Carsten Egevang, ARC-PIC.comTerms and Conditions

1. This competition is open to submission of photographs taken within the Arctic. "Arctic" is hereby referred to in this document as the terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments enclosed within the CAFF border. Submissions are welcomed from photographers worldwide. Members of the CAFF Board, CAFF International Secretariat, competition judges

Senior management and others directly involved in the competition amongst competition funders, prize donators, and their families are not permitted to participate either.

2. All information detailing how to enter this competition forms part of these terms and conditions. It is a condition of entry that all rules are accepted as final and that the competitor agrees to abide by these rules. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Submission of an entry will be taken to mean acceptance of these terms and conditions.

3. Entries must be submitted through the Arctic Biodiversity Competition Website and all information requested in the submission form submitted. Entries must be labelled with the entrant's name, the category letter and a unique number, for example "johndoe_C_01". Entries must be in JPEG format, of 300 ppi and at least 1800 pixels on the longest side. Images should not be cropped more than 50% of the original image size. Entries should furthermore include a title and location of shooting- including the title of the nearest major town. Images containing frames or watermarks will not be accepted in the competition. Entrants shortlisted to the second round of the competition will be requested to send a high resolution version of the image (minimum 3500 pixels), caption information, along with RAW-files or untouched JPEG-files for authentication. All entries must be received by the advertised closing time and date. Late, illegible, incomplete, defaced or corrupt entries will not be accepted.

4. All images submitted must be the work of the individual submitting them. It is the responsibility of each entrant to ensure that any images they submit have been taken with the permission of the subject and do not infringe the copyright of any third party or any laws. Entrants must warrant that the photograph they are submitting is their own work and that they own the copyright for it.

5. Rights and ownership of images belong to entrants. However, by entering the competition, the entrant grants the Organisers (CAFF) a non-exclusive, irrevocable license and permission to reproduce, publish and communicate the winning images ,including through competition sponsors, in relation to the competition and the Arctic Biodiversity Congress for the duration of two years in case of the competition exhibition for a duration of five years, starting from the date winners are announced. This public communication may use worldwide media including electronic and print mechanisms and tools. Entrants agree to permit CAFF to exhibit their awarded image(s) at the Arctic Biodiversity Congress and in a further Arctic tour. Authors will always be credited when their images are used. Once the Arctic Biodiversity Congress, the competition exhibition and competition is finalized all publications containing an image of the competition may be reprinted freely. If CAFF is interested in re-using some of the images after the two year period negotiations will be entered into with the individual photographer.

Maksimilian, Shutterstock.com

  • Entrants are required to report on the natural world in a way that is both creative and honest. Images entered must not attempt to deceive the viewer or misrepresent the reality of nature. Digital adjustments including tone and contrast, burning, dodging, cropping, sharpening, noise reduction, minor cleaning work, HDR, stitched panoramas, focus stacking using multiple exposure taken at the same location at the same time are permitted providing that they are reported within the caption information and comply with the competition's principles of authenticity so that they do not deceive the viewer or misrepresent the reality of nature.
  • Entrants must not do anything to injure or distress any animals or destroy habitat in an attempt to secure an image.
  • Entrants (or, in respect of the Young Competition, entrants and their parents/guardian) are responsible for ensuring full compliance with any applicable national or international legislation and for securing any relevant permits that may be required (which, in the case of human portraits and recordings, will include the subject's permission) and which must be made available on request by the Organisers.
  • Caption information supplied must be complete, true and accurate. Disguising or misrepresenting the origin of the image will constitute a breach of the Rules and images will be disqualified.
  • If the Organisers suspect that an image has been achieved through the use of cruel or unethical practices, including the use of live bait, the entry will be disqualified and the Organisers reserve the right to report the entrant to the applicable authorities.
  • Unless when illustrating an issue regarding the treatment of animals by a third party, the following images cannot be entered:

(i) images of restrained animals or captive animals

(ii) images of animal models or any other animals being exploited for profit.

7. The winning entry will be that which is judged to be the most visually appealing, original and self-explanatory under each of the categories and the overall winning image. The completion will follow this time schedule:

  • 5. October 2014 "The Closing Date". Entries must be received by 23:00 GMT on Sunday October 5th 2014.
  • 12. October 2014 "Second round". High-res version requested from entrants shortlisted for the second round. images must be submitted to the judges by 19 October.
  • 2. December 2014. Winners and runner-ups announced.
  • 2. December 2014. Opening of photo exhibition at the Arctic Biodiversity Congress in Norway.

Kári Fannar Lárusson, Karifannar.com

8. PRIZES: Winners in each of the four categories A – D is awarded with a prize as well as two special youth photographer prizes will be provided to one photographer under the age of 18 (born 1997 and later) and one under the age of 14 (born 2000 and later). Birth year of photographer defines eligibility, not birthday. The overall winner of the competition, which is chosen from one of the competition categories exluding the youth photographers category due to the nature of the prize.

9. The prizes as described are available on the date of publication. All prizes are non-transferable and there are no cash alternatives. CAFF reserves the right to substitute prizes at any point during the competition.

10. Winning entries, names and countries will be published on CAFF, Arctic Council and Arctic biodiversity websites and promoted during the Congress and will go on display throughout the Arctic in a minimum of ten locations.

11. Events may occur that render the competition itself or the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Organiser, and accordingly the Organiser may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the promotion and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to the Promoter as a result thereof.

12. Icelandic law applies and the exclusive jurisdiction of the Icelandic Courts shall prevail.