1. Novice Level: for photographers new to the sport of underwater photography and or who have not entered, won or placed in more than three prior underwater photography competitions; and or who have not had their photography work published.

2. Open Level: for all other entries not covered under Novice Level

Entry Fees

Entry Fee: $10 per person – Open or Novice Level, participating at anytime during the festival.

Image Formats

Image formats qualifying for prizes are as follows:

1. Film Images: All film entries submitted for judgment must be 35mm E-6 Slides, mounted and identified in accordance with festival "Film Image" Identification Rules”.

2. Digital Images: All digital entries submitted for judgment must be on CD-ROM, and identified in accordance with festival “Digital Image Identification Rules”.

Film Type and Number of Rolls

Participants may use any film type of their choice provided that it is 35mm E-6 slide format. Each participant will receive 6 rolls of 35mm slide film free of charge with their paid entry to Underwater Palau International Photo Festival. , Pprocessing is not included and is at the participants’ own expense. Participants may shoot as many rolls of film , as they wish. Additional film purchased is at participants’ expense.

Number of Entries for Judging

Participants may submit a maximum of ONE image in each AWARD CATEGORY for a maximum of FOUR images overall..

Photo/Digital Judging Criteria

All entries will be judged using the following criteria:

· Technical quality including lighting, exposure and focus

· Difficulty

· Composition

· Visual Impact

Photo Seminars

Educational photography seminars will be conducted throughout the festival by event judges. A schedule of seminars will be published and made available at participating dive shops during the festival.

Prizes

Film Format

“Best of Festival / Film Category”

Grand Prize

Roundtrip airfare for 2 persons from Los Angeles to Palau

5 night stay at Palau Pacific Resort

5 days of diving for 2 persons.

Dive gear

S1,000 in cash

Grand Prize valued at $10,000

Open Level Classification:

One First, Second and Third Place prize will be presented in each of the four award categories of

Wide Angle, Macro, Wreck, Creative.

Novice Level Classification:

One First, Second and Third Place prize will be presented regardless of award category.

Digital Format

Digital Format – Open Level and or Novice Level Classification:

One First, Second and Third Place prize will be presented in each of the four award categories of

Wide Angle, Macro, Wreck, Creative.

Dil' Techelbakl Award

This award is presented to the female photographer submitting the best image, in the Novice Level entry classification.

Environmental Awareness Rules

Judges will screen all images submitted in accordance with festival rules, during the competition. Images exhibiting any of the following behaviors will be immediately disqualified:

· Divers damaging the reef.

· Divers kicking up sand.

· Divers kicking up silt on wrecks.

· Animals showing signs of stress.

· Animals viewed in an unnatural state or location.

· Animals being fed or baited.

· Marine life being touched or harassed.

· Divers failing to observe courtesy to other divers.

· Divers violating commonly accepted sport-diving safety standards.

· Judges reserve the right to determine whether images are in violation of these rules.

Disputes

The Festival Committee will assign a “Review Panel” to consider any complaints or disputes regarding competition activities. The Festival Committee reserves the right to make the final decision on all dispute resolutions. Participants agree to abide by the Committee’s decision.

Disclaimer

Underwater Palau Photo Festival organizing committee is not responsible for any travel, tour, or accommodation arrangements. Event participants are solely responsible for making their own arrangements with the service provider(s) of their choice. Festival participants are required to sign an Underwater Palau International Photo Festival, Liability Waiver and Release Form, prior to participating in the festival.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

In the event that Underwater Palau International Photo Festival is cancelled, a full refund of entry fees will be offered. Underwater Palau International Photo Festival is not responsible for any cancellation fees levied by travel agents, hotels, or tour operators. Cancellation by participants must be received in writing and acknowledged by the organizing committee. Cancellations received at least 60 days prior to the event are eligible for a full refund of Festival fess. Cancellations received less than 60 days but more than thirty days prior to the event are eligible for 50% refund. No refund is offered for cancellations with less than 30 days verbal or written notice. This cancellation policy applies only to event registration. Other cancellation policies may apply for travel, hotel and tour operators, but are not the responsibility of the Underwater Palau International Photo Festival.

Disqualifications

Participants in violation of festival rules are subject to disqualification. Participants are specifically reminded to familiarize themselves with festival “Image Identification Rules” and “Environmental Awareness Rules”. Entry fees will not be refunded in the event of disqualification.

Access to Images by Sponsors

It is a condition of entry that participants permit Festival sponsors to use all winning images for any future promotional or advertising purposes, without fees or restrictions. Images remain the property of the photographer.

Good Luck!!!!

IMAGE IDENTIFICATION RULES

FILM FORMAT IMAGES

1. Each photographer is assigned Participant Identification Number (PIN) Number, following registration. Please remember your PIN Number, as it will be used throughout the Festival to identify your work.

2. Each roll of film submitted for judging must bear the participant's PIN Number as follows

a) Festival dive boats are equipped with a board on which to write your PIN Number.

b) A photograph must be taken of this board such that your PIN Number clearly and legibly appears in at least one frame of each film-strip submitted for judging.

c) It is the responsibility of each festival participant to ensure that their PIN Number appears on their film-strip(s) as indicated above.

d) Film-strips without identification in accordance with these rules will be disqualified.

3. Each roll of film must be developed as and uncut strip. Film strip(s) that have been cut or tampered-with in any way and or without a PIN Number clearly and legibly appearing as described above will be disqualified.

4. Photographers must present uncut film-strip(s) containing their contest entries at Festival Headquarters for proper identification, cutting, and mounting by Festival Stewards, in order to qualify for judging. Deadline for all entries is 9:00pm on May 29, 2004.

5. The Slide Mounting Jacket of each entry submitted for judging must be clearly marked with the following. Illegible marks may be cause for disqualification:

Photographer PIN Number : Assigned by Festival Committee

Photo Category(s) : Wide Angle; Macro; Wreck; Artistic

Entry Classification : O = Open; N = Novice

6. Film Development is the responsibility of each participant, and is at his or her expense.

IMAGE IDENTIFICATION RULES

DIGITAL FORMAT IMAGES

1. Each photographer is assigned a Participant Identification Number (PIN) Number, following registration. Please remember your PIN Number, as it will be used throughout the Festival to identify your word.

2. Each “smart-card”, “memory stick” and or CD-ROM surrendered or submitted for judging must bear the participant's PIN Number as follows:

a) Festival dive boats are equipped with a board on which to write your PIN Number.

b) A photograph must be taken of this board such that your PIN Number clearly and legibly appears in each “smart-card”, “memory-stick” or CD-ROM used to record images.

c) At the end of each day digital photographers are required to surrender each “smart-card” or “memory-stick” used, or download all images from them to a CD-ROM, and surrender it, to a Festival Steward.

d) It is the responsibility of festival participants to ensure that their PIN Number appears on their digital image media as indicated above.

e) Digital image media without identification in accordance with these rules will be disqualified.

3. All digital images submitted for judging must be on CD-ROM(s). Each CD must contain at least one image clearly showing your PIN Number and that number must be clearly marked on the face of the CD, using permanent marker. CD’s lacking clear and legible PIN numbers as described above, will be disqualified.

4. A printed/written list of images bearing the participants PIN Number must accompany all CD-ROMS submitted for judging. The list must identify the selection(s) being submitted for judging, by image number and by Award Category.

Photographer PIN Number : Assigned by Festival Committee

Photo Category(s) : Wide Angle; Macro; Wreck; Artistic

Entry Classification : O = Open; N = Novice

5. Photographers must present CD-ROMS containing contest entries with their respective Image Lists, at Festival Headquarters for proper identification and or downloading by Festival Stewards, in order to qualify for judging. Deadline for all entries is 9:00pm on May 29, 2004.