Photographers

Are you a budding or professional photographer?

Do you want to make a difference?

The Welfare Rights Centre is challenging those with an interest in their community to seek out examples of poverty and take a digital photograph (check out the rules).  These digital images can be submitted for special recognition during the 2009 Anti Poverty Week as well as cash prizes.

There are three categories and you can enter as many times as you like.

1. Open to all photographers

2. Photographers that identify as having a disability

3. An image with a rural or remote theme

Closing date: 12th October 2009.
Winners Announced: 14th October 2009 at the Brisbane Town Hall - Balmoral Room. Tickets Required.
Prizes: $500 for the winner of each category.

Enter here!

Taking Photos of People

Images of poverty do not have to include people, although people’s expressions and postures can often tell a thousand words. If you choose to use a person there are a few expectations that we have.

Firstly and foremost the person must give you permission (see model release form). Many people will find having photographs taken of them or their family/friends as offensive and or suspicious. So if you decide to approach a person or group of people you don’t know you should treat them with dignity and respect.

Many poor and homeless people have had life experiences that have impacted on their ability to trust. Don’t assume they want to be photographed, but take some time to talk to them and let them tell you their story – this will be one of the benefits of participating in this competition. Often people will not want a photograph taken straight away, but they may be willing to meet up at another place or time. If you do this you should only arrange to meet in public places – this is a rule of the competition.

It is up to you if you want to give a model some money – many would like a copy of your photograph so finding an address to send it would be a nice gesture.

Rules

• Entry is open to all residents of Australia.
• Entries are unlimited.
• The winners will be determined by a panel appointed by the WRC.
• Entrants are entitled to enter more than one category if eligible but all entrants must specify on their entry form, which category or categories they wish to enter.
• All entries must have been taken in a public place within Australia.
• All entries must be the original work of the entrant. No third party may enter on behalf of the individual.
• Copyright of all images submitted is retained by the originator of the content but the WRC and sponsors of the competition are to be given the rights to use any submitted photographs in activities and materials that is raising awareness of poverty and social exclusion..
• Digital manipulation of images entered in the competition is permissible, however these are to be kept to those features that “enhance” the existing content of an image ie USM levels, exposure and tonal adjustments (localised or otherwise), clone (for retouching) etc. Digitally “modified” images that display excessive enhancement or that owe their “content”, total or in part, to the post photographic processes of subject duplication, combining of images of differing content or the creation of new image elements by any other process, will not be eligible for judging.
• Visual effects created by the external application of filters and/or other photographic accessories at the time of capture are not considered to be Digital Manipulation.
• All entries are encouraged to send in a 25 – 50 word artist statement with their photograph(s). By signing the applicant entry form entrants give WRC permission to edit the statement, within reason.
• Any entries depicting people must include permission from the subject(s). All entrants must be able to provide evidence of such permission if required. A preferred model release is included in the artist tool kit.
• Any entries depicting images of children that are considered to be offensive or exploitative will be disqualified from the competition and returned to the entrant.
• Partipants may be required to provide proof of; idenity, residency, ownership of the material and their disability.
• These rules are subject to review.