Photographs
The short version:
1-5 Photos
Highest Resolution Possible
Color-correction, brightness only; no "photoshopping"
No identifying "burn-ins"
No borders or frames, please
Entrants are requested to provide 1 ~ 5 images of their aquascape, ideally showing both overall views and close-ups of details they wish to highlight.
While the focus of this event is on the aquascape shown in the images, entrants are encouraged to try and provide the clearest, sharpest images possible. The better the images that are provided, the better they will reproduce and display.
Please send the highest resolution and quality possible. We can handle most formats, even camera raw.
You may alter an aquascape's image only for color correction, brightness, shadow/highlight, contrast and/or sharpness. While the organizers realize that in an event of this type it is entirely possible for an unethical person to manufacture a digital image of a non-existent tank, it is our hope that entrants will honor the spirit of sharing and friendly competition upon which this event is based. We are counting on the honesty and integrity of our participants to submit only images that are truly representative of their work as aquascape artists!
Many entrants feel the need to add large "frame" borders around their photographs; this detracts from the image, by making it scale smaller than other entries. In all likelihood, we will just remove the border. Please save us the work, and submit your images borderless.
Images submitted should not have the photographer's name or Copyright Notice superimposed over the image. Judging should be anonymous, and this information could affect the impartial evaluation of aquascapes. We will add a copyright 'burn-in' in the final website.
When creating a planting plan, keep in mind that a blocky diagram works much better than something with thin lines, and high-resolution graphic is just as important as in the photographs. A simple sketch with a Sharpie pen on a piece of paper will look better on the final site than a tiny 320x240 pixel graphic done with a Paint program. Also make sure to list the plants in the caption rather than in the graphic itself. This will save us an incredible amount of retyping and graphic retouching time!
All entrants must agree to a Photo Release before their entries and photographs will be accepted into the contest.