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The annual World Press Photo contest is at the core of World Press Photo’s activities. It offers an overview of how press photographers tackle their work worldwide and how the press gives us the news, bringing together pictures from all parts of the globe to reflect trends and developments in photojournalism.

The main overall prize, the World Press Photo of the Year, is awarded for the single photograph that is not only the photo-journalistic encapsulation the year, but represents an issue, situation or event of great journalistic importance, and does so in a way that demonstrates an outstanding level of visual perception and creativity. It has come to be regarded as the most prestigious international award for photojournalism in the world.

Judging takes place at the beginning of February each year. The contest jury comprises 19 picture editors, photographers and representatives of press agencies from different parts of the world, with widely divergent backgrounds.

This brings to the process a breadth of experience, a variety of perception and a contrast in viewpoint that keeps judging dynamic and bolsters objectivity. The jury acts independently of World Press Photo and the organization has no influence on its decisions.

Winners are announced at a press conference in the second week of February. Prize-winning photographers are invited to receive their awards at the annual Awards Days in Amsterdam at the end of April.

Eligibility

All professional press photographers, photo agencies, newspapers and magazines from anywhere in the world are invited to submit their best news-related pictures from the previous year. Both single images and photo stories are eligible.

There is no entry fee.

Prize

The award carries a cash prize of EUR 10,000, as well as expenses to travel to Amsterdam for the Awards Days in April. The winner also receives one of Canon’s latest professional digital cameras.

The Golden Eye Awards: In each category both the photographer of the best single picture and the photographer of the best picture-story/portfolio receive a Golden Eye Award and a cash prize of EUR 1,500, together with sponsorship of their trip to Amsterdam for the awards ceremony. Winners of second and third prizes and those receiving honorable mention receive a Golden Eye Award and a diploma.

ENTRY RULES

Participation

1. The World Press Photo contest is only open to professional photographers and photojournalists.*
2. All entries must include the personal and professional details of the participant as well as a full specification of all digitally submitted images in the form of all required metadata. The photographer’s professional status must be established by providing a document of verification (press card, union membership card, letter of reference or other official document).
3. Before you will be able to enter the contest, you must accept the entry rules and the declaration.

General rules

1. There is no entry fee.
2. Single images in all categories must have been taken in 2010. Stories/portfolios entered in the categories Spot News, General News and People in the News must have been taken in 2010. Stories/portfolios entered in the remaining categories must have been completed or first published in 2010.
3. Stories/portfolios must contain no less than 2 and no more than 12 images. Stories/portfolios of more than 12 images will not be accepted.
4. Images can only be entered once, either as a single image or as part of a story/portfolio. Images submitted more than once will not be accepted. Individual images entered as part of a story/portfolio are also eligible for an award as single.
5. Images not (yet) published can be submitted.

Material specifications

1. Digital images must meet the following specifications:

• Images must be at least 3,000 pixels in length.
• Each image must be saved as a separate JPEG with the highest quality setting.
• An embedded ICC profile is required. AdobeRGB or sRGB is recommended for color images, Gamma 2.2 for black and white. No CMYK.

1. All required image information, such as the creation date, place and country as well as the caption/description, must be included in the metadata of the image files.
2. The content of the image must not be altered. Only retouching which conforms to currently accepted standards in the industry is allowed. The jury is the ultimate arbiter of these standards and may at its discretion request the original, unretouched file as recorded by the camera or an untoned scan of the negative or slide.
3. Only single-frame images will be accepted. Composite and multiple exposure images will not be accepted. Images with added borders, backgrounds or other effects will not be accepted. Images must not show the name of a photographer, agency, or publication.

Submission of entries

1. Images can be uploaded as .jpg files or as a zip file.
2. Entries submitted by e-mail will not be accepted.
3. The closing date for the 2011 contest is 13 January 2011, 23.59 Central European Time. All entries must have been submitted at https://submit.worldpressphoto.nl by this date.
4. All winners will be contacted immediately after the results of the contest have been announced. They will be requested to submit material of reproduction quality for the World Press Photo yearbook and the annual exhibition.
5. Entries will not be returned. World Press Photo reserves the right to dispose of the material.
6. The conditions set out in the entry rules and in the declaration are binding.

* World Press Photo expects all participants to act in accordance with the guidelines of professional conduct as laid down in the Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists of the International Federation of Journalists.

Reference : ifj, worldpress