How do I enter?

It's easy. Go to http://lensculture.slideroom.com. You will need Flash to use the site. First, you'll be prompted to register for a free account to upload your files. Then just follow the simple instructions to arrange your files and to provide all the proper information for each. When your files are ready for final submission, you will be asked to pay entry fees of $35, $55, or $75 depending on the categories you choose to enter. Multiple entries are permitted and encouraged. Deadline for entries is September 16, 2012 at midnight, Pacific Time. See below for more details.


For multimedia entries, can I submit a "link" to my project rather than uploading it to your review site?

YES. This seems to be the best option for many of you. For this approach to work, you should upload a still image (JPEG, PDF, etc.), and then include a link to your project in your artist's statement.

Can I submit my entries as prints or CDs or DVDs in the mail?

Sorry, but no. We only accept digital submissions via our web site. For good image quality and fast upload, your photo image files should be less than 2 MB each, and sized around 1024 x 768 pixels @ 72 ppi. Multimedia entries should be less than 8-10 minutes long, and less than 60 MB in file size. Our online portal offers additional instruction for submitting work. The international jury will review each of the submissions on screen only.

What are the prizes?

There are three cash prizes for the Portfolio Awards:

Grand prize: $1,500
2nd prize: $500
3rd prize: $250

PLUS:

• Each winning portfolio will appear in a dedicated, prominent feature article in Lens Culture (www.lensculture.com), reaching over 10,000 unique visitors each day.

• The winners will also be announced in the Lens Culture blog, along with a special mention in the Lens Culture email newsletter that is sent to thousands of subscribers. There is potential for the winning portfolios to be part of exhibitions and projections at various venues around the world.


There are three cash prizes for the Single Image Awards:

Grand prize: $1,000
2nd prize: $250
3rd prize: $150

PLUS:

• The three winning single images will be presented in a prominent feature article in Lens Culture (www.lensculture.com), reaching over 10,000 unique visitors each day.

• The winners will also be announced in the Lens Culture blog, along with a special mention in the Lens Culture email newsletter that is sent to thousands of subscribers.


There are three cash prizes for the Multimedia Awards:

Grand prize: $1,000
2nd prize: $250
3rd prize: $150

PLUS:

• Each winning multimedia feature will appear in a dedicated, prominent article in Lens Culture (www.lensculture.com), reaching over 10,000 unique visitors each day.

• The winners will also be announced in the Lens Culture blog, along with a special mention in the Lens Culture email newsletter that is sent to thousands of subscribers. There is potential for the winning multimedia features to be part of exhibitions and projections at various venues around the world.


25 Honorable Mention photographs and/or multimedia presentations will win placement on the Award Winners' Page in Lens Culture (www.lensculture.com), including a link to each photographer's personal or professional website. There is potential for the honorable mentions to be part of exhibitions and projections at various venues around the world.

What should I submit in each category, and what are the fees?

For the Multimedia Award, you should submit a multimedia feature no more than 8-10 minutes long. If your full-length multimedia piece is longer than 8-10 minutes, please submit an edit, or a trailer or teaser of 8-10 minutes or shorter. The entry fee for the multimedia award is $55.

For the Portfolio Award, you should submit a group of 5 to 15 images, for a total entry fee of $75.

For the Single Image Award, you should submit one great image, for an entry fee of $35, or two to five great single images for an entry fee of $55.


Can I change or re-arrange my photos after I've submitted them?

Sorry, no. You CAN arrange, delete, change, and re-arrange your photos and the sequence of your photos BEFORE you push the SUBMIT button, by simply dragging and dropping them. But once you push the SUBMIT button, the submission cannot be altered.

How many times can I enter?

You can submit as many times as you like (in all categories), assuming you have lots of great images, and you can afford to pay the entry fees for all of them. We suggest, however, that you edit your photos or multimedia wisely, and send us only your very best work. PLEASE NOTE: the software system will only accept one entry in each category from the same email address. So, if you want to enter the same category more than once, you will need to register each additional time with a different email address. All of your other contact information, except the email address, can stay the same for each entry.

I just started taking photos and/or creating multimedia. Do I have a chance of winning?

Of course! We welcome applications from professionals, semi-professionals, amateurs and total beginners. We believe there is an artist in each of us. And we are interested in all kinds of photograph and multimedia — from sophisticated to quirky to wildly experimental to hard-edged realism.

If I have more questions, how do I contact you?

For technical questions related to uploading your photos, sizes, entry forms and credit card payments, use the support button at the upper right on the lensculture.slideroom.com page.

If you can't find the answers to your other questions here or at the upload site, you can email us at awards [AT] lensculture.com. We’ll be very busy processing entries though, (and creating new content for Lens Culture), so it may take a while to get back to you. But we'll try to be fast and helpful! And we'll update this FAQ regularly in response to common questions we receive.


When are the prizes awarded, and when do the winners get featured in Lens Culture?

The judging will be completed in November 2012, and the winners will be announced shortly thereafter. Checks will be mailed to the cash prize winners in November. All winning photos and multimedia will appear in the special year-end issue of Lens Culture, and will remain in our online archives.

Can I get a refund?

No. Entry fees are non-refundable.

This all sounds too easy. Where’s the fine print?

It really is that easy! You can find the competition rules here.

Here are some, but not all, of the basic rules that you agree to:

By submitting my photographs or multimedia to Lens Culture, I authorize that these are original works of art that I personally created.

I am releasing Lens Culture and its agents, principals, employees or contractors from any liability regarding the display of work that I have submitted to them, including any liability for redisplay by individuals making copies of the display made by Lens Culture.

To qualify to enter the competition, you must be over 18 years of age.

I hereby authorize Lens Culture to display, print, and distribute in any manner any photographs and/or multimedia that I have entered in this competition to conduct and promote the Lens Culture International Exposure Awards competition. Each entrant retains copyright of his or her images, and proper credit lines will be attributed to each entrant when used in any publicity of Lens Culture and/or the International Exposure Awards.