Extremadura Birdwatching Fair

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Contact:

D. Francisco M. Gálvez
TEL. +34 924 82 91 00

CONTEST RULES
The Department of Culture and Tourism of the Regional Government of Extremadura is holding the 4th Nature Photography Competition to mark the Extremadura Birdwatching Fair (FIO).

1. PARTICIPATION. The competition is open to anyone, both amateur and professional photographers, who have taken the images submitted themselves and own the rights to them, without any agency or company restriction.

2. SUBJECT. The subject of the competition will be BIRDS OF SPAIN, in any of its aspects. The photographs must have been taken in Spain.

3. NUMBER. Each participant may submit a maximum of three photographs.

4. FORMAT. The photographs must measure 20 x 30 cm or 30 x 45 cm. They can be in black and white or in colour, mounted in passepartout with a margin of 5 cm on each side. Photographs taken or printed digitally will be accepted, providing they don’t include modifications that cannot be achieved through traditional photography techniques. However, collages, montages, painted photographs or photographic toning will not be accepted. The raw image of the winning photographs will be requested, and any manipulated images will be disqualified. Furthermore the original in digital format must be submitted with a minimum quality of 5 megabytes if it is in JPG format and 25 megabytes if it is in TIFF format.

5. ETHICAL CODE. Only images of animals in freedom will be accepted. Photographs of nests or chicks will not be accepted, nor those that in the opinion of the judging panel could have endangered the safety of the bird photographed or its environment.

Participants must observe the ethics code of the Asociación Española de Fotógrafos de la Naturaleza (Spanish Association of Nature Photographers), for more effective nature conservation. This aims to ensure the respectful relationship of nature photographers, both amateurs and professionals, with the environment, avoiding irregular actions that go against the conservation spirit, which must characterize all contact with nature. This code can be consulted at the following address: http://www.aefona.org (best practices manual).

6. IMAGES. The photographs submitted must not have won a prize in any other competition.

7. WHERE TO SUBMIT THE IMAGES. The photographs may be submitted in person or posted to FEVAL - Institución Ferial de Extremadura, Avda. de Badajoz, s/n. 06400 Don Benito (Badajoz), with the words “FERIA ORNITOLÓGICA DE EXTREMADURA. CERTAMEN DE FOTOGRAFÍA” written on the envelope.

8. COMPETITION ENTRY PERIOD. The period for the submission of photographs is open from the publication of the present rules until 14:00, 11th January 2010.

9. SUBMISSION. The photographs will be submitted under a pseudonym, which will appear on the back of each photograph. Inside a separate, sealed envelope the photographer will include his/her personal information (name, surname(s), address, telephone number, contact email address and the place where the photograph was taken). On the outside of this envelope he/she will write his/her chosen pseudonym, which will be the same as that written on the photographs.

10. OWNERSHIP. The winning photographs will become the property of the Regional Government of Extremadura, which will have free use of them, providing the photographer is cited, who will maintain the intellectual ownership of the photograph.

11. RETURNS. Once the Birdwatching Fair is over, the photographs that haven’t won a prize will be returned to the address given inside the envelopes mentioned in rule 9. The organization does not take responsibility for any possible deterioration that the photographs may suffer.

12. JUDGING PANEL. The panel will consist of the following members: a representative of the Asociación Española de Fotógrafos de la Naturaleza (Spanish Association of Nature Photographers), a representative of the Colectivo Extremeño de Fotógrafos de la Naturaleza (Extremadura Nature Photographers Group), a guest judge, a representative of the Department of Industry, Energy and Environment and a representative of the Department of Culture and Tourism. There will also be an employee of the Regional Administration, who will act in the capacity of panel secretary.

The judges are authorised to resolve any issues that may arise during the competition that have not been anticipated in these rules.

13. EXHIBITION. The images submitted will be exhibited during the Extremadura Birdwatching Fair to be held in Monfragüe National Park.

14. PRIZES. The prizes have been set as follows:
- First prize: €1,500.00
- Second prize: €1,000.00
- Third prize: €600.00
- Three runners-up prizes: €300.00

The same person cannot be awarded more than one prize.
The prize giving will take place on 28th February in the Fair’s installations.

15. The value of the prizes will be subject to the tax deductions specified by the law.

16. The prize winners must attend the award ceremony. In the instance that they cannot attend they must designate someone to collect the prize on their behalf.

17. Participation in this photography competition signifies acceptance of the present rules.