Best of DTO Photo Contest 2016
Official Rules and Regulations
The Downtown Development Board (DDB), in cooperation with the Downtown Arts District
(DAD), is seeking photographs for a “Best of DTO (Downtown Orlando)” Photo Contest.
Images submitted must depict Downtown Orlando (within the Downtown Orlando Community
Redevelopment Area, map attached) in at least one of the following five categories:
1. Live
Description: This category encourages photographers to capture the true beauty of Downtown
Orlando’s urban environment including areas such as: housing, education, child care, civic
activity, health and health care, our community members, historic preservation/heritage, creative
communities – arts/culture, landscapes/natural environment, and transportation.
2. Work
Description: This category seeks to capture the working environment in DTO. This includes
development processes, work organizations, employees, enterprise culture, commercial
architecture, and co-working spaces.
3. Play
Description: This category seeks to portray how residents and visitors use their leisure time in
DTO. Play at Lake Eola Park, enjoy a show at one of our many venues, experience high energy
sports, or have a picnic. Images can include, but are not limited to, recreation, wildlife, youth
activities, Main Street districts, public spaces, festivals, dining options and the Orlando Farmers
Market.
4. Panoramic
Description: This category is dedicated to the truly unique format of panoramic photography.
Seeking grand views that mimic wide visions as the natural line of sight. Find your favorite spot
to see DTO’s skyline.
5. Lake Eola Park
Description: This category is dedicated to Lake Eola Park. We encourage you to capture what
makes Lake Eola Park a Downtown Orlando icon.
The contest is open to photographers of all ages, both professional and amateur. If under 18
years of age, a parent or guardian is required to initiate the submittal. Both horizontal and
vertical photographs will be accepted. All images must be the original work of the photographer
entering the contest. Photographs that capture the uniqueness of Downtown Orlando are
encouraged.
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How to Enter:
No purchase is necessary in order to enter this contest. Photographers must submit entry form
and digital images online at www.downtownorlando.com/photocontest. Contestants are allowed
to submit up to 10 photos.
Photo submission must meet the following requirements:
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Preference of image ratio is 8:10 and 14:5 for panoramic images.
High resolution, in 300 dpi or greater.
Names, dates, borders, copyright symbols, etc. can not be a part of the actual image.
Image shall not be excessively manipulated using various filter programs.
Prints, negatives and slides (transparencies) must be converted to digital images for
entering this contest.
• If the image is not a ratio of 8:10, the Downtown Development Board reserves the right
to crop said image.
• If the panoramic image is not a ratio of 14:5, the Downtown Development Board reserves
the right to crop said image.
Disclaimer: Based on the sole discretion of the Downtown Development Board, entries will be
screened to assure that they meet eligibility criteria and will be removed from
consideration/inclusion upon non-approval.
Deadline for Submissions: July 18, 2016.
Awards
Best of Show (1 winner) The top photograph from all categories combined (all displayed
photographs) will be awarded $300 based on the scoring by the panel of judges.
Fan Favorite (1 winner) The top photograph from all categories combined according to social
media votes will be awarded $300.
Best in Category (5 winners) The top photographs selected in each of the five categories: Live,
Work, Play, Panoramic and Lake Eola Park will each be awarded $100.
Judging and Voting:
Best of Show and Best in Category: A panel of six independent judges will determine award
recipients from photographs on display at the Gallery at Avalon Island exhibition. Photographs
will be judged on the following criteria:
• Impact (first impression)
• Creativity and Originality
• Technical Excellence (exposure/focus)
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• Composition
• Subject Matter (how well the photograph reflects the category)
Fan Favorite:
The Fan Favorite voting will consist of two parts.
1). Online voting: From August 1, 2016 to August 19, 2016, Downtown Orlando Facebook
followers may vote on their favorite photograph. Ten images with the most votes will be selected
to proceed to the next round of the voting process. The top 10 favorite images on the Downtown
Orlando Facebook page will be determined at the end of the online voting period, which is
August 19, 2016.
2). During the gallery opening event on Thursday, September 15, 2016, the top ten images will
then be voted on by attendees throughout the evening via social media. Those votes will then be
tallied and the photo with the most votes will be announced the winner of the Fan Favorite
category.
Note: The top 10 images will be hung in a section of the gallery in a 24 X 36 image display (if
allowable) sponsored by the Downtown Development Board.
The odds of placing in the top ten are based on the number of entries.
Exhibition: Images will be displayed at The Gallery at Avalon Island from September 15, 2016
to October 15, 2016. The opening reception will take place on Thursday, September 15, 2016
from 6:00-9:00 p.m. At least one image per Photographer will be printed and installed at The
Gallery at Avalon Island. General submissions will be printed by the Downtown Development
Board on 8X10 inch prints (if allowable) and displayed in the gallery. Each displayed piece will
include the Photographer’s name and the name of the piece on the front. Space is limited. If the
overall quantity of submissions exceeds the available display space, all submissions will not be
able to be displayed in the gallery. To ensure each Photographer will have at least one photo
displayed, the Downtown Development Board will use the numerical order of the upload as the
Photographer’s indication of preference.
Disclaimer:
By submission of an image, you are entering the Photo Contest, agreeing to the complete Official
Rules of the Photo Contest, granting the Downtown Development Board the right to identify you
as the owner of the photo and certifying that the photo submitted is your original photo, created
solely by you and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the photo.
You acknowledge and agree to grant the Downtown Development Board the rights to use photos,
name, likeness or comments not only for the use and display during the contest and exhibition,
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but also for marketing purposes of Downtown Orlando, the Downtown Arts District, The Gallery
at Avalon Island, the Downtown Development Board/Community Redevelopment Agency
and/or the City of Orlando in both commercial and non-commercial manners without payment of
additional consideration, except where prohibited by law. By entering this photo contest you are
assigning over all right, title and interest in and to the photos to and the entries become the sole
property of the Downtown Development Board upon submission and will not be returned. Any
questions may be directed to Analys Sanchez, Analys.Sanchez@downtownorlando.com.
Liability: The Downtown Development Board is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete,
misdirected, damaged or illegible entries. Photographers agree to hold the Downtown
Development Board harmless from any liability arising from participation in the Photo Contest
or the acceptance, receipt, possession or misuse of the prize. The Downtown Development Board
and each of its officers, directors, employees, members and representatives and agents are not
responsible for any negligence, claims, liability, injury, property loss or other damages or
Photographers and/or winners arising from, or in connection with, acceptance, receipt,
possession or use/misuse of the awards or participation in this Photo Contest. The Downtown
Development Board is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether
caused by tampering, hacking or by any of the equipment or programming associated with the
Photo Contest. Awards cannot be substituted, assigned or transferred by the winners. The
Downtown Development Board reserves the right to disqualify Photographers that fail to follow
the Official Rules.
Choice of Law/Venue: All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity,
interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the
Photographer and the Downtown Development Board in connection with this Photo Contest,
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of
Florida without regarding to choice of law rules. Any action arising out of these Official Rules
shall be filed in Orange County, Florida. In the event of any litigation arising out of these
Official Rules, the prevailing party in such action shall be entitled to an award of all of its
reasonable costs, charges and expenses, including attorney’s fees, for any trial court or appellate
proceeding against the non-prevailing party.
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