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1. The competition is open to anyone of any age, except for the Executive of the ESA and people involved with the administration or judging of the competition. Membership of the ESA is not a condition of entry.
2. Entries must be colour photographs uploaded online on the ESA website as high-quality jpegs (approx. 300 dpi). The jpeg quality level should be set at maximum to minimise loss of quality. The compressed file size must be less than 10MB (typically it will be about 6-7 MB, but varies depending on the content of the image).
3. Each entry must be submitted via the online submission form on the ESA website and must include the following information:
- entrant’s name and contact details
- category being entered
- a brief title of the image (<10 words)
- a short description of the image (<60 words)
- when and where it was taken
4. In the case of photographs of a recognisable person, it is the photographer’s responsibility to obtain the written consent of the person/s in the image for the photograph to be reproduced. Consent forms should be retained by the photographer (not sent with the entry).
5. Entry is limited to five (5) images per contestant. Contestants should not submit multiple images of the same subject.
6. Images submitted without description, in the wrong format or received after the closing date will not be accepted.
7. The entrant must be the copyright owner of all images entered.
8. Points will be awarded primarily for image quality and relevance, e.g. technical quality, aesthetics, sharpness, correct exposure and composition of the image, but also for the interest and relevance of the subject matter and context; and the quality and relevance of the description.
9. Images must not have been adjusted beyond a level that could be applied in conventional pre-digital photography. In other words, image adjustments should be limited to no more than levels, curves, colour, saturation, tone, contrast, sharpening, burning, dodging, cropping, and minor cleaning. The integrity of the original subject must be retained. Compositing or the creation of an image from more than one original exposure is not allowed with the exception of stitched panoramas (focus-stacked images) so long as the exposures were taken at the exact same time and place. The following digital adjustments – but not limited to these – are not allowed: adding, moving or removing objects, animals or parts of animals, plants, people etc; the removal of dirt, highlights, bubbles, debris and similar; painting the foreground / painting out the background. Entrants whose images are shortlisted as finalists in a category by the judges may be required to produce the original unaltered camera image in camera RAW format (or other format, such as unaltered JPEG if RAW was not used) so that compliance with the Rules can be assessed. Failure to supply any original image requested within 2 weeks of such request may result in disqualification by the Organisers. Judges and the Organisers will have sole discretion as to whether an image entered into the competition has been in compliance with the Rules.
10. In the taking of an image where animals are involved, the primary consideration must be to the principle of animal welfare and to any negative impact that may occur in the taking of the image or the environment in which they live. This includes minimising any potentially negative physical, emotional, or behavioural impacts. Examples include the use of drones too close to the subject; the use of a flash with nocturnal of light sensitive animals; staging or unnecessary restraining of animals; the use of baits to lure animals for a photograph etc. More guidelines can be found here. In the taking of images of the natural environment, there must also be no negative impact to the landscape. Competition organisers reserve the right to disqualify an image if they feel may have, in the taking of an image, breached these principles.
11. All images submitted must have been taken in a way that treats all subjects (human or otherwise) with respect, ensuring issues such as (but not limited to) societal values, cultural values and traditions are respected and treated sensitively. Competition organisers reserve the right to disqualify an image if they feel may have, in the taking of an image, breached these principles.
12. All Entries must be taken in a safe and lawful location. The Ecological Society of Australia will not be held responsible for an Entrant taking a photograph in circumstances that pose a risk of personal injury or any legal implications. Entrants are responsible for ensuring full compliance with any applicable local, state national or international legislation (including in relation to drones) and for securing any relevant permits (which, in the case of human portraits, will include the subject’s permission) which must be made available to us if we request it. Any and all existing wildlife and conservation requirements must be obeyed, and local laws upheld.
13. Caption information supplied must be complete, true and accurate.
14. Judging will be by a panel selected by the ESA and the judges’ decision will be final. No correspondence regarding the judging will be entered into.
15. Each category will have two Judges’ Awards (1st and runner-up) and, at the judges’ discretion, a number of Highly Commended awards may also be made. If a category receives too few entries of a sufficient standard in the opinion of the judging panel, then fewer awards may be given.
16. The competition will also have a People’s Choice Award. This will be the most popular image as voted online (and by delegates at the annual ESA conference when applicable).
17. The winner of the overall prize will be offered a feature page of their work on the ESA website. This will be conditional on the photographer meeting nominated deadlines for supply and quality of images and a short (<100 word) biography to be posted. If the deadline is not met or renegotiated the opportunity will deem to be waived.
18. The short-listed entries will be exhibited at the ESA annual conference.
19. Full results (winners and finalists) will be posted on the ESA website and social media.
20. An ecologist is defined as anyone undertaking ecological research or management (including conservation, restoration and environmental impact assessment). Note that images or descriptions of people undertaking research or management that is not clearly focussed on, based on, or derived from ecological knowledge or principles may not be eligible.
21. Images must either be taken in Australia or its territories, or illustrate the work that Australian ecologists are undertaking in other countries.
22. Notwithstanding the rights conferred by entrants to the ESA in Clause 20 below, entrants retain copyright in all original images submitted.
23. By submitting an entry, including the image and the caption, entrants agree to license and grant the Ecological Society of Australia a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish and display all or part of their entry for promotion of the competition or the Society, without compensation, restriction on use, or liability. Entrants agree not to assert any moral rights in relation to such use and warrant that they have full authority to grant these rights.
24. The photographer will be acknowledged when the ESA uses, reproduces, modifies, adapts, publishes or displays any images.
25. Personal details collected on the entry form will only be used for the purposes of this competition and related promotion. Your private information will not be given to any individual or organisation other than the Ecological Society of Australia.
26. Entry into this competition is deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions.
27. See the ESA website for the closing date for entries.