The Catholic University of America

CUArch's Alumni photo contest allows the CUArch community the chance to see architecture around the world through your unique lens.

Contestants may enter photographs up to three (3) times. Show CUArch students, past and present, your view of architecture! Three winners will be selected from the total entries. The entries of all winners will be published on the CUArch's Web site on 01 October 2009.

Photo Contest Rules

Term:

The CUArch Alumni Photo Contest begins 01 August 2009 and ends 10 September 2009, at 5pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the contest and states that they are 18 years old and older.

Who may enter:

All CUArch Alumni are eligible.

What to enter:

Any architectural photograph is eligible. The photo must be shot by the entrant [not a photopgraph of a completed project designed by the entrant] Photographs must have been shot by the entrant within the past three (3) years (since 01 January 2007).

Cropped photos are eligible in all categories. We do not accept digitally or otherwise enhanced or altered photos. Minor adjustments, including spotting, dodging and burning, contrast and slight color adjustment or the digital equivalents, are acceptable. If our judges see that a photographer has obviously altered his or her photo, they reserve the right to move the photo to disqualify it.

For a photo in which a person is recognizable, you must secure a model release from the subject or, in the case of a minor, the subject's parent or guardian and provide it to CUArch upon request. A release is available here.

Photographs that have won any other contests or have been published in magazines and newspapers (except online) are not eligible. Photos that violate or infringe upon another person's copyright are not eligible.

How to enter:

Please submit photographs via email to shovebrown@cua.edu. We do not accept photographs submitted through the mail. Submit no more than three (3) photographs.

High-quality scans of non-digital photographs are acceptable. Digital photographs should be taken at the highest resolution possible. Please download the entry form here. Complete a separate form for each photo submitted. Photographs must be in a .jpeg, .jpg or .gif format. Files submitted may not be larger than 2,048k (2Mb).

CUArch judges reserve the right to disqualify contestants who are unable to submit, upon request, a high-resolution photograph of at least 300 dpi at 5 x 7 inches.

By entering the contest, entrants grant CUArch a royalty-free, world-wide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to display, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or subsequently developed, for any CUArch purpose, including, but not limited to advertising and promotion of the magazine and its Web site, exhibition, and commercial products, including but not limited to CUArch publications. Photographs may appear on the CUArch Web site as well as in CUArch publications. Any photograph reproduced will include a photographer credit. CUArch will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such uses.

Photographs should be named with the following format: lastname_photo#.format [example: shovebrown_1.jpg or shovebrown_2.gif]

Entry deadline:

All digital entries must be received via email by 5pm Eastern Time, 10 September 2009.

Judging:

Judging will be conducted by CUA and CUArch administrators and special invited guests. Decisions of the judges will be final.

Please do not contact us about the status of entries.

Winners will be notified of their status by 30 Spetember 2009, and will appear on our Web site on 01 October 2009.

The contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. CUArch reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules at its discretion. Decisions of CUArch will be final.

Prizes:
First Place: Prizes to be announced shortly!
Second Place: Prizes to be announced shortly!
Third Place: Prizes to be announced shortly!

Photo Contest Frequently Asked Questions

When will the winners be announced?
The winners, category winners and readers' choice winner will be announced on our Web site on or before 01 October 2009

What are the prizes?
First Place: Prizes to be announced shortly!
Second Place: Prizes to be announced shortly!
Third Place: Prizes to be announced shortly!

Will I be notified if I was NOT chosen as a finalist or winner?
Due to the large number of submissions, only the winners will be notified of their status by 30 September 2009. If you do not hear from CUArch by 01 October 2009, then you are not a winner.

How many photos can I enter into the contest?
You may enter no more than three (3) photographs.

How do I submit my photograph?
You can submit your photograph, or a high-quality scan of your photograph, via email to David Shove-Brown. We do not accept entries submitted through the postal mail.

Do you accept non-digital photographs?
No.

Can I enter if I live outside the United States?
Yes, but photographs must be uploaded by 5pm Eastern Standard Time (EST), 10 September 2009.

Can an old photo be entered?
Only photographs that have been taken in the past three years are eligible. Photographs that were taken before 01 January 2007 are not eligible.

Do I need release forms for people in my photo?
If they are recognizable, and especially if they are children, you need a release form, which you should be able to provide upon CUArch's request. A release is available here.

I want to submit a photograph of a stranger(s), that was shot spontaneously or in another country. There is no way I will be able to get their signature for a model release. What do I do?
 Please contact the Photo Contest at shovebrown@cua.edu and provide a detailed description of the circumstances of your photograph and we will review your query.

What if my digital photograph does not have a resolution of 300 dpi, or more, at at least 5 x 7 inches?
Without this essential requirement, CUArch cannot consider your photograph as a winner in our contest.

Can photographs be cropped?
Yes.

Can photographs be manipulated or enhanced?
No. Minor adjustments, including spotting, dodging and burning, contrast and slight color adjustments, or the digital equivalents, are acceptable. You may, for example, submit a black and white photo as color and vice versa. If our judges see that a photo has obviously been altered by the photographer, they have the right to disqualify it.

What size should my digital image be for uploading with the entry form?
Files submitted may not be larger than 2,048k (2Mb). Please be aware that you will need to have a higher-resolution image on hand, at least 300 dpi at 5 x 7 inches, to be considered for the contest.

I entered by photo into another contest and it won. Can I enter it into this contest?
 Photographs that have won other contests, both online and in print, are not eligible for submission. We define winning as having won a grand prize and having won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place overall.

Is it OK to enter a photograph that has been on my home page?
Yes, your photograph is eligible for submission. However, photographs that have been published (except online) are not eligible.

I am a not a CUA alum. Can I enter?
No. This contest is only open to CUArch alumni.

What rights to my photograph do I retain?
You retain your rights to your photograph; however, by entering the contest, you grant the CUArch a royalty-free, world-wide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to display, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or subsequently developed, for any CUArch purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion of the magazine and its website, exhibition, and commercial products, including but not limited to CUArch publications. Photographs may appear on the CUArch Web site as well as in CUArch publications. Any photograph reproduced will include a photographer credit. CUArch will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such uses.

Where can I send questions and feedback?
Please e.mail all questions to David Shove-Brown.