CELEBRATING THE WINTER CROW ROOST

Who should enter

The Celebrating the Winter Crow Roost Photo Exhibit is open to photographers of all skill levels, ages 18 years and older.

Entries will be accepted November 9, 2019 to December 12, 2019. 

What to enter

We are seeking digital photograph submissions of American Crows and Fish Crows in Essex County, MA, taken during the annual winter crow roost season, especially those images that highlight the fascinating behavior trends and patterns, foraging, in flight, perched, streaming, staging, and roosting from initial arrival time in early fall, during the colder winter months, and through dispersal in early spring. In order to qualify, photographs must be taken in Essex County, Massachusetts between 2017 and 2019.

Each entrant may enter a maximum of 5 photographs. Photos may have been taken at any time between the fall of 2017 until the deadline for this year’s Exhibition.

Images submitted must not be obtained by harassment or disturbance of the crows, damage to the environment or wildlife by the photographer, or infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person.

Notes

Digital Alterations
All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization may not be entered. Standard optimization is defined as removal of dust, cropping, minor adjustments to color and contrast, etc. Multiple exposures that have been combined to produce a single "High Dynamic Range" image are acceptable.

No Watermarks
Photographs with watermarks will not be accepted.

Image Size
Because we would love to be able to feature the winning photos in a variety of possible publications, we ask that you use the highest setting on your camera. Entries should have a resolution of at least 2272 x 1704 pixels (ie 4 megapixels or greater). Resolution can be bigger as long as the total file size does not exceed 15 MB.

File Type

Entries must be in JPEG format. Entries may originate in any format, including—but not limited to—digital files, digital prints, slides, transparencies, color prints, or black and white prints; however they must be submitted electronically via our online submission tool.

Previously Published Material
Previously published material of which non-exclusive rights were granted may be entered as long as you still maintain the right to grant us a license (see “Rights” below). You must be able to disclose to www.birdphotoexhibit.com when and where the photo appeared previously upon request.

Exhibitions
All selected photos will be eligible to participate in the photo exhibit scheduled to take place at the Essex Art Center in Lawrence, MA. The photos selected for the exhibition will be delivered to Essex Art Center on dates and at times that will be provided to all photographers whose work is selected.  The photos must be delivered either framed and wired for hanging or, if unframed, they must be unmounted and will be installed using push pins through the corners of the print.  Work cannot exceed 24" on its longest edge.  All expenses associated with printing and framing are the sole responsibility of the photographer.

When to enter

Submissions for the Celebrating the Winter Crow Roost Photo Exhibit will be accepted between November 9, 2019 and December 12, 2019.

Opening reception: An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, January 10, 2020 from 5-7 p.m. at the Essex Art Center in Lawrence, MA. The exhibition for the juried photo show will be in the Elizabeth A. Beland Gallery from January 10, 2020 - March 12, 2020. The exhibition will be one of three exhibitions running simultaneously under the title: "Celebrating the Winter Crow Roost."

How To enter

Each entrant may enter a maximum of 5 photographs. They can be entered on the same day, or over the course of the open submission time frame. All submissions, regardless of original format, must be submitted online.

Entries will be accepted November 9, 2019 to December 12, 2019. 

Ethical Bird Photography

Bird Photo Exhibit encourages every photographer to practice responsible bird photography. Prior to submitting any photograph, you must read Guide to Ethical Bird Photography. A photograph that appears to the Sponsors or Judges to be in violation of one of the following five rules is not eligible for submission and, if submitted, will be disqualified at Bird Photo Exhibit’s sole discretion.

1. Photographs showing crows that appear to be stressed or harassed by the photographer.
2. Photographs of crows at nests taken with a macro lenses.
3. Photographs of crows lured with live bait or decoy bait, such as fake mice.
4. Photographs of crows taken with a flash at night.
5. Photographs of crows taken by or with drones.

The decision by the judges and Bird Photo Exhibit to disqualify any submission is final.

Rights & Legal Conditions

By entering the photo exhibit, you hereby grant to Hunt’s Photo and the Essex Art Center (i) non-exclusive, worldwide, irrevocable publication rights for your photos in all Hunt’s Photos and Essex Art Center publicity materials, print or electronic, and (ii) the right to use your name, city, state, and country of residence in such publications. This includes the right to use your photos on their websites, in print and electronic advertisements and promotions. All photographs will be credited with the caption "© Person's Name."

Legal Conditions

By submitting images to the Bird Photo Exhibit 2020 “Celebrating the Winter Crow Roost” Photo Exhibit (hereafter referred to as "the photo exhibit"), participants agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Bird Photo Exhibit, its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents and representatives, from any and all third party liability for any injuries, losses, claims, actions, demands or damages of any kind arising from or in connection with the photo exhibit (collectively, "Losses"), including without limitation any third party claim for copyright infringement or a violation of an individual’s right to privacy and/or publicity right. The photo exhibit is void where prohibited by law.

Each participant in the photo exhibit (each a "Participant") is responsible for ensuring that he or she has the right to submit photos in accordance with these rules. The photo exhibit and the Bird Photo Exhibit online portal are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied.

You agree that you will endeavor to settle any and all disputes with Bird Photo Exhibit arising out of or in connection with the photo exhibit amicably through good faith consultations and mediation. In the event that no agreement can be reached, you agree that all disputes shall be settled by means of arbitration in accordance with the Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The award rendered by the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding upon you and Bird Photo Exhibit. The place of the arbitration shall be Boston, Massachusetts.

Bird Photo Exhibit is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the photo exhibit, or by any technical or human error that may occur in the processing of submissions to the photo exhibit, including but not limited to any misprints or typographical errors. Bird Photo Exhibit assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. Bird Photo Exhibit is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer equipment, servers, providers, computer on-line systems, software, or failure of email on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, including injury or damage to Participant's or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating or uploading images or information in the photo exhibit.

If, for any reason, the photo exhibit is not capable of completion as planned, including but not limited to, any reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of Bird Photo Exhibit that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the photo exhibit, Bird Photo Exhibit reserves the right at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the photo exhibit.