Submissions FAQ

Is there a specific time window in which the submission for the Db Creative Outdoors Photo Competition 2023.  must have been captured?
Yes, all imagery must have been captured after January 1, 2019.

How many images can I enter?
You can submit one image.

I have already submitted an image but would like to add another one. Can I exchange images?
No. Once an image has been submitted, it is final and may not be replaced by another image or moved to a different category.

Can I submit images under more than one account?
No. It is against the rules and will lead to disqualification.

If my images gets disqualified, will I be able to submit a replacement
No. You may submit five images per category and these cannot be replaced after submission. Please choose your images carefully and consider the rules and requirements for submission.

How many megapixels should my image have?
At least 12 megapixels. To determine the megapixels of your image, simply multiply the vertical and horizontal number of pixels and divide by one million, e.g. 12.2 mega pixels (2848 pixels x 4288 pixels = 12,212,224). You can also check your megapixel file size in Photoshop by opening the image and pressing Apple+Alt+I (Mac) or Ctrl+Alt+I (PC).

Is image editing allowed?
Basic image editing and color corrections are allowed, i.e. brightness, contrast, sharpening, mood and white balance. If any other alternations have been made, the image must be submitted to the Creative category.

Can I edit images I have shot on a smartphone?
Only basic image editing or color corrections are allowed. The same applies to mobile images. The decision to accept your image will be at the discretion of the Db judges. Their decision is final.

I used a 12 megapixels or higher camera, but the resolution is still too small. Why?
If the resolution of your image is not sufficient, please check your camera settings:

- Even if you are using an 12+ megapixel camera you must also ensure that you are shooting at the highest possible resolution (e.g. JPG high, TIFF, RAW).

- Also, be aware that photo cropping in post-production may alter the size of your image and result in a final picture size of fewer than 12 megapixels.

- Submitted images that fail to comply with the requested picture size will be disqualified.

My images aren't 12 megapixels. Can I submit them anyway? Can I increase the megapixels in Photoshop in order to meet the requirements?
No. Images with less than 12 megapixels will be disqualified. It is true that Photoshop allows you to add pixels to your images by using rendering intents. Unfortunately, this procedure does not raise image quality to the required level and is therefore unacceptable.

Can I submit RAW files?
No. RAW files (and other formats) must be converted to JPG and meet all other submission criteria. All images must be available for re-submission in their original size. All semi-finalists will be required to re-submit the originals in RAW or tiff format at 300dpi. For mobile images the image will be requested in its original format with no adaptions.

How can I convert a RAW file into a JPG?
You can convert your file by using you default camera software or similar RAW conversion software such as Adobe Photoshop.

Open your RAW file(s) and select:

Color Space: Adobe RGB

Bit-depth: 8bit

Size: choose a size between 12-24.5MP, e.g. 2731 x 4096 (11.2MP)

Save your file as JPG with the maximum file size of 15MB

How can I submit sequence images with original metadata when they are made up of multiple original files?
Submit the sequence image as you have composed it, but keep all the original files with the correct metadata. At some point we may request to see all original files and check the metadata. Sequence images can be submitted to every category.

Can I submit analogue images?
Yes, but all film prints and transparencies need to be drum scanned at high resolution and delivered digitally. Scan your images at 300dpi and check their actual megapixel sizes before uploading. Please note that your images must have more than 12 megapixels to be accepted. No prints will be accepted.

Do I have to be a Photographer to be able to submit my images?
No. Any amateur or professional photographer can submit his or her images

Does the photograph need to be Db branded?
No. It does not have to be branded. Any creative outdoor or sports image, as explained in the rules, can be submitted.

What is an inappropriate submission?Images of a political nature, pornographic images, full frontal nudity and sexually explicit images of any kind.

Can I submit images that have been submitted to other contests in the past?
Yes. But make sure that you still have all rights for the image. Submitting photographers must own all rights to any photographs entered in this contest. Please note that all images must have been taken after January 1, 2019.

What is a model release and why do I have to provide one?
A model release is a short agreement with your model that proves that he/she grants you the permission to publish the photograph of him/her in one form or another. Upon request you must be able to prove that the images you have submitted meet all legal requirements for participation in this contest, which includes the proof that no rights of any third party are infringed. If you cannot provide such an agreement with your model, this may result in disqualification. If the subject of a photograph is a minor (under the age of 18), the photographer must submit a written release form unrequested, signed by the parent or legal guardian of the minor.

Will my images be used for Db’s advertising?
No. The submitted images can only be used in relation to the Db Photo Competition. In this context it might be used for public relations or event advertising without compensation, which is standard procedure for all other credible photo contests.

What happens when two images have the exact same amount of votes?
In this case the Db judges will cast a determining vote.

Will I get notified when my image makes it into the next round?
Yes, all contestants will be informed by email.

How can you be sure that judges aren’t partial or unfair?
In order to maintain impartiality, all images will be made anonymous before the judges receive them.

Rules

01 Entries

The following Rules and Regulations/ Terms of participation apply for your participation in the Db Creative Outdoors Photo Competition 2023 (the “contest”), organized by Db Equipment  AS,

Here in we explain the rules of participation as well as how your submitted images may be used in the context of Db Creative Outdoors Photo Competition 2023. By submitting an image the Entrant accepts these Rules and Regulations/ Terms of participation of Db Creative Outdoors Photo Competition 2023. 

02 General

– Solely Db acts as the contractual partner with the Entrants (as defined below) regarding their participation in the contest, as set out in these Rules and Regulations/ Terms of participation.
– The contest is “open submission”.
– There is no entry fee.
– The submission phase takes place between August 17, 2023 and September 3rd, 2023, midnight UTC. Images must be submitted during this period on dbjourney.com.
– Images must have been taken after August 1, 2019.
– Photos must be submitted through the website.
– Any creators of an image may submit (whether amateur, rookie or professional creators).
– Creators from all over the world may submit images.
– To register and enter this contest you have to agree to these Rules and Regulations/ Terms of participation.
– A submitting creator is referred to as an “Entrant”.
– Entrants must be 18 years of age or older to participate.
– If the subject of a photo is a minor (under the age of 18), the creator must provide a written release form on request, signed by the legal representative(s), e.g. parents or legal guardian of the minor according to local law.
– Upon request, creators must include a model and location release for all images submitted. Failure to provide such release may result in disqualification.
– Only the creators can submit their images. Images may not be submitted from a third party on behalf of a creator.
– Creators can only submit their images with one account.
– Entries may only be made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry.
– Images that have been previously published or submitted to another contest, may be submitted.
– Artwork needs to be created with a camera. The use of AI tools (e.g. Midjourney) is not allowed and leads to the automatic exclusion of the submission as inappropriate.
– Only basic image editing and color corrections are allowed, i.e. brightness, contrast, sharpening, mood and white balance. Images that have been digitally or otherwise modified to change the original impression are not eligible for submission.
– If any doubts occur regarding the authenticity of the submissions, the original file (RAW or original file in case of mobile) will be requested by the DB judges for analysis for all categories.
– Only images that capture adventure, nature and outdoor sports culture and lifestyle may be submitted. Whether they take place in the air, sea, mountains, cities or on rivers and trails, a broad range of adventure and sports submissions are accepted.
– Inappropriate submissions will disqualify the creator from the contest. The decision if a submission is inappropriate will be reasonably determined by the Db judges.
– Creators may only enter a maximum of 1 image
– Images from mobile devices (smartphones) are allowed to be submitted to any category as long as they fulfill the criteria as outlined in the respective section within “Image Files/Format for Submission”.
– Once an image has been submitted, it is final and may not be replaced by another image and cannot be moved to another category.
– All decisions by the Db judges are final, which for the avoidance of doubts includes that legal review of any such decision is excluded.
– Entries have to fulfill the criteria as outlined in the respective section within “Image Files/Format for Submission”.
– Entries are judged once the submissions are closed as outlined in the respective section within “Judging”.
– Submit images well in advance of the deadline to avoid complications caused by high upload volumes.

02 Image files / format for submission

Medium
Images shot digitally or on film will be accepted. All film prints and transparencies must be drum scanned at high resolution and delivered digitally. No prints will be accepted.

Photos for all categories submitted on dbjourney.com
– Online submission format: JPG
– Minimum picture size: 12 Megapixel (e.g. 4032 x 3024 pixel)
– Maximum upload file size: 15 Megabytes
– All digital images must contain original metadata. If such information is not provided, images may be disqualified.
– All images must be available for re-submitting in their original size.
– All finalist photos will be required to provide the original images in RAW or tiff format or the original file in case of mobile. If such information is not provided, submissions may be disqualified.

03 Judging format

There are two ways to win. The public vote or through one of the jury votes.

Judging criteria
Official contest judges will base their decisions on a mix of technical superiority, composition, creativity, impact, artistic flair and overall qualities of photographic excellence.

In case of a tie
In case of a tie in any in the public vote, Db’s internal judging panel will cast a determining vote and choose a winner.

04 Legal

Warranties and representations
Submitting creators must own all rights to any images entered in this contest. By submitting an image, the creator represents and warrants that such submission and use as devised herein does not infringe any third-party rights (in particular copyrights, personality rights and data privacy rights) and or other rights protected by law.

Copyrights
All images submitted for consideration in the Db Creative Outdoors Photo Competition 2023 contest remain the sole property of the creator. Entrants retain copyright over each of their photos and moving images.

Entrants hereby grant Db Equipment AS the sublicensable, non-exclusive, worldwide, and perpetual right to use and exploit the submitted images without compensation in the context of Db Creative Outdoors Photo Competition, the Db Creative Exchange, the Db Exhibition Tours and/or for Db Photo Competition promotions, marketing, advertising, events and exhibitions of all kind.

This includes the perpetual and worldwide use of the submitted images in any media, in particular, any print media (e.g. magazines, newspapers, books) and electronic/digital offline and online media or social internet platforms and third party networks and websites). Db Equipment AS is entitled to sublicense these rights, in particular to its affiliates, subsidiaries, sponsors, partners, and service providers. To protect the copyright of the creator, Db Equipment AS will use the submitted images only in low resolution whenever this is reasonable and technically possible (e.g. on the internet). Credits will be given according to the customary practice in the media business (© name of the creator / Db Photo Contest).

Data
Entrant acknowledges that his/her personal data contained in the Application Form will be registered in electronic form by methods of automated data processing by Db Equipment AS in order to hold the Db Creative Outdoors Photo Competition 2023 and to process the data as described in Db’s privacy policy. For detailed information please consult our data privacy policy.

Termination
We may suspend and terminate the Db Creative Outdoors Photo Competition 2023 at any time, appropriately taking under consideration the mutual interests in duly conducting the Db Creative Outdoors Photo Competition 2023.

Miscellaneous
These Rules and Regulations/ Terms of participation are subject to Norwegian law. We reserve the right to review and revise the Terms from time to time. You will be notified in due time of such changes, which will appropriately consider the mutual interests in duly conducting the Db Creative Outdoors Photo Competition 2023. You will be deemed to have accepted any such changes if we do not receive an objection in legally due time of not more than four weeks subsequently to being made aware of our revised Terms. We will duly make you aware of these consequences upon notification of changes. You should therefore check the website from time to review the current Terms because they are binding on you. In case you object to the changes we may need to exclude the respective submission from the contest.

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