

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES

Prizes

The first-place winners in each of two categories (Adult and Junior) will be given prominent placement on the front page of The Oak Ridge Observer, a weekly newspaper with distribution in the thousands. Cash prizes are:

First-place winner in the Adult category will receive $100.

First-place winner in the Junior category will receive $50.

In addition to the first-place winners, second- and third-place winners will be selected in each category (Adult and Junior) to be published in the pages of The Oak Ridge Observer. Three honorable mentions in each category will be posted on The Oak Ridge Observer website.

The first 100 entrants will also receive a written critique of their work by award-winning professional photographer Owen H. Weston.

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Photo Eligibility
To enter, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident (green card). Oak Ridge Observer employees and their immediate family members are not eligible. Immediate family includes only spouses, parents and children. All photos must be the property of the entrant. The following photos will be considered:

• Landscapes
• Still life
• Nature
• Cityscapes

Portraits will not be considered. If you have photos that don't fit any of the above categories, use this rule: If it's not a portrait, it's probably acceptable to enter in the contest. Any entries deemed unacceptable will be returned to entrant, and the entry fee will  be refunded. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail the contest coordinator.

Photo Formats
Entries may be color or black and white prints or digital images. Please read the specific guidelines for submitting prints and digital images.

Photographer/Copyright
Entries must be submitted by the original photographer. Do not submit a photo taken by someone other than yourself. You must be the sole owner of the copyright of any image submitted. Your submission of the photo and entry form is your guarantee that you are the author and copyright holder of the photo.

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Number of Entries
An individual may submit two photos per paid entry. The entry fee is only $20 for the Adult category (18 and over), and $10 for the Junior category (17 and under). This means that, if you are entering the Adult category, you may submit two photos along with your $20 entry fee. If you are entering the Junior category, you may submit two photos along with your $10 entry fee. If you want to submit additional photos, you must pay additional entry fees.

Photo Subject Restrictions
Photos must be appropriate for publication and prominent display in a weekly newspaper. Obscene, provocative or otherwise questionable content will not be considered. The Oak Ridge Observer retains sole discretion as to what constitutes inappropriate content.

Return of Photos
Photos, regardless of the medium, will not be returned. Please do not send your only copy of a photo.

Ownership/Use Rights
Photographers retain the copyright to their photographs. By entering the contest, photographers agree to have their submitted photograph published in The Oak Ridge Observer or displayed on our website without any fee or other form of compensation, and agree that The Oak Ridge Observer may display winning photos in a "past winners" photo gallery and on The Oak Ridge Observer website, and may make and retain copies of the photograph for archival purposes. Published and/or posted photos will be credited to the photographer named in the entry form. Entries (including non-winning entries) may be selected for display or use in future issues of The Oak Ridge Observer and/or our web pages, with notification given to the photographer whenever possible. Entrants agree that The Oak Ridge Observer may contact them to notify them of use of photos in this way. In the event that ownership of any photograph submitted to The Oak Ridge Observer is contested in any manner, The Oak Ridge Observer retains the discretion to disqualify that photograph and discontinue use of the photograph.

How to Enter
Digital photos may be submitted via e-mail (entrant must also send completed entry form and applicable entry fees). If you choose to submit your photos electronically, please be sure to include your name and address with the e-mail so they may be easily matched to the entry form and payment that you send via snail mail. Prints may be mailed along with completed entry forms and a check or money order (do not send cash!) to The Oak Ridge Observer (see further instructions below).  Each entry must be accompanied by a completed contest entry form and entry fee. If you are submitting multiple entries, be sure to indicate clearly which form belongs with each photo. Entries must be received by close of business on Friday, October 31, 2008.

Judging
Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity and photographic quality. Award-winning professional photographer Owen Weston, along with an Oak Ridge Observer panel will judge the entries and all contest decisions are final. The first 100 entries will receive a free written critique. Entries that fail to comply with the Official Contest Rules will be disqualified.

Winners
Judges will select a first and second place winning photo for each of the contest categories (Adult and Junior). Winners will be notified approximately 2-3 weeks after the contest deadline by phone and email using the information on the entry form.

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Submitting Digital Images

Digital submissions are welcomed. Images should be formatted to at least 200 dpi, and must be of suitable quality for print no smaller than 6.625 inches by 5 inches. Panoramic photos are not eligible due to space requirements on the front page of our newspaper. Images should be submitted in JPG (at high quality) or TIFF format. Digital images will not be returned.

·        Adult category (for photographers ages 18 and over): you may submit two photographs per each paid $20 entry fee. In order to have more than two of your photos considered, you must pay additional entry fees. Example: if you send four photographs, you must send two $20 entry fees, for a total of $40. If you send more than two photographs and only one $20 entry fee, only two of your photos will be considered.

·        Junior category (for photographers ages 17 and under): you may submit two photographs per each paid $10 entry fee. In order to have more than two of your photos considered, you must pay additional entry fees. Example: if you send four photographs, you must send two $10 entry fees, for a total of $20. If you send more than two photographs and only one $10 entry fee, only two of your photos will be considered.

Mail your completed entry form and entry fee(s) to:

The Oak Ridge Observer Fall Photo Contest
c/o The Oak Ridge Observer
969 Oak Ridge Tpke. #281
Oak Ridge, TN  37830

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For digital submissions, both your e-mailed photos and your completed entry form and check or money order must be received by The Oak Ridge Observer by close of business on Friday, October 31, 2008. If we receive your photo(s) but not your entry form and fee, the photo(s) will be deleted. If we receive your entry form and fee but not your photo(s), your entry fee will be returned, via mail, by November 30, 2008.

Image Modifications:
Minor digital enhancement is permitted, but images that have been significantly modified or appear unnatural will be disqualified.

Not Permitted:

• No borders or frames may be added to images.

• No watermarks, signatures, or copyright notices may be added to images. All winning images will be displayed with the photographer's name.

• Adding or replacing elements in an image is not permitted.

• Artistic filters are not permitted.

Permitted Modifications:

• Images may be cropped and rotated as necessary as long as the rectangular format is maintained and the size is within the specifications above.

• Images may be resized as long as the aspect ratio is maintained

• Red-eye removal and spot editing

• One-step enhancement (such as "AutoFix", "QuickFix", "Auto Levels", etc.)

• Use of filters to sharpen, soften, blur, despeckle, or remove noise.

• Use of corrective functions to improve the natural appearance of the image, such as levels, contrast, brightness, curves, intensity, tone, hue, saturation, lightness, value, color balance, and tint.

Submitting Prints

Prints must be at least 5 x 7 inches. Do not send negatives. Attach a label to the back of each print with your name and address. Do not write on the photo itself. If submitting multiple entries, number each print to match a corresponding entry form. Prints will not be returned.

Mail print(s) along with entry form and entry fee(s) to:

The Oak Ridge Observer Fall Photo Contest
c/o The Oak Ridge Observer
969 Oak Ridge Tpke. #281
Oak Ridge, TN  37830

Additional Terms and Conditions

The Oak Ridge Observer is not responsible for computer system, hardware, software, or program malfunctions or other errors, failures, or delayed computer transactions or network connections that are human or technical in nature. Furthermore, The Oak Ridge Observer is not responsible for: (i) lost, misdirected, misplaced, illegible, unintelligible, incomplete, or late entries or (ii) any act, failure to act, or delay regarding the transmitting or processing of entries. The Oak Ridge Observer reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend all or any portion of this contest without notice if factors beyond The Oak Ridge Observer's control, including technical difficulties, disrupt or corrupt the fair or secure administration or operation of the contest. Void where prohibited. The Oak Ridge Observer is entitled to interpret these rules as needed and its decisions are final. The Oak Ridge Observer reserves the right to disqualify any entrant that The Oak Ridge Observer has reason to believe is not the original work of entrant, or does not otherwise meet the contest rules. If a winner is disqualified or determined to be ineligible, an alternate winner will be selected using the same judging process/criteria described above. Alternate winners are subject to all requirements set forth in these Official Rules.

By participating in the contest, you agree to release and hold harmless The Oak Ridge Observer and its employees, officers, affiliates, agents, and advertising and promotional agencies from any and all damages, injuries, claims, causes of actions, or losses of any kind resulting from your participation in this contest, including infringement of intellectual property rights. The Oak Ridge Observer and its employees, officers, affiliates, agents, and advertising and promotional agencies assume no responsibility or liability for any damages, injuries, claims, causes of actions, or losses of any kind arising in whole or in part from this contest.