The holiday season is almost upon us, which means it’s time for Stir-up Sunday, sentimental TV adverts, and the Amateur Photographer Christmas cover competition. This year we have teamed up with Photocrowd and PermaJet to offer you global exposure, and some great prizes.
The prizes
The overall winner (as judged by the AP team) will see their picture grace the cover of the AP Christmas Special (17-24 December). They will also receive a top-quality A3 print of the finished design (complete with masthead, cover lines and so on), courtesy of PermaJet (www.permajet.com), and a cash prize of £100. There will also be a second winner (as awarded by the public vote via Photocrowd, (www.photocrowd.com), who will receive £100, and an A3 print of their image. If the standard of entries is deemed high enough, the winner(s), and a selection of commended entries, will appear inside a future issue of AP.
How to enter
The competition is open to everyone, whether amateur or professional, and you are free to interpret the theme in any way you choose: naturally, we are happy to see shots of baubles, trees and lights, but we also want pictures that show the creative potential of the season in general, so feel free to submit winter landscapes, indoor portraits, frosty flora and fauna and so on. If you think you already have something suitable on file, great, but if not have a go at shooting something for the competition (see below for our insider tips).
To enter, upload your image(s) via the following link: www.photocrowd.com/contests/610-christmas-cover-star. For terms and conditions please see below.
Tips for cover success!
Shoot portrait-format pictures: While it’s not unheard of for us to use a section of a landscape-format image, your chances are vastly improved by sticking to the upright orientation.
Make eye contact: If you’re submitting a portrait, ensure good eye contact, with the subject looking directly into the lens. Make sure the eyes are pin-sharp.
Provide plenty of options: Try various angles and subject placements, with the main focal point to the left, the right and centre, to give the art editor lots of options as to where to put the cover lines.
Don’t crop in too tightly: Leave lots of space for the magazine ‘furniture’ – the masthead, cover lines, and graphic devices. Busy images with lots of detail are generally unsuitable as they make superimposed text tricky to read.
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Terms and conditions
The closing date for entries is Sunday 20 November 2016. Entries must be made via the following link: www.photocrowd.com/contests/610-christmas-cover-star/.
Photographs must not have been previously published on the front page of a national UK photography magazine. All images will be credited appropriately.
Images must be reproducible at of 300dpi, A4 size.
Copyright for all images submitted to the competition remains with the photographer. Images will only be used by Amateur Photographer in connection with the promotion of the competition and as part of the prize.
There will be two winners: the first decided by a judging panel, and the second via a public vote, the winners will be selected from all entries received by the closing date stated in the promotional material. The winner of the first category will be published on the front cover of Amateur Photographer magazine 17-24 December 2016, and will receive an unframed, unmounted A3 print of the cover courtesy of PermaJet, plus £100. The winner of the second category (chosen by the public vote) will receive an unframed, unmounted A3 print of their image courtesy of PermaJet, plus £100. Winning (and commended) entries may also appear on the Amateur Photographer website, and on social media.
All photographs must be the work of the individual entrant. Entrants must ensure that pictures featuring people have been taken with the permission of the subject (where necessary), and do not infringe the copyright of any third party.
When you enter this competition, your email address will be added to the Amateur Photographer weekly newsletter and Time Inc. (UK) Ltd. may contact you about relevant products or services and research via email. However, you will be given the opportunity to unsubscribe via the unsubscribe message in the emails. Normal Time Inc (UK) Ltd competition rules apply.
Competition details form part of these terms and conditions. Entry is open to everyone worldwide with the exception of employees (and their families) of Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, and its printers. The entrant(s) must be aged 18 or over. (Proof of identity and age may be required.) Use of a false name or address will result in disqualification. Competitions may be modified or withdrawn at any time.
All entries must be made directly by the person entering the competition. Entries made online using methods generated by a script, macro or the use of automated devices will be void. No responsibility can be accepted for entries lost, delayed or corrupted, or due to computer error in transit.
The prizes are as stated, are not transferable to another individual and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. Prizes are subject to availability and the prize suppliers’ terms and conditions. The promoters reserve the right to amend or alter the terms of competitions. In the event of a prize being unavailable, the promoter reserves the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value.
The winner(s) agree(s) to the use of their name, photograph and disclosure of county of residence and will co-operate with any other reasonable requests by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd relating to any post-winning publicity. The also agree to their winning image appearing on the front cover of the magazine.
If the standard of entries is not deemed high enough the Promoter reserves the right to select an alternative image from another source.
Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the winner(s) via email. If the winner(s) do not respond within 72 hours of the date of the email, or are unable to comply with these terms and conditions, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to the runner(s)-up selected by the judges/public vote.
Confirmation of the prize will be made in writing to the winner(s). Failure to respond and/or provide an address for delivery, or failure to meet the eligibility requirements (including the delivery of a hi-res file) may result in forfeiture of the prize.
Where applicable, the decision of the judges is final based on the criteria set out in the promotion and no correspondence will be entered into.
The provider of the prize is specified within the promotional material. The Promoter is Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU.
In the event of a discrepancy between these standard terms and conditions and the details in the promotional material, the details of the promotional material shall prevail.
A list of winners will be available by writing to the publisher of the magazine or website at the Promoter’s address no earlier than six weeks (unless otherwise stated) after the close of the competition. Only the surname and county of the winners will be disclosed.
