Aligning with Earth Day 2023 theme of Invest in Our Planet, the U.S. Embassy Sri Lanka is hosting a photo competition to showcase the importance and beauty of Sri Lanka’s ecosystems and the wildlife that live in them, demonstrating the partnerships we have for protecting and conserving the environment, and applauding the innovative ways we can make a positive environmental difference.
Criteria/Eligibility
Each entry must clearly connect to the competition theme: Sri Lankan Wildlife and Environment Partnership: Invest in our Planet
Submissions are open to all Sri Lankan residents over the age of 13 who are amateur photographers. Professional photographers and any employees of the U.S. Embassy of Sri Lanka and their family members are not eligible to enter.
A submission must be an original digital photograph, taken by and the property of the submitting contestant. Photos may be digitally-enhanced, however submitter must detail the enhancements done.
The photo contest opens on April 1, 2023 at 00:01 IST. Submissions are due by midnight 11:59 IST April 18, 2023. Submissions made after this time will NOT be considered. Judging begins as soon as the submission period ends, and winners will be announced on Friday, April 28, 2023.
Top three entries from each age category will be published on the U.S. Embassy social media pages from April 24 – 27 for public vote for the Most Popular Entry.
Submission limit is 3 photos per individual.
Submissions for Young-Adult and Adult categories must be in HD quality, at least 1,920 x 1,080 pixels.
Photos that violate or infringe upon another person’s rights, including but not limited to copyright, are not eligible.
Photos previously submitted to a U.S. Embassy contest are not eligible.
All photos are subject to pre-screening to ensure compliance with these Official Contest Rules. Any photos out of compliance will not be included.
Participation in this contest is deemed as acceptance of these Official Contest Rules.
Categories
- Youth: 13 to 18 (Parental or legal guardian consent is required for participation)
- Young-Adult: 18 to 25
- Adult: 25 and older
- Mobile Device photo (e.g. Android, Iphone, Ipad)
Judging
Photos will be judged on their merit and on their connection to both the contest theme Sri Lankan Wildlife and Environment Partnership: Invest in our Planet and Earth Day.
Entries who use fraudulent methods to garner votes in the social media votes will be disqualified.
Submissions instructions
Upload your photo to an online sharing site (e.g. Flickr, Snapfish, etc.) with full/public access. Attach a link to your photo (no more than 3 photos per individual submitter) in an email to ColomboContest@state.gov with a subject line “Earth Day 2023 Photo Contest”. Submissions that do not use this subject line and any submissions beyond 3 photos per individual will not be considered.
In the body of the email, please include the following information for each photo submission:
- Name of photographer
- Category of Submission
- Title of image
- Contact email and mobile number of photographer
- Location where the photo was taken
- Date photo was taken
- A brief caption that explains how the photo relates to Earth Day and the contest theme Sri Lankan Wildlife and Environment Partnership: Invest in our Planet (no more than 75 words).
- Device used to capture the image; and
- What, if any, digital enhancements have been used
Please note: Personal and contact information will not be shared.
Winners
The competition winners will be announced on Friday, April 28, 2023, and will have their photo displayed in the American Center in the U.S. Embassy Colombo.
Note: Submitters will not be compensated or reimbursed for submissions.
Prizes
Each winning photo will be celebrated on the social media of the Embassy, with the back story of the photo as well as a brief bio of the photographer.
Each winning photo will be printed and displayed in the American Center of the U.S. Embassy for public viewing.
