Enter Photo Contest for City’s 2008 Calendar
By Alyce Hanson, Administrative Services Director

Capture a color image that reflects the beauty of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida: be it a sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, a scenic beach, or city park view, or a sunset over the Intracoastal Waterway. The pictures can be from any season of the year.

Winning images will be published on a non-exclusive basis in the City’s 2008 desk calendar. This calendar – distributed free to residents – will be available at the Sunny Isles Beach Government Center at the beginning of 2008.

The RULES
Submissions are due by Friday, October 19, 2007 @ 5:00 p.m.

The photo has to be of a scene in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.

A panel of judges will evaluate all photos entered on their photographic quality and subject material.

PROFESSIONALS and AMATEURS welcome.

NO PHOTOSHOPPING or other digital manipulation. The contest is about photography, not about one's expertise with a graphical application. We do allow the use of photographic techniques contained within a camera's abilities (i.e. a manual shutter release used at night to capture fireworks or moving traffic) and CROPPING an image.

With each photo submitted include:
1. Photographer's name.
2. Photographer's address.
3. Photographer’s telephone number.
4. A title for the shot.
5. The date the photo was taken as well as any details you know about the photo.

Electronic Submission:
Forward your photo in a jpeg or tiff format to photocontest2008@sibfl.net.

Notes regarding electronic submissions:
1. Send the highest quality image possible. It is much easier to make an image smaller than it is to make it bigger.
2. Do not watermark, add decorative borders or place any other distinguishing marks (i.e. name, copyright) on the image. Because the judging is anonymous, an image cannot possess identifiable information.
3. Zipped or compressed (i.e. zip, dmg, rar, etc.) files will not be accepted. Straight image files only please.
Paper Submission:
Mail hard copy photos to:

Photo Contest 2008
City of Sunny Isles Beach
18070 Collins Avenue
Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

Notes regarding paper submissions:
1. Do not write on the back of a photograph, especially with a ball point pen.
2. Home printouts of an image do not scan all that great. If you can print the image, you should be able to email it and that is preferred.

All entries must be received by October 19, 2007 @ 5:00 p.m.
Entries which do not conform to the entry guidelines or fail to provide the requested information (i.e. name, address) may be removed from consideration.

Note: By entering a photo to the City’s Photo Contest, you give the City permission to post the submission on its website or use your photo for publication.

Questions & Answers:
Can underwater images be sent?
Answer : Yes! We welcome underwater images.

What does 'Non-Exclusive Basis' mean?
Answer : Our reference to the term 'Non-Exclusive Basis' indicates that we do not ask for, nor are we seeking, the 'exclusive rights' to the use of your images when selected as a winner in the contest. When we use your image on a 'non-exclusive basis' in our calendar and promotional materials, you as the owner of the image still own the rights for any other subsequent use.

I shoot only print film, should I send the negatives, prints, or both?
Answer : Please do not send negatives! Prints are acceptable in any reasonable size (3x5 to 8x10), and not mounted.

Can photographs taken with a digital camera be submitted to the contest?
Answer : Yes, with the original file resolution high enough for printing quality purposes. The finished image print size is about 4.5 x 3 and the image should be at least 200 dpi. Higher resolutions are better and submissions may be on a CD or sent electronically in unmodified tiff or jpeg files.

I shoot mostly black & white outdoor scenic photography, is this acceptable for the contest?
Answer : No. Black & White images will not be accepted in this contest.

I live outside of the United States can I still enter the contest?
Answer : Sure! We accept entries from all over the world. We just insist that the images be of the city of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.

Do you accept entries via email?
Answer : By all means. Email your entries to photocontest2008@sibfl.net

Where do I mail my entries or deliver them personally?
Answer : Ship your entries, or deliver in person, to:
PHOTO CONTEST 2008
Administrative Services Department
City of Sunny Isles Beach
18070 Collins Avenue
Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160

How will I be notified if I am a winner?
Answer : If you are a winner you will be notified by mail, or by email before the calendar is published.

Can you crop a photo to better enhance a photo?
Answer : You are more than welcome to provide a image that has been cropped. The City reserves the right to crop a photograph for its use.

Is this contest open to amateur and professional photographers?
Answer : Yes, there are no restrictions as to who can enter.

Who owns the copyright of the images selected in the contest?
Answer : As the owner of the image you may copyright your image as you see fit whenever you have it printed or published. Our use of the selected images in the calendar and related promotional materials is copyrighted as well. Yet, you still own the rights to your image and our copyright will not limit your use and ability to further market your images.

Is one type of image or picture composition preferred over others?
Answer : Horizontal images are preferred to vertical images due to the fact the calendar's pictures are presented horizontally. Yet vertical images are acceptable and if selected will be cropped to fit the calendar's format.
Beyond that, a picture's content and composition is not limited to any one style such as close-ups, macro shots, panoramic, underwater, aerial, or anything in between. The only true limitation is that people can not be the primary subject matter. As long as the image at least loosely falls into the category of outdoor landscapes we have no problem with it. Images with people and man-made elements, such as buildings, roads, bridges, etc. are acceptable.

Images from all seasons of the year are needed. The true determining factor is if the image is really good and would look great in the City’s calendar.

When submitting prints what sizes do you accept?
Answer : It is recommended that prints be no larger than 8x10 and no smaller than 3x5.

Can I submit several photos, and can the same photographer have more than winning entry?
Answer : Yes. The goal is to choose the best photos for the calendar. During the selection process the judges will not know who the photographer is. It may be that they choose more than one image by the same photographer.

Direct any questions and comments to me, Alyce Hanson, at 305.947.0606.

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