Contest Terms & Conditions

Michael Foster Photography Contest 2026 Terms and Conditions

1. Eligibility:

• The contest is open to amateur photographers who are 16 years of age or older.

• Employees, officers, directors, agents, and representatives of the contest organizers, as well as their immediate family members and household members, are not eligible to participate.

2. Submission Requirements:

• Photos must be submitted electronically in either .jpeg or .tiff format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.

• Each participant may submit a maximum of 4 entries. The photos must have been taken within the last twelve (12) months.

• Photos must not be digitally altered beyond standard optimization (e.g., removal of dust, cropping, adjustments to exposure, color, and contrast). Composite images, heavily edited photos, or AI-generated content are not permitted.

• Submissions must include relevant metadata, including the title, description, location, and date of the photo and should be under 5 MB in size.

• All entries must be received by Friday, May 8, 2026.

3. Copyright and Ownership:

• Participants must be the original creators of the submitted photos and hold all necessary rights and permissions.

• By entering the contest, participants retain ownership of their photos but grant the contest organizers a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, reproduce, and publish the photos for various promotional activities, including but not limited to websites, social media, print materials, and exhibitions.

4. Privacy and Consent:

• Photos will not violate the privacy or rights of any individuals depicted in them. Participants must obtain consent from any recognizable individuals in the photos.

• Personal information collected during the contest will be used solely for the purposes of administering the contest and will not be shared with third parties without consent.

5. Judging and Prizes:

• The 2026 theme is “HARMONY”. We are looking for photographs that provide unique insight into the natural and cultural elements of Muskoka and the surrounding area. Entries will be judged by a committee of members of the Muskoka Conservancy based on their creativity, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit.

• The award recipient will be notified by email and the winner will be publicly announced on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

• The winner will receive a mounted copy of their photo and will be named on social media, on our website, and at Muskoka Conservancy's AGM (June 5, 2026) as the recipient of the Michael Foster Photography Award 2026.

6. Disclaimers:

• The contest organizers are not responsible for any technical failures, unauthorized human intervention, or other errors that may affect the submission process or the administration of the contest.

• The contest organizers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with the terms and conditions or that is deemed inappropriate or offensive.

7. Acceptance of Terms:

• By submitting an entry, participants agree to comply with these terms and conditions and acknowledge that the decisions of the contest organizers are final and binding.