Rules

Photo Contest and Exhibition Entry Agreement

Please read the entire agreement. Your entry into the contest constitutes your agreement to these rules, terms, and conditions. All terms and conditions of GoGoPhotoContest.com, the host platform, shall apply.


International Environmental Photography Contest and Exhibition

• Call for Entry Deadline: 11:59:59 PM (Mountain Time) on Wednesday, December 22, 2021
• Call for Votes Deadline: 11:59:59 PM (Mountain Time) on Monday, January 31, 2022
• Winners Notification Date: January 31, 2022
• Exhibition Opening and other Recognition Opportunities: To Be Announced

Professional Photographer Judge: Darrell Gulin


The Environmental Photography Contest and Exhibition is an international photography competition including a curated environmental photography exhibition held at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, Colorado as a part of the Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) that may travel to other venues.

The International Environmental Photography Contest and Exhibition hopes to represent the shared visions of world communities that are concerned about environmental issues. This program, and the outstanding photographic work it shares, is intended to inspire viewers on an emotional level. Ideally photographs will inform and encourage viewers to think about the environment or motivate them to take action.

Who should consider entering: All photographers (amateur or professional) from around the globe, using all styles and processes are encouraged to enter.


Image files submitted online should be no smaller than 1280 pixels, or larger than 1920 pixels on the longest side. Please upload only .jpg or .tif. Please name your file as follows: PhotographerName_Category_SubjectofPhoto.jpg (For example: JohnSmith_Wildlife_Elephant.jpg). High resolution files will be requested from finalists for final judging by the professional photographer judge. Your original image file must be large enough to print to 16 x 20 or 16x24 inches (or other similar proportions such as panoramic) or larger with excellent quality (no phone images, please). Images that do not meet the technical and quality requirements will be disqualified.

By entering image(s) in the contest, you certify, warrant, and represent that the submitted image(s) are original works created solely by you and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the image(s).

Because images are published online and will be disseminated through social media, we encourage you to embed your copyright and name into the image file you submit online (preferably in a location that does not cover important elements of your image). Our judge is a professional and will not be influenced by the watermark. While watermarks do not eliminate the possibility of copyright infringement, they do help to notify others of your ownership and rights. We cannot be held responsible for any mis-use of the images by a third party. We will request high resolution, clean files when necessary from winners and finalists.


Adult (Over 18)

Landscape - Images without wildlife or people that feature dramatic vistas in the natural world.

Wildlife - Images that showcase the amazing diversity of wildlife around the world in the air, on the ground, or under water. (Please no captive animals in this category. Captive animals may be entered under Environmental Impact)

Indigenous Cultures - Images of native peoples ideally emphasizing the interconnection between humans and nature.

Environmental Impact - Images depicting either positive or negative effects on the environment from human or animal activity. Subject matter could include outdoor adventure or sports, clean energy alternatives, or the destruction of forests, to name a few. People or animals may or may not be included in the image.

Patterns/Abstracts - Images that capture the unique patterns and shapes found in the natural world or created by humans in their use or misuse of resources.

Youth (age 13 to 18) Age of entrant will be determined by their age on the day of entry. Entries into the Youth Division must be made by a parent or guardian who have read and agreed to this Agreement.

All youth entries, regardless of subject matter or style, will go into this single category. Youth entries should, however, fit within the guidelines of any of the adult categories.

There must be a minimum of 25 entrants in a given Category. Otherwise, we reserve the right to cancel that Category and move those entries to the other Categories. We also reserve the right to remove inappropriate, or offensive images and/or images that violate contest rules. We may move images to a different category if we determine, in our sole discretion, that the image was entered into the wrong category. No refunds will be given for images that are removed from the contest or disqualified.


Entries will be judged on overall impact, creativity, composition, and technical excellence. Photographs can be presented as captured or dramatically altered using computer software. Digital alterations to the image will not help or hurt your chances of winning. The judge will be looking for the most powerful images regardless of style or technique. Online voting will only be used to determine the People's Choice winner and finalists. Images containing nudity, or content that is vulgar, obscene, defamatory or otherwise offensive is NOT allowed. Images that are found to have been captured in violation of any law, in a way that caused environmental damage, or involved your willful harassment of people or wildlife will be disqualified. Any images that have previously won a CEFF award are ineligible.

Biographies, captions, and/or stories about the image are requested, but not required at the time of entry. The judge will not be shown any written material associated with your image in order to ensure that the images are judged on their own merits. The public will see any biographical information, captions, or stories you choose to include and may or may not be influenced by such text. Winners and finalists will be contacted for additional information that may be included with recognition opportunities.


Entry does not guarantee that the images will win a prize or be chosen for the Exhibition or other opportunities. Images accepted in the Exhibition will be printed by a local lab for consistency and may be offered for sale (only with your written permission) with net proceeds divided between CEFF and the photographer. Images that do not sell, or are prohibited from sale by the photographer, will be returned to the photographer (at photographer's expense) or destroyed at the end of all exhibition opportunities. Photographers may also choose to donate their print to the CEFF auction. Photographers may be asked to pay for the cost of printing of their work as a condition of participating in the exhibition(s). Photographers who are awarded a major prize in the contest, will be included in the Exhibition free of any charge. All winners are solely responsible for any and all taxes and/or fees as well as all additional costs that may be incurred. If the specified prize becomes unavailable for any reason, we, in our sole and absolute discretion may substitute a prize of like or equal value.

Entrants agree to accept the choices made by the judge(s) and the public as FINAL. In the event any judge is unable to fulfill his/her duties, the Contest Coordinator may substitute or serve as an alternate.


Each category will be awarded a cash prize (by check, direct deposit, or PayPal). Other sponsored prizes will be announced at a later date. Due to Sponsor shipping policies, some Sponsor prizes are limited to US entrants only. Please see our prizes page for the most current list.

Grand Prize will be awarded to the best overall image from the Adult categories.

Youth Award will be given to the best overall image from all of the Youth entries.

People's Choice Award will be given to the image with the highest number of online votes.

Category Awards will be given to the best image from each category as follows:

• Landscape
• Wildlife
• Indigenous Cultures
• Environmental Impact
• Patterns/Abstracts

Finalists with the highest scores as determined by the judge and online voting will be eligible for inclusion in the Exhibition and other recognition opportunities on a case by case basis.

All Contest Entrants will receive a Virtual Gift Bag with content and/or special offers from our Partners and Sponsors.

• Exhibition at the American Mountaineering Center (and travel to other possible venues)
• Publication on our Website and Social Media
• Press Releases to Local and National Media
• Follow us on Facebook for other announcements…

In our continuing partnership with the Denver Theatre District, select winning and finalist images (those that will display the best in this unique format) will be projected on the Daniels & Fisher Tower in Downtown Denver as a part of Night Lights Denver during February of 2022.


The non-refundable entry fee is $5 for each image submitted. There is no limit to the number of images you may enter. There are no refunds. Youth entries are free.


Voting is only used to determine the winner of the People's Choice Category and inclusion in some recognition opportunities. Any image, including Youth entries, are eligible for the People's Choice Award. Votes are purchased for $1 each and there is no limit to the number of votes you may cast. You must purchase a minimum of 5 votes at a time for a minimum charge of $5. Votes can be applied to a single image or stored in your account and applied to multiple images at a later date. You may vote for your own image(s). Any unused votes will be forfeited. No refunds will be given. Voting fees may be tax deductible.

• The Call for Entry deadline is 11:59:59 PM (Mountain Time) on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. This is the final deadline for submitting your entries online.
• The Voting deadline is 11:59:59 PM (Mountain Time) on Monday, January 31, 2022. This is the final deadline for submitting your votes online.
• The Notification Date is January 15, 2022. This is the date that you will receive notification if your entry has been selected for an award and/or Exhibition.
• High Res File(s) may be requested anytime after 11:59:59 PM (Mountain Time) on Wednesday, December 22, 2021the . We strongly suggest you prepare your high res files at the time of entry so that they are easily accessible. We will need those files as quickly as possible when requested. We will email instructions.
• Exhibition dates and times will be announced at a later date.
• If an opening reception at the Mountaineering Center is possible, we will notify everyone who entered the contest or has signed up on our email list.

As a contest entrant (or the parent or guardian for the Youth Division), you retain ownership over or rights to the content that you submit to us. Such content may include, but is not limited to photographs, video, text, audio and other materials. By submitting content to the contest, you grant CEFF, its directors, officers, employees, representatives, contractors, agents, volunteers, judges, sponsors, partners, affiliates, successors and all others involved in the contest on CEFF's direction or behalf (collectively, "we", or "us") a non-exclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, sub licensable, perpetual license to display, distribute, publish and otherwise use the content in electronic or printed form (including promotional activities for this and future contests and exhibitions) along with your name and likeness, solely in connection with the contest and exhibition. We will never sell your content or rights to your content without written permission from you with payment terms acceptable to both parties. You represent and warrant to us that you have the right to grant us this right over the content, and that you will indemnify us for loss resulting from a breach of this warranty and defend us against claims regarding the same. Your further agree to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless from any loss, claim, expense or demand, including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from or in connection with the contest (including, but not limited to submissions, exhibitions, promotion, or events), or your violation of any law or the rights of a third party.


This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the United States and the state of Colorado, without consideration of conflicts of laws provisions and principles. Any claims that cannot be resolved between the parties, regardless of legal theory and whenever brought, shall be resolved in binding arbitration in Jefferson County, Colorado. If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Agreement or any part thereof, or the application of such section, provision or portion is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder thereof shall not be affected by such declaration. Contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law.


IN NO EVENT WILL WE BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS CONTEST. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THIS CONTEST AND ALL PRIZES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NONINFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.


All information concerning the judging and winners is considered to be proprietary and confidential. We reserve the right to modify or alter the rules, prizes, exhibition venue(s), or schedule in our sole discretion. We reserve the right to require winners to execute an affidavit of eligibility as a sworn document and provide other proof of eligibility as a condition of receipt of the prize or award. Failure by us to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

Entrants authorize both CEFF and Opperman Photographics, Inc to contact them by email with information regarding the contest and exhibition. Any entrant failing to comply with these terms and conditions may be disqualified from the competition.

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Questions? Contact Cheryl Opperman at photocontest@ceff.net or 303-829-9453