photography competition

competition rules

1. Organizer

The competition is organized by Saimaa Geopark ry and LAB University of Applied Sciences' AARREKARTTA - Saimaa Geoparkin visibiltyinen och säätäätään säätäätää - project (hereinafter referred to as the "Organizers").

2. Right to participate

All private individuals can participate in the competition. Minor participants must request the consent of their guardian.

Employees of the organizer can participate, but cannot win prizes.

3. Competition period

The competition will be organized from 1.11.2025 to 31.1.2026. All participating photos must be submitted using the competition form by 31.1.2026 at 23:59. The jury will select the photographs for the exhibition in February 2026.

The exhibition will open in Imatra at the Virta Culture House in connection with the Saimaa Geopark Visitor Centre in spring 2026.

Photographers selected for the exhibition will be invited to the exhibition opening.

4. Participation in the competition

Each participant can submit a maximum of one series of photographs (3 images) taken in the Saimaa Geopark area.

One image in the series must show a person or part of a person (e.g. a hand, silhouette or back) and one image must show winter in some way – these can also be in the same image. The images can form one continuous story or three separate ones.

The images must be high-resolution, horizontal or vertical images with a total size of no more than 50 MB. The exhibition images will be printed in A3 size. The organiser has the right to crop the images to fit the print size if necessary. The images can also be previously taken and unpublished images.

The photos must be accompanied by a story or caption telling the story of each photo. The caption for each photo may not exceed 500 characters. Photos and captions for photos must be submitted using the competition form, which can be found at: https://link.webropol.com/s/saimaageopark-valokuvauskilpailu2025-26

5. Copyright and use of photos

By participating in the competition, the photographer declares that he or she is the copyright holder of the photos. By participating in the competition, the photographer grants the Organizers the right to use his or her photos in all forms of communication and activity (e.g. printed materials, websites, social media). This only applies to photos selected for the exhibition and awarded.

The photographer's name will be mentioned in connection with the use of the photo. In addition to the gift certificate, the photographer will not be paid separate compensation for the use of the photos. The photographer may continue to use the photos submitted to the competition, including those selected for the exhibition, for other purposes.

The organizer has the right to ask photographers whose photos were not selected whether their photos may be used for purposes other than exhibition purposes, mentioning the photographer's name. The participant has the right to refuse this.

A minor photographer must request the consent of a guardian to participate in the competition. A free-form signed consent must be submitted to the Organizer separately by email to the following address: jenna.tiimo@saimaageopark.fi

6. Responsibility for the photos

The participant is responsible for ensuring that the publication and use of the photo does not violate the rights of third parties. For example, if the person in the photo is identifiable, the photographer must have the consent of the person in the photo to participate in the competition and to publish the photo. The organizer is not responsible for any claims from third parties that may arise from the use of the photos.

7. Selection of winners and prizes

The winners of the competition (8 people) will be selected by a jury appointed by the Organizer. All photographers selected for the exhibition will receive a product prize worth €70, which includes a genuine Finnish-made kuksa and a coffee package from a small roaster.

The prize cannot be exchanged for cash. The prizes will be awarded to the winners at the opening of the photography exhibition or delivered by post.

8. General terms and conditions

The organizer reserves the right to change the rules of the competition or cancel the competition if circumstances require it. Participation in the competition means acceptance of these rules.