Contest Rules

INTERNATIONAL NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST “NaturViera” 2022

I.- OBJECT OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

The Hon. City Council of Los Realejos holds “NaturViera” II, the INTERNATIONAL NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST in order to promote photographic creation, culture, respect for nature and environmental awareness in honour of the illustrious polygraph born in this town, José de Viera y Clavijo, author, among others, of the Dictionary of Natural History of the Canary Islands, a field study that more than two centuries later continues to be a reference in the investigation of these Islands’ species.

 

II.- PARTICIPANTS.

All photographers, hobyists or professionals, who wish to take part, are over 18 years old, independent of their nationality and place of residence, and who are interested in nature photography can participate in the contest. Also, all kinds of colour photographs that depict the beauty, uniqueness or the glory of the natural values of our planet can be presented. Persons under the age of 18 can apply for participation in category G described below.

Registration for this contest is free and in no case may those linked to the organization of the contest participate.

 

III.- CATEGORIES AND AWARDS

The contest will focus on “Natural Wilderness”, establishing the following categories and awards:

CATEGORY A. “Viera y Clavijo” Award “BIRDS IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT”. Photographs of birds both in which the character of the bird, its most distinctive features or details are reflected, as well as compositions in which the landscape is an essential part of the image. The winner is awarded 2,000 euros and diploma.

CATEGORY B. “Ladera de Tigaiga” Award “NATURE AND LIVING BEINGS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT” Images of any other element related to living beings in their environment, (mammals, flora, fungi, insects, etc.) as well as landscape photographs taken anywhere on the planet. The winner is awarded 1,500 euros and diploma.

CATEGORY C. “Rambla de Castro” Award “NOCTURNAL LANDSCAPE” with images of any night photography, twilight, the milky way, taken anywhere on the planet. Astrophotography is not included in this section. 1,500 euros and diploma.

CATEGORY D. “La Bonita” Award”  “LANDSCAPES OF THE WORLD” Landscape photography from around the world. Special prize dedicated to the 400th  anniversary of the planting of the first “bonita” potatoes in the Canaries which took place in Los Realejos en 1622. The winner is awarded 1,500 euros and a diploma.

CATEGORY E. “Fundación Diario de Avisos” Award “NATURAL CANARIES” Photographs of nature scences of the Canary Islands. 1,000 euros and diploma.

CATEGORY F. “Los Realejos Four experience” Images which depict sports being performed in nature. (Surfing, kitesurfing, paragliding, rafting, trail running, hiking, climbing.) 1,000 euros and diploma.

CATEGORY G. “Los Realejos Child Friendly City” Award Nature photographs taken by young people under 18 years of age. Prize: 500 euros and a diploma. The prize will be paid into a bank account designated by the minor’s parents or legal guardian.

Any one photograph can only be eligible for one of the awards announced.

The amount of the prizes is subject to the tax retentions established by current legislation. All prizes shall be paid by transfer to a bank account designated to this effect.

 

IV. FORMAT OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL.

The images provided by the participants must be their own, not have been awarded in other competitions and must comply with the technical requirements specified in the following rules. The works must be presented in digital format (JPEG). It is recommended that the image be at most 1920 pixels on its largest side at 72 dpi.

The photographs will be presented without any type of frame, watermarks or signatures. Registration is free and up to a total of 5 photographs can be presented per participant, on electronic media and online on the competition’s official website https://www.naturviera.com.

The authors must indicate for each image, the category in which they wish to participate, (A, B, C, D, E, F or G).

Take into account that full resolution images of the winning photographs will be required by use for the Hon. City Council of Los Realejos.

The RAW file of the image may be required if the jury deem this necessary.

No manipulation or digital alteration of the photograph will is allowed. Only essential, basic adjustments such as corrections of hue, white balance, lightness, contrast, saturation and adjustment of shadows, lighting and cropping and composition are permitted.

Images in Nocturnal Landscape of category C can be obtained by startrail type image stacking, multiple exposure on cameras with equatorial mounts as well as panoramas.

Animal photographs depicting domestic or captive animals, as well as photographs that indicate behaviour incompatible with respect for nature will not be admitted. To this end they have to comply with the ethical code of the Spanish Association of Nature Photographers (AEFONA), which guarantees the photographers’ respectful behaviour with nature. This code can be consulted at the following address.

https://www.aefona.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Codigo-etico-de-AEFONA.pdf

 

V.- ANNOUNCEMENT.

The period of registration for the contest will be from July 1st, 2022 to October 15th, 2022 at 11:59 p.m., both inclusive. No submissions will be accepted before or after these dates.

The contest will be open and free and it will be announced by the means that are considered most appropriate, in order to obtain maximum dissemination and facilitate participation, among which are, web portals of photographic contests, associations of nature photographers, the municipal website, press, radio, etc.

The copyright of the award-winning photographs will remain with their authors. The winning photographs may be used by the contest organizers without limitation of time or place in the activities related to the contest and its promotion. With the explicit permission of the authors, the non-awarded works selected by the Jury may be exhibited or published. And in any case, the authorship of the photographs used will be credited. Contestants are responsible for making sure that there exist no third party rights in the works presented. Said use does not imply any payment to the authors of the photographs used. In any case, the authorship of the photographs used will always be credited.

The jury, named for this purpose, reserves the right to reject the participation of those photographs that do not conform to the theme of the contest and that do not meet the conditions established in these rules. The jury, if it deems it appropriate, may declare the prizes void in any of the categories.

 

VI.- DATA PROTECTION POLICY.

The personal data provided by the contestants will be treated in accordance with the provisions of the December 5th Personal Data Protection Act 3/2018, and they may exercise their rights of access, rectification and deletion.

 

VII.- JURY.

The jury will be made up of City Council personnel and technical experts, appointed by the Mayor’s Office at the proposal of the Department of Environment and Tourism, among people related to culture or among those who exercise their profession on subjects to do with nature, culture, art, design, photography, etc.

It will be made up of a maximum of six people. The honorary presidency will be held by the Mayor or a person delegated by him. In the jury there will be a secretary, with voice but without vote and a number of members not exceeding four, and the sum of the number of members of the jury, including the president, cannot be an odd number. The jury’s decision will be made and announced in at he end of October.

The Jury will assess the technical and artistic quality of the works, their uniqueness, reality, composition and beauty. The decisions of the Jury will be final.

Participation in this photography contest implies acceptance of these rules. For any questions related to participation in the contest, please contact the organization by email

info@naturviera.com