Photo Contest Official Rules

The photos submitted to the McCurtain County Tourism photography contest will be used to promote the community as a preferred travel destination by showing great visitor experiences and opportunities.

Please read the rules carefully.

Who can enter?
Eligibility includes both amateur and professional photographers of any age. Contest is open to all U.S. residents, except immediate family members of MCTA Board of Directors, Broken Bow Chamber Board Staff, and their respective agencies and agents.

WHAT TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ELIGIBLE?
We are seeking tourism images with striking original color and creativity including images of people enjoying tourist related activities in McCurtain County. Submitting images that clearly identify a person will need to have a model release submitted with the entry or the image will be disqualified.

MUST THE WORK BE SUBMITTED BY THE ENTRANT?
Yes. By entering the contest, the entrant represents, acknowledges and warrants that the submitted image is an original work created solely by the entrant and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the photograph.

IS THERE AN ENTRY FEE?
No

WHAT SUBJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
All photos entered must be of a location that is available for the public to visit and must have been taken by the entrant. Only photos of McCurtain County are eligible. Photos must have been taken in McCurtain County

WHAT ARE THE CATEGORIES & GUIDELINES?
All entries should convey the beauty, spirit and/or character of McCurtain County, illustrate the community’s breadth of experiences that visitors and residents enjoy. If possible, photos should show people enjoying  the tourist related activities in McCurtain County. We are looking for images of skylines, the great outdoors, family fun, recreation and adventures, the seasons, etc…

MUST ALL PHOTOS BE TAKEN WITHIN MCCURTAIN COUNTY?
Yes. The photos must be taken in McCurtain County recently (nothing that dates the photo such as old building sign where the business name has changed or things that would make the photo look out-of-date). Samples of types of photos show us how much fun you and your family have while in McCurtain County (families engaging in activities such as golfing, hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, or any great tourism related shots). Contest 1 is begins in September 2007 and ends February 2008 and Contest 2 begins in March ‘08 and ends in August ’08. Judging will take place seasonally and we would prefer to have seasonal, outdoor or event photos turned in close to when the activity took place, however if you have a fall/winter related shot and Contest 2 is the current contest, or vice versa, then you may submit your photo then.

WILL I NEED A MODEL RELEASE?
Yes. Each photograph that includes identifiable subjects (people) must be accompanied by a separate, signed release from EACH identifiable subject in the photograph. Releases that cannot be verified for authenticity by the MCTA, for any reason (including missing, incorrect or incomplete information on the release form) will result in the disqualification of the entry. You must upload, scan, or fax a signed model release when submitting an image containing any identifiable people.

WHEN MUST THE PHOTOS BE TAKEN?
We would prefer for the images to be taken during the contest period for which they are being submitted, however if you have an image you would like to submit outside of the current season, you may.

WHAT IS THE CONTEST PERIOD?
The contest will have (2) periods for entry:

1. Contest 1 Sept. – Feb. Fall/Winter
2. Contest 2 March – Aug. Spring/Summer

 

HOW WILL THE IMAGES BE JUDGED?
Entries will be judged on the ability to promote the activity or place appropriate to the contest entered.  Technical excellence is, of course, a desired factor, but any well-focused and exposed photo has as good a chance as any other to win, if the subject matter is good. All decisions of the judges are final. Judging times will be: Contest 1 – March and Contest 2 – September.

WHO WILL BE JUDING THE IMAGES?
The images will be judged by the McCurtain County Tourism Authority Advertising Committee. Prizes will be awarded only to entries that the contest judges deem worthy. Some prizes may not be awarded if no acceptable entries are received. All decisions by the judges are final.

WHAT ARE THE IMAGE RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS?
Submitted photos must be high resolution: 300dpi at a minimum of 5x7 inches in .jpg format only. In general, uploaded images should be at least 1,024k (1 Mb), but less than 5,120k (5 Mb).

CAN THE DIGITAL IMAGES BE ALTERED?
No. Altering content or subject matter of a photograph is not permitted, except with respect to cropping or resizing an image.

DO I NEED TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY FORM?
Yes. You must complete an entry form for EACH image submitted.

HOW MANY IMAGES CAN I SUBMIT?
Up to five (5) images may be submitted by a single individual during each contest period. Individuals submitting more than the limit may be disqualified.

HOW MUST THE IMAGES BE SUBMITTED?
Images must be submitted online in accordance with the Entry Form requirements. Receipt of entries will be acknowledged. Photographs must be in .jpg format and must meet required resolution size (see above).

ARE ONLY DIGITAL IMAGES ELIGIBLE?
Yes. No print or film submission will be accepted. If you have a non-digital image you wish to submit, then you will have to scan the photograph to the required DPI resolution, and then submit the photo online.

ARE BLACK & WHITE AND COLOR IMAGES ELIGIBLE?
No. Only color images are eligible.

WHAT RIGHTS WILL THE MCTA RETAIN IN SUBMITTED PHOTOS?
The MCTA reserves the right to use all or any of the photographs in printed materials and websites promoting regional tourism without paying compensation to the photographer or the subjects.

Your entry to the contest constitutes your agreement to allow your photographs to be:

1. Published on MCTA websites (including, but not limited to, www.brokenbowchamber.com and www.mccurtaincountygetaways.com).
2. Displayed at the MCTA’s discretion
3. Used in print publication of McCurtain County Tourism Authority including, but not limited to, MCTA newsletter, national magazine advertisements, and visitor’s guide.
4. Used in connection with limited promotional use including, but not limited to, posters and other materials marketing the competition.
5. Used in promotional pieces and websites of any tourism related entity within McCurtain County

 

WHAT RIGHT WILL ENTRANTS RETAIN?
Entrants retain all other right to future use of their photographs except as specified.

CAN ENTRANTS SELL THEIR WINNING PHOTOGRAPH?
Yes, but the purchaser(s) must be advised that the MCTA retain the rights enumerated in “WHAT RIGHT WILL THE MCTA RETAIN IN SUBMITTED PHOTOS?” section.

CAN SUBMITTED IMAGES HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED?
No.

WHAT ARE THE AWARD CATEGORIES AND AWARDS IN EACH CONTEST PERIOD?
Prizes are non-transferable and may not be redeemed for other substitutes. In the event that  a Winner chooses not to accept the Prize, they forfeit any and all claims to that Prize, which will be dealt with according to the absolute discretion of the MCTA. All awards will be made at the discretion of the judges. If a suitable image is not found amongst the entries a prize may not be awarded for each placement or contest.

WILL AWARD WINNERS BE REQUIRED TO FRAME THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS FOR DISPLAY?
No. The MCTA will display the 1st place winner for each Seasonal Award. These images are property of the MCTA and will remain on display at the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce and on the MCTA website, starting May 2008.

 

RETURNS:
No. entry will be returned, and all entries become the property of the MCTA. They will be added to the permanent MCTA photo collection, owned and maintained by the organization, and will be used as the organization sees fit. No photo credit will be attempted when a photograph is used as a major image in MCTA publications. It must be understood that MCTA gives promotional photos out to media, writers and other organizations, and they cannot be held responsible when photo credit is not given to the photographer for his or her work.

WHAT IS THE GENERAL AGREEMENT?
Contest entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the judging organization, which are final on all matters pertaining to contests. The return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

DISCLAIMER
The MCTA is not responsible for entries not received due to lost, failed, delayed or interrupted connections or miscommunications, or other electronic malfunctions. The sponsor is not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate entry information, whether caused by person entered at the website or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the contest or by any human error, which may occur in the processing of the entries in this contest.

By entering, participants release and hold harmless The MCTA, as well as any directors, officers or employees of this organization from any and all liability for any injuries, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the contest.

If, for any reason, the contest is not capable of being conducted as planned, including any causes beyond the control of the administrators, the MCTA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, modify, suspend or terminate the contest without notice to the entrants.

The Winner is responsible for any and all taxes payable as a result of a prize being awarded or received.

Entry into the photography contest does not create any vested right or interest for the participants in the prizes offered for the contest.

 

• The photography contest is open to United States residents who are 18 years of age or older.
• Photographs/digital images that have been published in any form prior to entry into the contest will be disqualified.
• Photographs must be in focus.
• Digital images may be submitted via online. All digital images must either be uploaded on www.mccurtaincountygetaways.com with the file being at least 300 dpi. Digital manipulations will be disqualified and will not be returned.
• Damaged photographs will not be accepted.
• Each photograph that includes identifiable subjects must be accompanied by a separate, signed release from each identifiable subject in the photograph in the form located. Releases that cannot be verified for authenticity by the McCurtain County Tourism Authority, for any reason (including missing, incorrect, or incomplete contact information on the release form) will be disqualified.
• Photographers may submit more than on e photo entry. Each photo must include a separate entry form and a separate photo identifiable subject release form for each identifiable subject in the photograph. If entries do not have appropriate documentation, they will be disqualified, with no notice to the entrant.
• The McCurtain County Tourism Authority or their agents or assigns are not responsible for late, lost, damaged, destroyed or misdirected entries, or for miscommunications, misdirected transmissions, or other errors of any kind whether human, mechanical or electronic.
• All entries become the exclusive property of the McCurtain County Tourism Authority and will not be returned to the photographer. The MCTA reserves the right to make use of the photographs as it determines, including but not limited to use for nay and all advertising, marketing or promotional purposes, for example, in print and online materials promoting McCurtain County tourism, without notice or paying compensation to the photographer or the subjects.
• Limit on prize per household. The odds of winning are dependent upon the number and quality of entries received. Winners are ineligible to win the contest more than once in a calendar year.
• Entry into the photography contest does not create any vested right or interest for the participants in the prizes offered for the contest.
• If for any reason the contest is not capable of being conducted as planned, including any causes beyond the control of the administrators of the contest, the McCurtain County Tourism Authority reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, modify, suspend or terminate the contest without notice to the entrants.