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How do I enter the competition?

First, you’ll be prompted to join LensCulture for a free account to upload your files (or you can just sign in if you have an existing LensCulture account). Then follow the simple instructions to upload your images and to provide all the proper information for each.

What are the photo specifications for uploading?

For best results, upload the highest-quality JPEGs, sized a minimum of 1200 pixels on the longest side but up to 2000 pixels is even better. Maximum size is 10MB. The file name should be under 50 characters.

How do I add photo captions or titles?

Click the area designed for Photo title and add title there. It will be auto-saved when you finish typing.

I can’t login to my account

Go to https://www.lensculture.com/forgot_password and enter the email address you think you signed up with. We’ll send you a password reset link.

What forms of payment do you accept? Do you accept PayPal?

You can pay for your entry with PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, American Express. We’re sorry, but we cannot accept bank transfers or payments by check at this time.

Do I qualify for the student discount?

To qualify for the student discount, you must be currently enrolled as a student or have graduated in 2016. If your work is selected as a winner, finalist, a juror’s pick or a student spotlight, we will ask for proof of your status as a student. Your entry will be disqualified if you do not meet the requirements.

I recently began focusing on my photography - can I still apply?

If you have just begun to take your own photography seriously, then don’t be shy about entering this competition. We welcome applications from professionals, semi-professionals, amateurs and passionate beginners. At the very least, the exercise of editing your own work and receiving feedback in the form of a submission review (if you submit more than 5 photos), should make it a worthwhile experience.

Can I replace or re-arrange my photos after I’ve submitted them?

Yes! You can now edit your entire submission up to the deadline. This means you can replace or remove images, rearrange images, edit the photo captions (titles), entry description, and your submission statement.

Can I submit diptychs as one image or 2?

You can submit diptychs as one image. But keep in mind the maximum pixel length of 2000.

I would like to submit two series of photographs, can I upload both series into one submission or do I need to make two submissions?

Each series should be in a separate submission so that you can write a description for each one and allow the jury to view each entry as a single body of work. We understand this is twice the submission cost but if you try to combine two series into one entry, it will have zero chance of being selected by the jury. If cost is an issue, please submit only your strongest single body of work.

We are two photographers working as a team, can we make one submission?

Yes but please provide background info on both of you in the bio so we know it’s a team.

How many times can I enter?

You can submit as many times as you like — 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 wisely and send us only your very best.

If I live outside the United States, am I still eligible for this competition?

Definitely! Our competitions are truly global, drawing submissions from well over 100 countries.

What is the best way to submit my entries, digital or print?

Digital. The jury will review each of the photos on screen only. We cannot accept photos as prints or CDs in the mail.

How do I know my work will look good on your jury’s computer screen?

Our editors are accustomed to evaluating photography via computer monitors. This is quickly becoming standard practice for more and more juried competitions and reviews. If your scans are good quality, we will easily be able to imagine the actual work from the image on the computer screen.

Are there restrictions on when a photo was taken for a competition?

No, there are no time-based restrictions concerning when a photo was taken.

Do I need to submit a model release with my portraits?

Good question. You need to check with the local laws of where you are shooting regarding portrait/street/candid photography—some places are very strict, most are open and unrestricted. As long as your photos fall within the law, you can definitely submit them to our competitions, even without having a model release. The spirit of this rule is to prevent gross invasions of privacy. If you have any doubts, please send a sample photo from your entry to our Support team and we’ll let you know if it’s safe to enter.

Can you explain the usage rights issues if I enter a competition?

I hereby authorize LensCulture and Magnum Photos to display, print, and distribute in any manner any photographs that I have entered in this competition to conduct and promote LensCulture and Magnum Photos competitions. Each photographer retains copyright of his or her images, and proper credit lines will be attributed to each photographer when used in any publicity of LensCulture and/or Magnum Photos.

I submitted my work to the competition, why don’t I see it in the Competition Gallery or on LensCulture’s Facebook page?

Every day, our editors look at competition submissions and select some for inclusion in our Competition Gallery and social media channels. These are curated selections, meaning only a small selection of photos entered are featured. These selections are not related to the final judging by our international jury. If you do not see your photos featured, please do not worry—the judging for the competition will not start until after the deadline. Finally, a few more points: • Even if you do not end up winning an award, we invite a number of the top-rated photographers to have a free, invitation-only portfolio account where you can upload as many projects as you wish. • Our mission is to provide exposure to talented photographers that can connect them to valuable opportunities. The Editor’s Picks program during the competition is just one more way we try to accomplish our mission. That said, we also are strong believers in curation. We can’t show every single entrant. Strong curation is a key reason why LensCulture is one of the top web sites for contemporary photography.

How can I get more exposure for my competition submission?

It’s easy! Every entrant has the ability to share their entry via Facebook. Once you have completed your submission, simply go to “My Submissions” (available under your profile dropdown menu, in the upper-right hand corner of any LensCulture page) and click on a completed submission. There, you will see a “Share on Facebook” button along with instructions. Thus, while *not every* photographer can be selected by LensCulture or Magnum Photos for the competition gallery, every photographer does have the ability to get exposure for their work regardless.

If an entry is featured in the Competition Gallery or on Facebook, does it have any effect on the final judging?

No. Every day, our editors look at competition submissions and select some for inclusion in our Competition Gallery and social media channels. The jurors do not begin looking at work until after the competition deadline has passed. The jurors’ decision is independent of LensCulture’s editorial selections.

Can I have an extension on the deadline?

At this time, we are not offering any extensions. The deadline is FINAL.

I just started taking photos. 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 photography — from sophisticated to quirky to wildly experimental to hard-edged realism.

Besides the competitions, does LensCulture cost any money? For example, what does a photographer’s profile cost?

LensCulture is free for people everywhere in the world to discover and share the best in contemporary photography. There are no fees involved — anyone can view all content on LensCulture for free. Photographers who enter more than 5 images are invited to show their work on LensCulture through a personal photographer’s profile. These are free for life.

When are the prizes awarded, and when do the winners get featured in LensCulture, Magnum Photos and BBC Culture?

The judging will be completed approximately four weeks after the competition deadline and winners will be announced shortly thereafter. A selection of winners, finalists and jurors’ picks will be featured on BBC Culture’s website following the announcement.

If my entry is accepted and you are hosting an exhibition, what will you use for reproduction?

If your work is accepted, we will request the necessary reproduction materials at the time of organizing the exhibition.

What if I am chosen for a Magnum Workshop but I am not able to attend. Is there any replacement or substitute that will be made available?

While we strongly suggest that you make all possible efforts to take advantage of this unique opportunity, we understand that flying to a distant workshop might not be possible for everyone. In that case, we will organize a live, online review between yourself and a Magnum Photographer using web-based tools. Thus, you will still have the opportuntiy to receive valuable feedback, expert advice, mentorship and connect with one of the world’s most respected photographers.

If I am not a winner, will I receive feedback and suggestions on my work?

Due to the large number of entries, it is not possible to provide personalized feedback for every entrant. But if you enter a series of photographs or more than 5 single images, we are happy to include a free Submission Review with your entry. We believe that every photographer who enters a body of work in one of our competitions deserves thoughtful feedback on that series. We have recruited over a hundred of the top photo editors, portfolio reviewers, gallerists, curators, and other industry professionals to provide you with critical and constructive feedback on your photography. You can learn more at www.lensculture.com/submission-reviews

Can I get a refund?

No, entry fees are non-refundable.

Can I get an invoice for my competition entry fees?

Once your entry is submitted, we automatically email you a confirmation invoice indicating payment details, including the competition you entered, the category, the amount you paid and how you paid it (credit card or Paypal). This is the invoice and is consistent with how other online purchases send order confirmations.

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

It really is that easy! You can find the competition rules link next to this FAQ link. Here are some, but not all, of the basic rules that you agree to: • By submitting these photographs to LensCulture and Magnum Photos, I authorize that these are original works of art that I personally created. • I am releasing LensCulture, Magnum Photos 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 LensCulture and Magnum Photos. • By agreeing to this release, I authorize that I am 18 years of age or older. • I hereby authorize LensCulture and Magnum Photos to display, print, and distribute in any manner any photographs that I have entered in this competition to conduct and promote LensCulture and Magnum Photos’ competitions. Each photographer retains copyright of his or her images, and proper credit lines will be attributed to each photographer when used in any publicity of LensCulture and/or Magnum Photos.

What are the image specifications?

Upload jpegs or pngs that are a minimum of 1200 pixels and a maximum of 2,000 pixels on the longest side and less than 5MB is size each. The jury will review each of the photos on screen only. We cannot accept photos as prints or CDs in the mail.

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 of the Awards page. If you can’t find the answers to your other questions here or at the upload site, you can email us at support@lensculture.com. We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible. Please recognize that a support request sent right before the deadline might not get immediate attention. Do your best to submit your work before the last minute to avoid any anxiety!