This contest is open to anyone who is aged 18 and above. Digital photos may be submitted using the online entry form. No print or film submissions will be accepted for entry into this Contest. The photograph need not be taken with a digital camera; scans of negatives, transparencies, or photographic prints are acceptable. The winner will be required to make a zero dollar purchase with a credit card for proof of age.
An individual may submit only one photo per contest. Multiple entries will result in disqualification.
Entries are to be uploaded through our online entry as digital images and may be in color or black and white. Images should be formatted to 72 dpi, no larger than 800 pixels in width and no larger than 1000 pixels in height and no smaller than 450 pixels by the shorter side. Panoramic photos are not eligible. Images should be submitted in JPG format. File sizes must be less than 400K per image. Images must be in natural color, black and white, sepia tone, or duotone to be eligible. Digital images will not be returned. 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.
Photographs that include sculptures, statues, paintings, and other works of art will be accepted as long as they do not constitute copyright infringement or fraud; provided entrants must be prepared to provide a release form as described below in "Release." 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 art. The photograph, in its entirety, must be a single work of original material taken by the Contest entrant. By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges, and warrants that the submitted photograph is an original work created solely by the entrant, 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. The photograph must not, in the sole and unfettered discretion of the EcoSee, contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content. EcoSee retains sole discretion as to what constitutes inappropriate content. Photos containing recognizable people must be accompanied by a signed model release form. Images must be tasteful and comply with the laws of the United States. Photos deemed to be distasteful will be removed from the contest. Photos deemed to be illegal will result in the entrant being reported to the proper authorities.
Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity, photographic quality, and effectiveness in conveying the subject of the photo. An EcoSee panel will judge the entries and all contest decisions are final. Entries that fail to comply with the Official Contest Rules will be disqualified. The EcoSee panel may include professionals in graphic design, website design, website development, marketing and public relations.
Judges will select a first place winning photo for each contest. If fewer than ten eligible photographs are entered, EcoSee may choose to cancel that contest. In addition, one or more honorable mention winners may be selected with especially large numbers of entries, at the discretion of the judging panel. Winners will be notified approximately 3-4 weeks after the contest deadline by email using the information on the entry form. Along with a winner notification, winners will be sent an affidavit of eligibility and release. Winner must execute, without making changes, and return this release for receipt by EcoSee within 7 days of the date on the winner notification letter. Failure to execute and return this affidavit within 7 days will result in disqualification. Winning photographs, along with the photographer's name and information about the photo, may be displayed on the ecosee.com website. No financial compensation is provided to winners.
If the photograph contains any material or elements that are not owned by the entrant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, and/or if any persons appear in the photograph, the entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the photograph, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the photograph in the manner set forth in these Official Rules without additional compensation. If any person appearing in any photograph is under the age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required on each release. Similarly, upon EcoSee's request, each entrant must be prepared to provide (within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of EcoSee's request) a signed written license from the copyright owner of any sculpture, artwork, or other copyrighted material that appears in the photograph entry, authorizing any Authorized Party to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the entry in connection with the Contest and promotion of the Contest, in any media now or hereafter known, including, but not limited to: display at a potential exhibition of winners; publication of a book featuring select entries in the Contest; and publication online highlighting entries or winners of the Contest. All releases must be in the form provided by EcoSee. Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. For the purposes of these Official Rules, the entrant will be deemed to be in receipt of EcoSee's request or notification, (a) in the event that EcoSee sends the request by postal mail, five business days after the request was sent by EcoSee, or (b) in the event that EcoSee sends the request by email, on the day that the email was sent by EcoSee.
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.
Photographers retain the copyright to their photographs. By entering the contest, photographers agree to have their submitted photograph displayed on the ecosee.com website without any fee or other form of compensation, and agree that EcoSee may display winning photos in a "past winners" photo gallery and may make and retain copies of the photograph for archival purposes. Posted photos will be subject to the ecosee.com website photo use policy. 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 other EcoSee web pages, with permission from the photographer. Entrants agree that EcoSee may contact them to obtain permission for use of photos in this way. Entries will never be used by EcoSee in any manner for advertising or sale. In the event that ownership of any photograph submitted to EcoSee is contested in any manner, EcoSee retains the discretion to disqualify that photograph and discontinue use of the photograph.
The First Place winner receive an EcoSee powered website. This does not include the domain name which the winner is required to supply at their own cost. The prize is nontransferable, and no cash alternative is available. Potential winners shall be required to sign and return within ten (10) days following an attempted notification, an Affidavit, Declaration or Certificate of Eligibility, Liability Release, and where legally permissible, a Publicity Release and Warranty of Ownership and License in which the entrant warrants that he/she is the owner of the photograph (and all the intellectual property rights in the photograph submitted) and grants to EcoSee and its licensees the irrevocable perpetual, nonexclusive license to reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of the entry (along with a name credit) in connection with the Contest and promotion of the Contest without additional compensation. Failure to execute and deliver any required documents to EcoSee by the specified deadline may result in disqualification from the Contest, and selection of an alternate potential winner.
No prize transfer, assignment, or substitution by winners permitted. NONCOMPLIANCE OR RETURN OF PRIZE NOTIFICATION AS UNDELIVERABLE, WHETHER BY REGULAR MAIL OR BY EMAIL, MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION AND SELECTION OF AN ALTERNATE POTENTIAL WINNER.
THIS CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Entrants agree that this Contest shall be subject to and governed by and subject to the laws of the state of California and the forum for any dispute shall be in San Francisco in the state of California, United States of America. To the extent permitted by law, the right to litigate, to seek injunctive relief or to make any other recourse to judicial or any other procedure in case of disputes or claims resulting from or on connection with this Contest are hereby excluded and any entrant expressly waives any and all such rights. Certain restrictions may apply. Entries void if the EcoSee determines the photograph to not be an original, or if the entries are illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error or obtained through fraud or theft. EcoSee 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, EcoSee 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. EcoSee reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend all or any portion of this contest without notice if factors beyond EcoSee's control, including technical difficulties, disrupt or corrupt the fair or secure administration or operation of the contest. Void where prohibited by law. EcoSee is entitled to interpret these rules as needed and its decisions are final. EcoSee reserves the right to disqualify any entrant that EcoSee 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 EcoSee 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. EcoSee 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.
By entering, entrants also agree (a) to be bound by these Official Rules; (b) that the decisions of the Judges are final and binding with respect to all matters relating to the Contest; and (c) if the entrant wins that EcoSee may use the winning photographs and each winner's name, photograph, likeness, and/or voice in any publicity or advertising relating to the Contest or future promotions without compensation or approval (except where prohibited by law). All federal, state/provincial/territorial, and local taxes, fees and surcharges and taxes (whether foreign or domestic, and including income, sales, and import taxes) on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize winners. In the event that the selected winner(s) of any prize is/are ineligible, cannot be traced or does/do not respond within ten (10) days to a winner notification as required by the "Contest Prizes" Rules above, or refuses the prize, the prize will be forfeited and EcoSee, in its sole discretion, may choose whether to award the prize to another entrant.
EcoSee reserves the right to verify the validity and originality of any entry and/or entrant (including an entrant's identity and address) and to disqualify any entrant who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these Official Rules or who tampers with the entry process. Failure by EcoSee to enforce any of its rights at any stage does not constitute a waiver of those rights.
If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, worms, trojan horses, denial of service attacks, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of EcoSee that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, EcoSee reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. If EcoSee elects to cancel or terminate the Contest, EcoSee will not retain any rights in the submitted photographs.
Entrants agree that personal data, especially name and address, may be processed, and otherwise used for the purposes and within the context of the Contest and any other purposes outlined in these Official Rules. The data may also be used by EcoSee in order to verify the participant's identity, postal address, and telephone number or to otherwise verify the participant's eligibility to participate in the Contest. NOTICE TO INDIVIDUALS: REMOVAL FROM MAILING LIST: Any individual (or other duly authorized person) may elect to exclude the name and address of that individual from all lists used by EcoSee to email contest updates. To elect to have an individual's name excluded from all such lists, submit a removal request via eMail from a confirmed email address.