"Shoot the Hills" Photo Competition
Competition Rules & Policies
April 18-20, 2008 - 7th Annual Event

1. Shoot the Hills Photo Competition strives to honestly promote the living, lifestyle, and natural history of the Hocking Hills Region.  All participants must respect these goals.

2. In order to be eligible for participation in Shoot the Hills Photo Competition, a photographer must agree to and abide by all Rules & Policies associated with the competition.  Upon registration, a photographer’s signature (or that of his/her parent or legal guardian for participants under age 18) is required to acknowledge said agreement.  This agreement is necessary for a valid entry.

3. Shoot the Hills Photo Competition is open to photographers of all ages: amateur, professional, and juniors alike, regardless of gender, race, or nationality.

4. Current Shoot the Hills members and Shoot the Hills volunteers are ineligible to enter.

5. Photographers must pay the appropriate registration fee to be eligible for this competition.

6. There are three “judged” divisions in this competition.  A photographer may enter in the Film Division (only once) and/or either one of the two Digital Divisions (only once).

• Film Division
• Digital Point-n-Shoot Division
• Digital SLR Division

7. Any registered photographer may also enter the competition’s “non-judged” Print Division, and may enter as many times as desired.

8. Any registered photographer may also enter the competition’s “non-judged” Photographers Choice contest, and may enter only one photograph.  The photograph must have been shot during the competition. 

9. Any registered photographer may also vote (one time only) in the Photographer Choice contest, but may not vote for his or her own entry.

10. For all judged divisions and the Photographers Choice contest, photographers must photograph within the boundaries of the Shoot the Hills Photo Competition region.  The competition boundaries are marked or divided by county lines.  The only Ohio counties that are included in this competition are: Hocking County, Fairfield County, Athens County and Vinton County.  A photographer must be within a legal coverage area while taking photographs for entry into the competition.

10. Film Division photographers must enter slides taken using an “official” roll of 36-exposure slide film issued by Shoot the Hills Photo Competition.  No other film may be used for competition entries. Photographers may not process their own competition film. Competition film must be returned to the Registration Area by the deadline. NOTE: The competition film may be distributed in the registration area of the Hocking Hills Dining Lodge beginning as early as 12:30 p.m.  HOWEVER, IF FILM IS PICKED UP BEFORE 1:00 P.M., PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO STAY IN A SPECIAL HOLDING AREA TO ENSURE THAT SHOOTING MAY NOT BEGIN UNTIL THE OFFICIAL START OF THE COMPETITION.

11. Photographers entering either Digital Division must enter images that were captured on the originally identified memory card.  All digital entries must have been captured during the competition.  All digital entries must be submitted on a CD that will be provided by Shoot the Hills, and the CD must be returned to the Registration Area by the deadline.

12. There are a total of six competition categories.  Photographers may only enter one photo in the “Photographer’s Choice” category, but may enter up to two photos in all other categories with a limit of six entries per registration altogether.

13. Categories are: (1) Landscape, (2) Flora, (3) Wildlife, (4) Human Interest in Nature, (5) Abstract in Nature, and (6) Photographer’s Choice.  The definitions of each category are listed below.  If an entry has qualifying characteristics of more than one category, the photographer should select the "most appropriate" category in his/her opinion.  However, if a majority decision of the judges concludes that an entry does not suit the entered category, the entry may be moved to another by the judges to a more suitable category.  All decisions by the judges are final.

• Category (1) Landscape is defined as scenic view or overview of a particular region or land, showing an area's terrain and/or diversity in ecosystem(s).  It may include landmarks and geological highlights, as well as land, sky, and bodies of water.  While it may include wildlife and/or people, emphasis should be on the habitat or terrain.
• Category (2) Flora is defined as a non-artificial plant, plant life, or part thereof.  Preference will be given to native Ohio plants and wildflowers. Picking of wild plants is strictly prohibited, but photographers may photograph cultivated species if desired as long as wild plants are not uprooted, damaged, cut, or picked.
• Category (3) Wildlife is defined as a wild animal or part thereof.  Preference will be given to untamed and uncontrolled species that are photographed under natural conditions; although, legally controlled or rehabilitating wildlife may be photographed.  Animals must not be harassed or stressed during the photographic process.  Domestic species of animals (such as cats, dogs, or livestock) are not considered to be wildlife.
• Category (4) Human Interest in Nature is defined as an image that illustrates human interest in nature.  The image may show or imply a person or persons participating in an outdoor activity or encountering/experiencing nature in some way (posed or natural). The image may also portray or imply a person’s presence, such as a shadow, silhouette, or footprint, for example.  The subject(s) must be outdoors.  We recommend that photographers obtain written permission of the person(s) appearing in their photographs if the subject(s) appear close-up or are easily identifiable in the photographs.  Model release forms will be available in the registration area of the Hocking Hills Lodge during competition hours.
• Category (5) Abstract in Nature is defined as an image where the subject is not necessarily identifiable.  This is a category where "less is more,” meaning that a good abstract might only include part of a whole subject. Photographers are encouraged to regard lines, patterns, textures, and subject movement for greater appeal.  Photographers are also encouraged to be original and creative in their compositions and execution thereof.
• Category (6) Photographer’s Choice is defined as any remaining image from the competition roll or memory card (Film and Division Divisions only) that the photographer chooses. This is considered to be an “open” category. “Photographer’s Choice” is not limited to any particular subject, and may, in fact, fit as well into another category.  However, photographers may only enter one photo in this category. (IMPORTANT: Regarding voting, only participating photographers may vote in this category.  Photographers may have only one vote, and may not vote for themselves.)

14. The inclusion of “props” (defined as a subject, object, or item; manmade or natural; foreign or native) is discouraged if the “prop” or use thereof does not accurately represent or depict the region or natural history of the competition coverage area.  Likewise, the use of “props” that are intended to falsely represent or inappropriately depict the area will be graded poorly, and may be eliminated in the pre-judging round as this diminishes the spirit of the competition.  All decisions by the judges are final.

15. No entry may be vulgar; offensive to ethnic, religious, or minority groups; or determined by the judges to be unsuitable for "family" viewing.  Photographers are strongly advised to use their best judgment to ensure that an entry is "appropriate."  But if discrepancies or public concerns are raised, a majority of judges have the right to disqualify any entry.  All decisions by the judges are final.

16. After a round of pre-judging (each division judged separately), final entries will be scored by five judges independently in these four skill areas: 

• Artistic Merit & Composition (1-10 points)
• Technical Quality (1-10 points)
• Originality (1-10 points)
• Level of Photographic Challenge (1-10 points)

17. Photographers may enter up to a total of five entries in the appropriate division, but no more than two in any one category.

18. Film Photographers must mark an assigned "Contestant Number" and the appropriate "Category" on the backside of each slide being entered.  They must also mark the word “Top” on the backside of the slide to indicate the proper orientation of the image for viewing. (Specific instructions will be distributed at the Registration Table.) Photographers should use a fine tip, permanent black marker to legibly inscribe the required numbers. (Such markers will be available for use in the registration area of the Hocking Hills Dining Lodge between the aforementioned scheduled hours.)

19. Film Photographers may not alter, enhance, or modify his or her slides.  Photographers must use the slide film that is issued for the compeitition. Any slide in violation will be disqualified.  If a judge questions the authenticity of an entry, a photographer may be further questioned by the judges.  Judges have the right to refuse any entry that the majority of judges believe is in an altered state or believe to be a substitute. 

20. Digital Photographers will follow specific guidelines concerning file format, file renaming, and restricted image modifications.  (See “Digital Guideline Addendum” for additional information.)

21. Entry Returns:  Film Photographers are required pick up non-winning slides following the awards program or make arrangements with officials to return the slides by USPS.  A $5 fee will be charged in advance for shipping slides back to photographers.  Unclaimed non-winning slides become the property of Shoot the Hills Photo Competition.  Winning slides will be held by officials of Shoot the Hills Photo Competition for publication and/or duplication for a reasonable period of time after the competition for scanning and printing.  Winning slides will eventually be returned via USPS or an insured carrier (at no cost to photographers) to the address provided at time of registration.  Digital Photographers must leave their CD.  All CD’s remain the property of Shoot the Hills Photo Competition. 

22. Winning images remain the property of each photographer, however, the winning images may be published or printed and used by officials of Shoot the Hills Photo Competition and its sponsors, in addition to the Hocking Hills State Park, Friends of Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio State Parks, and/or its designees for editorial uses, promotional purposes, advertising, and/or the production of merchandise items relating to the event.  No additional compensation (other than the original prize) will be made to photographers, and a photographer's eligibility in this competition is contingent upon this agreement. Proper photo credit will be given to each published photograph.  In the event of an erroneous oversight or misprint, the publishing company, the magazine, the competition officials, and related agencies will not be held liable for real or perceived “damages,” but a correction or retraction may be published to correct any misprinting.

23. Photographers of Shoot the Hills Photo Competition agree that any and all photographs or images made of them or their likeness during the competition may be published and/or reproduced by officials of Shoot the Hills Photo Competition, Hocking Hills State Park, Friends of Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio State Parks, and/or any of its designees for editorial uses, promotional purposes, and/or advertising relating to the event.  His/her name may or may not be published as identification.  No compensation will be made to photographers.  In the case of a photographer under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must consent to these conditions.

24. Photographers and/or their families will hold harmless officials and judges of Shoot the Hills Photo Competition, Hocking Hills State Park, Friends of Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio State Parks, event sponsors and vendors, and their employees and/or volunteers in the event of loss, personal injury, or death as a result of participating in Shoot the Hills Photo Competition.  Photographers are solely responsible for their own well-being, safety, and protection—even though safety rules and/or regulations may be in place in designated areas. A photographer's eligibility in this competition is contingent upon this agreement. In the case of a photographer under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must consent to these terms and conditions.

25. Additional rules, regulations, and restrictions may be added by Shoot the Hills Photo Competition officials as a condition of participation in this event if it is deemed necessary by its governing officials.  Likewise, existing rules, regulations, and restrictions may be changed if it is deemed necessary by its officials, and these conditions are open to interpretation only by the competition judges and officials. ALL DECISIONS ARE FINAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE COMPETITION JUDGES. 

DIGITAL DIVISION GUIDELINES ADDENDUM

To be eligible to enter the Digital Division of Shoot the Hills Photo Competition, all qualifying photographs must be captured on the photographer’s own memory card.  Only one memory card may be used.  All other Rules & Polices must be upheld in addition to these additional requirements.

There are two digital division choices:  (1) Digital Point-n-Shoot; and (2) Digital SLR.  A photographer may enter only one time in a digital division.  A photographer may not enter in both digital division types, but may also enter in the Film Division (as well as in the Print Division).

DIGITAL POINT-N-SHOOT DIVISION:

Only one memory card may be used per photographer (regardless of the card’s memory size). 

All entries must be captured within the 24-hour legal shooting period of the contest.

Upon registering for the Digital Point-n-Shoot Division, the photographer will designate a specific memory card for the contest.  Photographers must verify the correct date and time in his or her camera and reformat the memory card they intend to use for the competition.  This is considered as a “Verification Process.” A registration volunteer will witness the Verification Process and may provide further instruction.

After the Verification Process, photographers will then be instructed to photograph a predetermined subject (a “contest starter”) as the first photo on his/her memory card used for the competition.  This photo must not be deleted.

Winners may be required to have their photograph(s) certified by the judges as being captured on the same memory card the photographer used for the contest.  False entries (those coming from other memory cards or those not shot during the competition) will be disqualified.

Entries may be captured in any camera mode, but the highest-qualiity JPEG mode is recommended.

Photographers in this division are restricted from altering their images in a way that falsely represents the original scene at the time of capture.  This means that most image modifications, such as those enabled by Adobe Photoshop or similar software programs, are not acceptable. As with the Film Division of Shoot the Hills Photo Competition, all digital photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared in the viewfinder.  Nothing should be added to the image; and aside from minor dust spots, nothing should be removed.  However, slight cropping, and minor color and contrast adjustments are acceptable when applied to the entire image. The use of “layers” to make adjustments is NOT acceptable. Images that violate these rules or undermine the integrity of these rules will be disqualified.

To assist photographers in this entry-level type of division, representatives of Shoot the Hills will be available to download memory cards for the contestants to select their entries.  The representative will also rename the chosen files appropriately and burn those images onto a CD that will be turned into the judges.

Due to time restraints, representatives will not be able to download the photographer’s entire memory card, perform allowable image adjustments, or burn additional CD’s.  Even though representatives are available, it is preferred that the photographer download and prepare his or her own files before submitting the CD. Nonetheless, no penalties to the photographer’s entries will be made due to assistance from Shoot the Hills representatives in this division.  If the photographer prepares his or her CD, the following file-renaming criteria must be used.

The front of the CD must contain the following information:

• photographer’s assigned ID number, not his/her name
• the file name or number of each photo entered, along with its appropriate competition category

The file names on the CD should begin with the photographer’s ID number followed by an underscore then the camera file number.   For example (if your ID number is 1234):  ID1234_DSC_XXXX.

If the photographer is entering two (2) images in the same category, he or she should put an “A” immediately after the ID number on the first image, and a “B” immediately after the ID number on the second image.  For example (if your ID number is 1234):  ID1234A_DSC_XXXX or  ID1234B_DSC_XXXX.

DIGITAL SLR DIVISION:

Only one memory card may be used per photographer (regardless of the card’s memory size). 

All entries must be captured within the 24-hour legal shooting period of the contest.

Upon registering for the Digital SLR Division, the photographer will designate a specific memory card for the contest.  Photographers must verify the correct date and time in his or her camera and reformat the memory card they intend to use for the competition.  This is considered as a “Verification Process.” A registration volunteer will witness the Verification Process and may provide further instruction.

After the Verification Process, photographers will then be instructed to photograph a predetermined subject (a “contest starter”) as the first photo on his/her memory card used for the competition.  This photo must not be deleted.

Winners may be required to have their photograph(s) certified by the judges as being captured on the same memory card the photographer used for the contest.  False entries (those coming from other memory cards or those not shot during the competition) will be disqualified.

All entries must be shot in the camera’s RAW mode only (not in JPEG, TIFF, or other “quality” mode).  We understand that different camera manufacturers use specific proprietary “file extensions” to represent a camera’s RAW mode (i.e. Nikon may be “.nef” and Canon may be “.crw”; etc.).  Regardless of the way a camera names the RAW files, entries must only be captured in the camera’s RAW mode.

The camera’s RAW mode must be supported by Adobe PhotoShop CS or higher versions.  (NOTE: If you are uncertain, please see a Digital Division Representative before you begin the competition.)

A CD (for final entries) will be provided to each photographer who enters the Digital Division.  This CD is intended only for copies of the actual entries¾not every photograph taken during the competition period.  Photographers are expected to burn their own entries onto this CD.  Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that photographers will bring (or have at his/her access) the necessary computer hardware and software to achieve this.  However, official representatives of Shoot the Hills may be available to answer questions.

Upon registration, photographers must reformat the memory card they intend to use for the competition.  This is considered as a “Verification Process.” A registration volunteer will witness the Verification Process and may provide further instruction.

The appropriate time and date must be recorded in the camera’s RAW mode for each qualifying entry.  Therefore, it may require that you set your camera’s time and date before beginning the contest, and a registration volunteer will check to ensure accuracy.  (NOTE: If setting your camera’s time and date at the registration desk, please bring your camera’s operating manual if you are uncertain how to do so.)

Upon registering for the Digital Division, the photographer will designate a specific memory card for the contest.  On that card, the photographer will be instructed to photograph a predetermined subject (a “contest starter”) as the first photo on his/her memory card used for the competition.  This photo must not be deleted.

Winners may be required to have their photograph(s) certified by the judges as being captured on the same memory card the photographer used for the contest.  False entries (those coming from other memory cards or those not shot during the competition) will be disqualified.

Digital photographers are restricted from altering their images in a way that falsely represents the original scene at the time of capture.  This means that most image modifications, such as those enabled by Adobe Photoshop or similar software programs, are not acceptable. As with the Film Division of Shoot the Hills Photo Competition, all digital photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared in the viewfinder.  Nothing should be added to the image; and aside from minor dust spots, nothing should be removed.  However, slight cropping, and minor color and contrast adjustments are acceptable when applied to the entire image. The use of “layers” to make adjustments is NOT acceptable. Images that violate these rules or undermine the integrity of these rules will be disqualified.

All entries of digital files must be submitted on the CD as a RAW file as well as a copy of this file in a JPEG format.  The JPEG copy should be sized or resized to these specifications: 100 dpi, measuring 1024 pixels in width on the horizontal shots or 768 pixels in height on the vertical shots.  Officials will be available to answer questions if needed.

The front of the CD must contain the following information:

• photographer’s assigned ID number, not his/her name
• the file name or number of each photo entered, along with its appropriate competition category

If possible, the image file names on the CD should begin with the photographer’s ID number followed by an underscore then the camera file number.   For example (if your ID number is 1234):  ID1234_DSC_XXXX.

If the photographer is entering two (2) images in the same category, he or she should put an “A” immediately after the ID number on the first image, and a “B” immediately after the ID number on the second image.  For example (if your ID number is 1234):  ID1234A_DSC_XXXX or  ID1234B_DSC_XXXX.