1. GENERAL RULES

1.1 The contest closes Monday, 10 October 2011, 11:59:00 p.m. GMT +2. No entries received after that date shall be considered.
1.2 The contest is open to all photographers, with no restrictions based on age, gender or nationality. Minors are responsible for ensuring their submission is in compliance with the legal requirements of their country.
1.3 Entry is free of charge.
1.4 All entries not respecting the themes set out below will be systematically ruled out.
1.5 By accepting the terms and conditions of this competition, contestant therefore certifies that he has taken his photographs and that as such, reflect his own efforts and creativity.
1.6 Photos can be independent of each other and do not have to be part of one narrative story.
1.7 All photos must be taken in Lebanon.
1.8 In order to avoid any possible problems, please remove or blur any institution's name captured in your photos and/or written in your text.

2. THE SUBMISSIONS

2.1 Contestants must select one of the two competition themes: Nature Conservation and Industrial Pollution and submit a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 photos in the theme that is selected. You can submit only one entry.
2.2 Only images not yet published may be submitted. Photographers can publish their photos after the contest results are announced on 22 October 2010.
2.3 Each photo-reportage that is uploaded should include the following information: 
Full name of the photographer; a caption of a maximum of 3 lines for each photo, and the full name of the person/people in the photo, if available.

3. MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS

3.1 Only digital photos, in color and black-and-white, will be accepted.
3.2 Digital submissions should be a minimum size of 1240 pixels. Winners should submit a High Resolution version of each photo (3000 pixels) on a CD/DVD.
3.3 You can submit photo files in the following formats: JPEG, PNG and GIF.
3.4 The captions and relevant information should be provided in the electronic entry form when you register as a contestant and upload your photos. Please make sure you answer all the questions in the electronic entry form.

4. JUDGING AND PRIZES

4.1 Judging will be anonymous.
4.2 All entries will be judged by a four-member panel, which will include two professional photographers and two environmental experts appointed by the Steering Committee.
4.3 The panel will announce its decisions at the Environmental Forum on October 22 2011.
4.4 Decisions of the judges are final and binding and no negotiations may be entered into.
The Jury will award one prize to each of the two themes: Nature Conservation and Industrial Pollution. There will also be one Public award for each of the two themes. The winners of this category will be selected by the public who vote on the entered photo-reportages, displayed on the EFL competition website.
4.5 All prizes are equivalent to 1.5 million LBP each.
4.6 One contestant cannot win both the Public and the Jury prizes. In case the Jury selected the most voted photo-reportage, the prize goes to the second most voted project.

5. COPYRIGHT

5.1 Photos submitted for the contest should as far as possible include the names and contact information of all people shown therein. Minors – meaning children under the age of 18 years – shown in the photos, should have the signed approval of the minor's parent(s) or guardian(s) before being photographed. Photographers must attach the signed letter from parent(s) or guardian(s) with their entries. Send the letter to aakl@cdr.gov.lb. Alternatively, photographers should submit a declaration bearing responsibility for the subject and subject matter in the photos.
5.2 The copyright of submitted and winning photos will be owned by the participating photographers. The submitted and winning photos will be released to the “non-exclusive” use of the Environmental Fund for Lebanon (EFL) or German International Cooperation (GIZ). Such use will be restricted to promotion, publicity, news, informational education or awareness usage relating to EFL and GIZ. Contest photographers will be able to use their photos, which they retain the copyright to, in their print and online portfolios, exhibitions, books and other publications and to disseminate – including sell – their photos to interested clients. They will be identified as the authors of the photos.

DISCLAIMERS

6. Agreement

6.1 At the time of entry, entrants are deemed to have read, understood and be in agreement with all rules and conditions. The organizer reserves the right to rule on any issue(s) not covered by these rules and disclaimers. In the event that an entrant should disagree with any decision made by the organizer, that entrant will have the right to withdraw his or her entry. All related expenses incurred shall be borne solely by the entrant.
6.2 In the event that the efficiency, security, selection procedure, fairness of the contest or any related operations are deemed to have been compromised by forces beyond the control of the organizer – such as but not limited to troubles relating to computer networks, computer virus infections or unauthorized computer access – then the receipt of some or all entries via the Internet may be postponed or discontinued.
Notes regarding entry
6.3 Entrants are entirely responsible for all entry-related costs, including but not limited to purchase or renting of equipment, use of computer systems, transmission fees, etc.
6.4 Winners will be entirely responsible for any taxes or charges related to the receipt of any prize.
6.5 The decisions of the judges are final. No correspondence will be entered into.

Responsibility

6.6 The organizer is not responsible for any damage or loss that may occur during the sending of entries via the Internet.
6.7 The organizer is not responsible for any problems or damages experienced by the entrant due to forces beyond the control of the organizer, such as but not limited to troubles relating to computer networks, computer virus infections or unauthorized computer access.
6.8 Except in proven cases of malice or gross negligence, the organizer is not responsible for any unfortunate or unwelcome occurrences and/or damages that may befall entrants as a result of entry to the contest.
6.9 Entrants must possess the exclusive rights to each entered work and are responsible for having obtained any necessary permission relating to the subject/subject matter. The organizer will not be responsible for any claims or complaints against infringement of rights or damages from third parties relating to the subject/subject matter of entries, and the entrant agrees to indemnify and hold the organizer harmless in such cases.
6.10 A photograph which displays an identified or identifiable person may infringe on such person’s right of privacy or may disclose such person’s personal information. Entrants shall use due care to avoid any infringement of personal rights including but not limited to obtaining necessary permission from such person.
6.11 The above terms and conditions relating to the responsibility of the organizer will apply equally to EFL and other parties cooperating in the operation of the contest and contest judges, as if they stood in the place of the organizer.