Caithness International Science Festival -

General Rules
1. Submission Guidelines:
o Format: Images must be submitted in JPEG format, with a minimum resolution of 3000 pixels on the longest side.
o Editing: Post-processing is allowed, but the integrity of the scene must be preserved. Excessive manipulation may lead to disqualification. (Judges reserve the right to ask for an unedited copy of the image)
o Number of Entries: Participants may submit up to three images per category.
o Watermarks: Images must be free of watermarks, borders, or any identifying marks.

2. Eligibility:
o Original Work: All submissions must be the original work of the photographer. Entries must not have been previously awarded in other major photography competitions.
o Location and Date Range: Photographs must have been taken between 1st January 2023 and Friday 7th February 2025 and should depict natural night skies or auroras. Images must have been captured in Caithness or Sutherland.

3. Ethical Guidelines:
o Respect for Nature: Photographers must follow Leave No Trace principles and ensure that no harm is done to the environment while capturing images.
o Model Releases: If the image includes recognisable individuals, a signed model release must be provided upon request.

4. Judging Criteria:
o Technical Excellence: Sharpness, exposure, and overall image quality.
o Composition: Framing, use of space, and overall aesthetic appeal.
o Originality and Creativity: Unique perspectives and innovative approaches.
o Adherence to Theme: How well the image represents the night skies of Caithness and Sutherland.

5. Prizes:
o Awards: Each Category Winner will receive a trophy and £50 cash prize; two runners up will receive a trophy.

Category winners will automatically compete for the overall prize: An evening of guided observing and imaging of the night sky with Caithness Astronomy Group

This guided session with CAG will have a range of specialist astronomical telescopes and imaging equipment available to use for observing and imaging celestial objects of interest.

The session is to be taken within 1 year of the prize being awarded and will be tailored to suit the interests of the attendees. It will be scheduled for mutually agreeable dates and will be subject to rescheduling if the weather conditions are not suitable.

This session is for the winner plus up to six other friends and family members to attend. The winner may need to travel to a dark venue such as Castlehill Heritage Centre for the session, unless they have a suitable alternative venue that can be used.

o Publication: There will be an exhibition of selected entries, including all winners and shortlisted entries. You may be invited to present your entry in large print format (A2 – A0) with a mount to display as part of the exhibition. Entries may be featured in an online gallery and may be included in future publications.

6. Deadlines:
o Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted by Friday 7th February 2025.
o Winners Announcement: Winners will be announced on Friday 14th March at the exhibition launch.

7. Rights and Usage:
o Copyright: Photographers retain full copyright of their images.
o Usage Rights: By entering the competition, participants grant the organisers the right to use submitted images for promotional purposes related to the competition, with full credit to the photographer.

8. Disqualification:
o The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not adhere to the rules or that is deemed inappropriate, unethical, or fraudulent.

Contact Information
For any questions or further information, please contact Nicola Macleod, festival@science03.org

By participating in this competition, you agree to abide by all rules and regulations stated above.