Rules, How To Enter
and other important information

Rules

Please read carefully.
  1. The competition is open to amateur photographers who reside in Western Australia. For the purpose of this competition a professional photographer is a person whose photography is their prime source of income.
  2. All elements of an image need to be 100% photographic in origin and captured/created by the author, including all developing/post production. Main elements of an image must be captured within the 24-month period before the closing date for entries. Supporting elements may be captured outside the 24 – month period.
  3. Artificial Intelligence generated/render images will be considered in violation of rule 2 and will therefore be disqualified.
  4. The category requirements in the category descriptions form part of the rules.
  5. The purpose of the competition is to judge and reward visually impactful images. The same subject may be used across multiple entries, though it is a requirement that entrants submit images that are significantly different.
  6. Each image entered, regardless of category, shall be substantially different in subject and interpretation from any other image entered by the same author in the current or previous Spring in the Hills competition.
  7. All entrants, including prize winners shall be able to provide evidence that the rules have been followed. This might include a file of the submitted image in a layered format, together with all image files used to create a composite image with their metadata.
  8. Images cannot be watermarked or logo embedded.
  9. The competition review committee reserves the right to reject an image if in their opinion
    • it is or may be attended by unlawful or immoral aspects, or
    • publication might expose GEM Camera Club to criminal prosecution or civil liability
  10. Copyright remains with the entrant, but the entrant agrees that the GEM Camera Club may have limited license to use any entered image for GEM Camera Club promotional purposes, either online or in print. If used, the photographer will be credited, though, no logos or watermarks will be applied.
  11. Entries that do not comply with the rules or topic will be disqualified. There will be no refund of entry fees for entries deemed to be ineligible and disqualified.
  12. Judges and Review Committee decisions will be final, no correspondence or discussion will be entered into.
  13. All prizes must be taken as offered, and all prize money will be paid electronically. It is the entrants’ responsibility to provide bank details. If bank details have not been provided within 2 months of the close of the exhibition, the prize money will be forfeited.
  14. Entrants may submit up to eight images with a maximum of two entries per any one category.

How To Enter

Enter online by completing the entry form, including the disclaimer on the entry form, and sale price. Upload image files as per instructions provided. The digital image submitted must be ‘ready to print’. All post processing needs to be completed including cropping and image adjusted to correct size for printing. Entries close at midnight on 6th August 2023. DIGITAL IMAGES
  1. Files MUST contain metadata with full EXIF data so that the date of capture can be confirmed.
  2. File Specifications of Digital Images
    1. Images to be sized 3000 pixels on the short edge
    2. Resolution of 300 dpi/ppi
    3. The colour space for all entries to be sRGB
    4. The file format is to be JPEG
  3. The files MUST be correctly named with your Surname, followed by your first name initial, image title, category, image number for the category. The uploaded image filename should be letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores only.

Example:   AdamsA_Solitude_ANI_1.jpg       AdamsA_Progress_PEOP_2.jpg

The competition name and category names cannot be used as the title. *The following short form labels should be used for the categories
  • PEOP = People
  • MAC = Macro
  • SCAPE = Land, Sea & Urban Scape
  • ANI = Animals/Birds
  • OPEN = Pictorial

Data Storage and Security

By entering the competition, the entrant is accepting that images and limited personal information will be stored on our website.

The limited nature of personal information required when entering the competition is not considered to be a security risk, although every effort is made to keep the website secure. Any payment, and details of payment are handled via PayPal on a secure network connection. GEM Camera Club accepts no responsibility for any loss of images or personal information from our website or social media sites.

Exhibition

The exhibition of Spring in the Hills is the second component of the competition. All finalists printed images will be hung in the exhibition for the public to see. The Exhibition will open to the public on 23rd September 2023 in the ballroom at the Kalamunda Hotel in Kalamunda, which is a fabulous facility.

Opening hours are:
Monday to Friday from 10am ~ 10pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10am ~ 10pm

Printed Images

In 2023 printing will be arranged by the competition organisers at a cost to the entrant.  Prints will be printed on high quality paper; flush mounted on a high-density foam core board, and matted to the maximum size of 40 x 50cm.  The maximum image area will be A3 [297 x 420mm]. 

The images will be printed on Ilford Gallery Smooth Pearl Paper and mounted on 5mm Foam Core backing board with a 2mm thick Matt board, at an estimated cost is $40 – $45.00 per print. This cost will be confirmed by GEM Camera Club if your entry is selected to be hung in the exhibition.

The arrangements include sending the digital image to the printer; collecting the finished print and transporting to the exhibition in preparation for the exhibition will be handled by the GEM Camera Club.

The exhibition provides the opportunity for the finalists to sell their image/s. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to buy the images that are marked for sale. The image that is hung is the one that is sold. Collection is arranged at the end of the exhibition by the GEM Camera Club, funds for images sold will be transferred by EFT only.

The GEM Camera Club takes a 10% commission on images sold, and the sale of work is between the author and purchaser. The images for sale are to be priced by the photographer, therefore price prints accordingly.

Example on how to price is: (Printing cost x 3) + entry cost + 10% commission = sale price.

Damage Loss and Insurance

GEM Camera Club, GEM Camera Club Members and the staff and management of the Kalamunda Hotel accept no responsibility for loss or damage that may occur to an entrant’s images. Insurance is the responsibility of the entrant.