OFFICIAL NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL PHOTO CONTEST RULES

Sponsor is FotoWeek DC, Inc., a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of photography's role in our world by recognizing photographic excellence, and ensuring that the celebration of this powerful medium is an accessible and inclusive experience. FotoDC 1838 Columbia Road. NW, Washington, DC 20009

Photographers retain ownership of copyright to their entries.

The National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest begins February 3, 2012 at 12:00pm Pacific Standard Time (PST) and ends April 20, 2012 at 11:59pm Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to the Official Rules and confirms that his or her entry complies with all requirements set out in the Official Rules and that the decisions of the Judges are final and binding with respect to all matters relating to the Contest. Entries will not be returned.

All entrants must be 18 years of age or older as of April 20, 2012. Members of the FotoDC Board of Directors and members of the FotoDC Awards Committee are ineligible. Contest is void where prohibited.

(1) A SINGLE IMAGE ENTRY & ENTRY FEES:
Each SINGE IMAGE ENTRY consists of an entry form, a single image and the appropriate entry fee. The discounted entry fee is $10.35 per single image entry for 1 -4 images, $8.76 each for 5-9 images and $7.16 each for more than 10 entries received before 11:59pm PDT March 11, 2012. The regular entry fee is $12.95 per single image entry, 1-4 images, $10.95 each for 5-9 images and $8.95 each for more than 10 entries received after 12:00am EST March 12, 2012 and before 11:59pm PDT April 15, 2012. The extended deadline entry fee is $18.00 per single image entry, 1-4 images, $15.00 each for 5-9 images and $12.50 each for more than 10 entries, $60 for a series (minimum of 3 images, maximum of 6) received after 12:00am EST April 15, 2012 and before 11:59pm PDT April 20, 2012. (2) A MOBILE PHONE ENTRY AND ENTRY FEES: Each MOBILE PHONE ENTRY consists of an entry form, a single image and appropriate entry fee. The discounted entry fee is $5.56 per single image entry received before 11:59pm March 11, 2012. The regular entry fee is $6.95 per single image entry received after 12:00am March 12, 2012 and before 11:59pm PDT April 15, 2012. The extended deadline entry fee is $9.50 per single image entry received after 12:00am April 15, 2012 and before 11:59pm PDT April 20, 2012.

TO ENTER: All entries must be submitted electronically, at the official website: http://cherryblossom.fotodc.org. There is no mail-in method of entry. Once the registration process has been completed, you will receive an e-mail confirmation. Simply log onto the website and follow the online instructions to upload images from your computer. Images formatted in JPEG or TIFF measuring at least 1,000 pixels on their long dimension are preferred. Images may be color profiled in sRGB, Adobe-1998, or not color-managed.

On-line entries must be made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, internet domain owner, or other person or organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

The entries will judged in accordance with the Judging Criteria, as defined below.
Contest consists of two (2) rounds of evaluation for each category. In Round One of each category, a panel of distinguished judges will each review the entries and select a group of entries to proceed to Round Two on the basis of creative vision (34%), originality (33%) and technical competence as appropriate to the category (33%) ("Judging Criteria"). In Round Two of each category, the Judges will collectively select, from among the entries selected in Round One, the winners based on the Judging Criteria.

Decisions of the Sponsor and Judges are final and binding.

Sponsor reserves the right not to award all prizes in the event an insufficient number of eligible entries meeting the minimum judging criteria are received, as determined by Sponsor and Judges in their sole discretion.

Contest will be judged on Sunday, April 22nd and winners will be publicly announced on or before Friday, April 27th. Winners will be notified by email on Monday, April 23rd."

Best in Show: $500 + Photoshop World Prize Package (Valued at $1,000)

• One Full Conference Pass to Photoshop World ($698 value) Photoshop World is the place to experience three days of the world's best lighting, photography and Photoshop training. Held twice a year, the conference and expo features more than 100 classes-taught by 40 + noted instructors like Scott Kelby, Jay Maisel, Dave Black, Jeremy Cowart and Joe McNally. Valid at any location in 2012 and 2013.
• One Year Subscription to KelbyTraining.com ($199 value) Dramatically improve your photography skills with unlimited 24-hour-a-day access to the planet's top pros and their exclusive courses. You'll learn more than you thought possible and dramatically improve your photography skills.
• One Year Membership to the National Association of Photoshop Professionals ($99 value) NAPP is the smartest investment you can make when it comes to Photoshop training. No other resource offers a magazine like Photoshop User, thousands of online tutorials, hundreds of money-saving retail discounts and three online Help Desks like NAPP does.

First Prize: A cash prize of $300 to First Place Winner of Each Category
Second Prize: A cash prize of $200 to Second Place Winner of Each Category
Third Prize: A cash prize of $100 to Second Place Winner of Each Category
Series Winner Prize: A cash prize of $300 to a Series Winner in Each Category

People's Choice: Washington Photo Safari Gift Certificate for (2) half-day workshops

Each submitted photograph, in its entirety, must be a work of original material taken by the Contest entrant. Photographs must have been taken within five (5) years before the date of entry, i.e., no earlier than February 1, 2007. By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges and warrants that the submitted entry is an original work created solely by the entrant, that the entry does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the entry.

The entry must not, in the sole and unfettered discretion of the Sponsor, contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content. Entries deemed inappropriate will be disqualified. Entries that include sculptures, statues, paintings, and other works of art will be accepted as long as they do not constitute copyright infringement or fraud; provided that entrants must be prepared to provide a release form as described below in "Third Party Releases/Licenses." When photographing the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment and not a full-frame close up of another person's art. If the entry includes other people, you must be prepared to provide a signed written personal release from all persons who appear in the work submitted, authorizing use of the entry as provided below in "Third Party Releases/Licenses." If you are unable to provide a personal release, upon request by Sponsor and in the form provided by Sponsor, then your entry may be disqualified. You do not need to send the release with your entry. If you win, we will contact you if a model release is needed. The entries will be judged in accordance with the Judging Criteria, as defined herein.

THE WINNERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE PUBLICITY RELEASES; AND ANY OTHER AFFIDAVITS AND/OR RELEASES OR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED BY PRIZE SUPPLIER (S).

If the entry contains any material or elements that are not owned by the entrant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, and/or if any persons appear in the work, the entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the entry, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the work in the manner set forth in these Official Rules without additional compensation. If any person appearing in any work is under the age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence, the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required on each release.

By participating, ALL ENTRANTS grant the Sponsor and their designees, licensees or affiliates (the "Authorized Parties") a non-exclusive, worldwide license, through December 31, 2013, to post the entries online so that viewers may view all competing entries. In addition, each WINNER grants to the Authorized Parties a license for use of his/her winning entry in connection with The National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest and promotion of The National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest, in any media now or hereafter known, including but not limited to: publication in magazines showcasing the winners, exhibitions related to the National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest, the FotoWeek DC website, and other promotions related to the National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest. Such winners' license is a non-exclusive, worldwide license to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of the entries in perpetuity exclusively through the National Cherry Blossom Festival and/or FotoWeek DC, Inc., a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of photography's role in our world by recognizing photographic excellence, and ensuring that the celebration of this powerful medium is an accessible and inclusive experience.

Authorized Parties will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use.

Upon request of Sponsor, entrant may be asked to provide a signed release from all persons who (1) appear in the photograph or (2) who have copyrighted material of any kind that appears in the photograph, granting the Authorized Partners the rights to display their likeness or their copyrighted material as it appears in the photograph in any media whatsoever in connection with the Contest, its advertising, at the Contest website, in Contest exhibitions in publicity releases or other Contest or winner related materials. Failure to provide such release in a timely manner may result in disqualification.

By participating, entrants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless FotoWeek DC, Inc., and each of their respective partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in this Contest or any Contest-related activities and the acceptance and use, misuse, or possession of any prize awarded hereunder.

Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay in operation or transmission; communications line failure; theft or destruction of or unauthorized access to Contest entries or entry forms; or alteration of entries or entry forms. Sponsors are not responsible for any problems with or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, human errors of any kind, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrants' or any other persons' computers related to or resulting from participation, uploading or downloading of any materials related to this Contest.

Sponsor is not responsible for electronic transmission errors resulting in omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions or limitations of any kind, or inaccurate transmissions of or failure to receive entry information by Sponsor or presenter on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site or any combination thereof. If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to select winners from eligible entries received as of the termination date. Sponsor further reserves the right to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process. Caution: Any attempt by a contestant to deliberately damage any Web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such contestant to the fullest extent of the law.

THIS CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. This Contest is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Certain restrictions may apply. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, stolen, mutilated, incomplete, illegible, misdirected, or postage-due mail. Entries void if the Sponsor determines the entry not to be an original, or if the entries are illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error or obtained through fraud or theft.

Participants also agree (a) to be bound by these Official Rules; (b) that the decisions of the Judges are final on all matters relating to the Contest; and (c) if he/she wins that Sponsor may use each winner's name, photograph, likeness, and/or voice in any publicity or advertising relating to the Contest or future promotions without compensation or approval (except where prohibited by law). All federal, state and local taxes, fees and surcharges on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prizewinners. In the event that the selected winner(s) of any prize are/is ineligible or refuses the prize, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsor, in their sole discretion, may choose whether to award the prize to entrants.

If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, worms, Trojan horses, denial of service attacks, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsors that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. If Sponsors elect to cancel or terminate the Contest, Sponsors will not retain any rights in the submitted photographs and will return the entry fees.

Except where prohibited by law, all issues concerning the construction, validity and enforcement of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor, shall be construed and governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, without regard to conflicts of law. All suits or claims brought in connection with this Contest must be brought in a state or federal court in Washington DC.

Winners' names will be available online at http://cherryblossom.fotodc.org after April 20, 2012, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest, 1838 Columbia Road. NW, Washington, DC 20009.