The North Carolina Aquariums are looking for excellent photos from amateur photographers.

Each year, the state’s three public aquariums conduct an Underwater Photo Contest. The contest is designed especially for amateur and non-professional photographers. No entry fee is required. Deadline for entries is Dec. 31, 2009. Winners will be announced on or before March 31, 2010.

The aquariums stage the underwater photo contest to highlight the state’s rich aquatic resources, and to recognize excellence in amateur photography. The contest, now in its ninth year, is sponsored by East Carolina Bank.

Contest Rules

1. Entry formats and categories-Photographers may submit up to three digital images in each of three categories: 1) Underwater Open, which may include wide-angle photos of shipwrecks or other North Carolina underwater scenes; 2) Underwater Animal Close-ups (macro); and 3) Aquatic Life in the North Carolina Aquariums (any animal or group of animals displayed at any of the three North Carolina Aquariums).

2. Photo Submissions-Photos submitted must be in digital format and must be high resolution JPEGs or TIFFs, at least 2,700 pixels wide and preferably no greater than four (4) Megabyte. Higher resolutions and/or larger sizes are strongly encouraged. Manipulation of images should be limited to basic sharpening and cropping. Images should contain only the subject matter as originally seen through the viewfinder. Multiple exposures, digitally stitched photos and images containing any manipulated or added content will not be accepted. Note that if an entrant attempts a second or subsequent submission the original submission will be overwritten therefore each submission must be complete in its entirety.

3. Eligibility-Open to all amateur photographers. Employees of the NC Aquariums and the NC Aquarium Society and their immediate families are ineligible. Photos taken by Aquarium Volunteers while on duty are not eligible.

4. Fees and Cash Prizes-There is no entry fee. Cash prizes will be awarded in each of the three categories: First Place $500; Second Place $200; Third Place $100; Honorable Mention $50.

5. Description Statement-Each photograph must be accompanied by a brief statement indicating the details of the photograph: identification of species (if known), name of Aquarium exhibit, underwater dive site or wreck, and the depth at which underwater photo was taken, etc. Statement should include general geographic vicinity of the photograph (GPS coordinates accepted). Each online submittal form has the associated text mechanism for entering this information.

6. Judging-Photographs will be judged by a panel of professional photographers and marine scientists. Winners will be announced on or before March 31, 2010. Winning entries will be published in the summer 2010 edition of Aquarium News.

7. Use of Photos by the NC Aquariums- All entered photographs may be used by the NC Aquariums without further compensation for a variety of educational and promotional purposes including, but not limited to, exhibit graphics, brochures, calendars, publications, and website graphics. Photographers will be credited in such uses, whenever possible, and will otherwise retain the rights to their work.

8. Model Release (if applicable)-It is the responsibility of the photographer to obtain written permission from any person who appears in a photographic entry. Provide the individual’s name and contact information in the description field of the submittal. Photographer must supply the written, signed release form if requested by the NC Aquariums staff in order to be eligible for acceptance as entry and use. Minors (under age 18) must be represented by the signature of a parent or legal guardian.

9. Submission Deadline- Entries must be submitted by midnight December 31, 2009, to be eligible.