Photo of the Week Official Rules

New Photos Only
The competition is only for photos taken during the "open period" as defined in the Challenge announcement. You may post only two entries in each Challenge, and you may replace your entry with a newer version anytime before the end of the challenge.


Photo size & dimension
Photo must be limited to a max dimension of 1024 pixel for the longest dimension, and the file size is to be less than 250KB in JPG/jpg format.


Submit/Upload
Participants need to upload upload their entries to the <POTW Entry> category themselves. When uploading, here is the info that MUST be shown on each entry:

Title for the photo:
*put challenge Theme, for example: POTW #1

Description for the photo:
*Your own photo Title (not the challenge theme)
*Date Taken
Photographers name if you like

Please read forum announcement carefully to ensure a timely submission.


EXIF
EXIF is valuable information for the challenge. EXIF is usually embedded in the photos automatically. You do not need to upload EXIF separately. If you can see it when viewing photos, then it's there. Just upload the photo, the EXIF is in the photo.

Please read your software manual to understand how your particular software preserve or save EXIF. Sorry we cannot answer the question on how your software handles EXIF.

If you are having difficulties maintaining your EXIF information, we will allow you to send us your original file with the EXIF information intact for verification. And they may enter their edited version.

Once we have received the original and have verified that the image was shot during the open period and does not violate any of the rules, we will make a notation on the entry information stating that "this image has been validated".

As always, any image that does not have it's EXIF information and the owner has not provided the Mods with the original file with the EXIF info intact will need to be removed from the challenge.

Frames are NOT allowed.


Digital manipulations
All editing is allowed that enhances the shot, but does not make it appear to be digital art. REMEMBER: this competition is to show your ability as a photography and not as a Photoshop Master. Please refrain from excess editing to make your photos look like digital art. Adding elements to the original image that were not there are NOT allowed. Original, unedited files may be requested by the Judge at any time and entries will be disqualified for any excessive manipulations. Occasionally, we can call on a Digital Creativity competition.

THESE RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR IMAGES.


Voting & Comments
Comments are allowed to post on entries, praise or critique. Make the most out of the challenge and learn from each other.

POTW THREADS/ISSUES
Any complaints regarding photographs entered need to be addressed with a Moderator via PM. Any question, comment or complaint posted in an antagonistic manner will be deleted without notice.

VOTING
All eligible photos will be included for voting. VOTING will follow after the end of Challenge submission for one week. The entry with the majority of votes will be declared the winner and the entrants name will be announced in the PTOW thread. The results are final. Registering multiple user accounts to vote is not allowed, and will be banned permanently once found.

After the Winner is announced, all the winner's photos will be moved to POTW Winners Gallery.

By entering the Challenge, members agree to grant photozo.com a perpetual non-exclusive world-wide royalty-free license to modify, publish and reproduce that material for the purpose of operating, displaying, distributing and promoting photozo.com. However, photozo.com will not use Your materials without attributing them to You, without Your agreement.

Disqualification
Failing to comply with these rules will automatically disqualify the entry. However, all winners are final and will not be disqualified once voting is ended and winner is announced. Please report photos that do not comply with these rules to Challenge Moderators or Challenge Lead. If your photos got deleted, please read this rule page first.

Prize Eligibility
Occasionally a prize may be offered to the winner of the POTW. In order to be eligible for a posted prize you must be an active member. A minimum of 100 posts will be required with at least 20 of those posts being in the month prior the the entered challenge. We reserve the right to delete any post meant to simply boost post count ie 'Great shot or Nice pic.' You may still enter and win the POTW with less than required post count but the prize will not be awarded. In the case of an non-active member winning the challenge where a prize is offered, the prize will be carried over to the next runner up who is eligible of winning the prize. The prize must be claimed within one week after the close of voting by acknowledging the win in the winner's announcement thread (basic courtesy and respect for our sponsors).

THESE RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR IMAGES.

Monnie Fishel
Challenge Moderator