LEAF Photo Contest Rules

Purpose

The District 742 Local Education & Activities Foundation (LEAF) is sponsoring an ongoing photo contest for all District 742 students, parents, staff and residents to highlight the positive things happening each day in our public schools.  The focus of this contest is to shine a light on District 742 academics, activities, arts and athletic programs and students. Contest entries will be judged biannually at the end of the biannual period (January 1 – June 30 and July 1 – December 31).   Winners will receive recognition on the LEAF Photo Contest Gallery web page and a special prize (see “Winners” below) from LEAF. 

Photo Eligibility

All photos must have been taken within the last twelve months.

All photos must depict events or activities associated with District 742 schools.

The photo subject must be relevant to one of the following contest themes:

1. School academic activities and programs
2. School clubs, organizations and extracurricular activities
3. School arts activities and events
4. School athletic activities.

Photographer/Copyright

Entries must be submitted by the original photographer. Do not submit a photo taken by someone other than you. You must be the sole owner of the copyright of any image submitted. Your submission of the photo and entry form is your guarantee that you are the author and copyright holder of the photo. 

Number of Entries

Contest entries are submitted on the LEAF website and only one photograph may be submitted per entry. However, an individual may submit multiple entries for each competition period.

Photo Subject Restrictions

Photos must be appropriate for posting on a public website.  Proof of permission to use images of individuals in other than open public spaces should be obtained by the photographer, and general sensitivity to the privacy or security of individuals should be paramount.

Obscene, provocative or otherwise questionable content will not be considered. LEAF retains sole discretion as to what constitutes inappropriate content.

Ownership/Use Rights

Photographers retain the copyright to their photographs. By entering the contest, photographers agree to have their submitted photograph displayed on the LEAF website and social media and other published material without any fee or other form of compensation and agree LEAF may retain copies of the photograph for archival purposes. Photos may be credited to the photographer named in the entry form. Entries (including non-winning entries) may be selected for display or use. Entries will never be used by LEAF in any manner for sale. In the event that ownership of any photograph submitted to LEAF is contested in any manner, LEAF retains the discretion to disqualify that photograph and discontinue use of the photograph.

How to Enter

‘Digital photos are submitted using the online entry form. If you wish to submit multiple entries, a form must be submitted for each entry.  Complete the form carefully and make sure that your entry complies with the photo contest rules.

Judging

Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity, photographic quality, and effectiveness in conveying the message:  THE BEST OF DISTRICT 742! A panel will judge the entries and all contest decisions are final. Entries that fail to comply with the Official Contest Rules will be disqualified.

Winners

Judges will select a first-place winning photo for each contest period. Winners will be notified by email using the contact information on the entry form. Photographs, along with the photographer’s name and information about the photo as found on the entry form, may be displayed on the LEAF website and through social media. Biannual winners will receive a $50 gift card from Scheels or Target and a $500 grant to the District 742 program of their choice!

Submitting Digital Images

Submit your digital image(s) using the online entry form.

Images must be submitted in a JPG high quality format. Images submitted that are smaller than 1800 x 1200 pixels (set your camera for images 2MP or higher) may be rejected. Please contact us if you have questions about image type, size or quality.

Image Modifications:

Minor digital enhancement is permitted, but images that have been significantly modified or appear unnatural will be disqualified.

Not Permitted:

• No borders or frames may be added to images.
• No watermarks, signatures, or copyright notices may be added to images.
• Adding or replacing elements in an image is not permitted.
• Artistic filters are not permitted.

Permitted Modifications:

• Images may be cropped and rotated as necessary as long as the rectangular format is maintained and the size is within the specifications above.
• Images may be resized as long as the aspect ratio is maintained
• Red-eye removal and spot editing
• One-step enhancement (such as “AutoFix”, “QuickFix”, “Auto Levels”, etc.)
• Use of filters to sharpen, soften, blur, despeckle, or remove noise.
• Use of corrective functions to improve the natural appearance of the image, such as levels, contrast, brightness, curves, intensity, tone, hue, saturation, lightness, value, color balance, and tint.

All winning images will be displayed with the photographer’s name.

Additional Terms and Conditions

LEAF is not responsible for computer system, hardware, software, or program malfunctions or other errors, failures, or delayed computer transactions or network connections that are human or technical in nature. Further, LEAF is not responsible for: (i) lost, misdirected, misplaced, illegible, unintelligible, incomplete, or late entries or (ii) any act, failure to act, or delay regarding the transmitting or processing of entries. LEAF reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend all or any portion of this contest without notice if factors beyond LEAF control, including technical difficulties, disrupt or corrupt the fair or secure administration or operation of the contest. Void where prohibited. LEAF is entitled to interpret these rules as needed and its decisions are final.

By participating in the contest, you agree to release and hold harmless LEAF and its employees, officers, affiliates, agents, contest sponsors and advertising and promotional agencies from any and all damages, injuries, claims, causes of actions, or losses of any kind resulting from your participation in this contest, including infringement of intellectual property rights. LEAF and its employees, officers, affiliates, agents, contest sponsors and advertising and promotional agencies assume no responsibility or liability for any damages, injuries, claims, causes of actions, or losses of any kind arising in whole or in part from this contest.