BAKU 2020 is international contest of art photography, organized by Gilavar Photo Club of Azerbaijan

Contest consists of 4 sections, all digital:
A. Open Color
B. Open Monochrome
C. Travel
D. People

Closing date: 05.11.2020
Judging: 20.11.2020
Notification: 05.12.2020
Catalogues delivery: 25.01.2021
Awards delivery: 25.01.2021
Exhibition date: 30.03.2021

Participation fee is mandatory for all participants: 15 Euro for 4 sections
Payment can be made on the web site after submitting. The fee can be paid via PayPal. If for some reason you are not able to make payment - please contact us [email protected]. The works of the authors who did not pay the fee would not be taken into consideration.

The contest is open to anyone (amateur and professional photographers from all over the world); however, an entry may be rejected when the sponsoring organization or its agent, in its reasonable discretion, believes the entry does not conform to the contest rules and conditions.
Entries must originate as photographs (image-captures of objects via light sensitivity) made by the entrant on photographic emulsion or acquired digitally. By virtue of submitting an entry, the entrant certifies the work as his own (aliases are not permitted). The entrant permits the sponsors to reproduce all or part of the entered material free of charge for publication and/or display in media related to the exhibition. This may include low resolution posting on a website. Note: Entrants who indicate that their images may not be reproduced or used “will not be eligible for awards” or inclusion in audio-visuals of the exhibition “and could be subject to disqualification” by the exhibition sponsors.
By submitting an entry, the entrant certifies legal Age, and own all rights to these images, including copyright or parents or guardians gives permission on his/her behalf if he/she is not of Legal Age. The exhibition assumes no liability of any misuse of copyright. Images may be altered, either electronically or otherwise, by the maker. All final work must be on photographic film, or on electronic file, or on photographic or electronic print material, mounting excepted.
No title or identification of the maker shall be visible anywhere on the face of an image, print mat or mount.
By the sole act of submitting his/her images or files to a salon under FIAP Patronage, the entrant accepts without exception and with no objection that the submitted images can be investigated by FIAP to establish if these obey to FIAP regulations and definitions even if the entrant is not a member of FIAP; that FIAP will use any means at its disposal for this undertaking; that any refusal to cooperate with FIAP or any refusal to submit the original files as captured by the camera, or failure to provide sufficient evidence, will be sanctioned by FIAP and that in case of sanctions following the non compliance with FIAP regulations, the name of the entrant will be released in any form useful to inform the breaches of the rules. It is recommended to leave the EXIF data in the submitted files intact in order to ease eventual investigations.

The contest will be conducted according to FIAP, IAAP and APB regulations. Each entrant can submit a maximum of 4 photos per section. The entrants have to register on web-site baku.gilavar.net. After registration and authorization the applicant enters personal account and uploads images for the contest. The images on CD sent via regular mail are subject to rejection. Technical requirements for the uploaded images: jpg format, with dimensions 1920x1080 pixels at 300 dpi., max. 2 mb. Each image must have a unique title. No title or photos containing visible watermarks, names or initials will be disqualified and for this reason will not be included in the verdict. Please use only English alphabet and numeric (A-Z, 0-9). An author may not enter identical or similar images into different categories and sections of the same salon. Judging will be done according to regulations listed in paragraph II.8 of FIAP Doc 2014/317 The jury's decision is final and it can not be changed in any case. Each author can receive only one award in each of the section.

Ilgar Jafarov, EFIAP Azerbaijan
Allahkerim Abbasov, AFIAP Azerbaijan
Yasser Alaa Mobarak, AFIAP Egypt
Dilavar Najafov Azerbaijan (alternative)

At the contest there will be 161 international awards from FIAP, IAAP, Academy of Photography Bulgaria and Gilavar Photo Club of Azerbaijan
1 x FIAP blue pin
4 x FIAP gold medal, 24 x FIAP blue ribbon
4 x IAAP gold medal, 4 x IAAP silver medal, 4 x IAAP bronze medal, 24 x IAAP ribbon
4 x APB gold medal, 24 x APB honourable mention
4 x Gilavar gold medal, 4 x Gilavar silver medal, 4 x Gilavar bronze medal, 24 x Gilavar ribbons,
32 x Gilavar diploma
The organizer reserves the right to change the number of awards, depending on the total number of the entrants.

PROTECTION
By entering this contest, you are explicitly consenting to the personal details you have supplied, including email addresses, being held, processed and used by the contest organizers for purposes associated with this contest. You also explicitly consent to such information being sent to organizations that have accorded official recognition, patronage or accreditation to this contest. You acknowledge and accept that entering this exhibition means that the status and results of your entry may be made public.

BREACH
If the contest determines before, during, or after the judging that an entrant has submitted entries where one or more images fail to comply with these Conditions of Entry, including the stated definitions, the contest reserves the right and discretion to delete the entry from the exhibition and void any or all acceptances or awards. Fees may be forfeited in these circumstances.
In order to ensure that images comply with the Conditions of Entry and definitions, the exhibition may carry out checks on the images to make sure that:
a) the images are the original work of the entrant and
b) the images comply with the rules and definitions as set out in these Conditions of Entry.
This may involve asking the entrant to provide originally captured image(s), with EXIF data intact, by a set deadline. The questioned image(s) of any entrant failing to comply with such a request for the original image(s) may be considered in breach of these Conditions of Entry, and declined. Entrants automatically agree to these terms by the act of entering the Exhibition.

DEFINITIONS

All entries shall conform to the stricter of these definitions for acceptances to be validated by all the International Organizations granting recognition or patronage.

Monochrome
An image is considered to be monochrome only if it gives the impression of having no color (i.e. contains only shades of gray which can include pure black and pure white), or it gives the impression of being a gray-scale image that has been toned in one color across the entire image, example by sepia, red, gold, etc. A gray-scale or multi-colored image modified or giving the impression of having been modified by partial toning, multi-toning or by the inclusion of spot coloring does not meet the definition of monochrome and shall be classified as a Color Work.
A black and white work fitting from the very dark gray (black) to the very clear gray (white) is a monochrome work with the various shades of gray.
A black and white work toned entirely in a single color will remain a monochrome work able to stand in the black and white category; such a work can be reproduced in black and white in the catalog of a salon under FIAP Patronage.
On the other hand a black and white work modified by a partial toning or by the addition of one color becomes a color work (polychrome) to stand in the color category; such a work requires color reproduction in the catalog of a salon under FIAP Patronage.

Travel
A traditional photograph maintains the original single capture image content with minimal adjustments which should not alter the reality of the scene and should appear natural. Rearranging, replacing, adding to or removing any part of the original image except by cropping is strictly forbidden. HDR (High Dynamic Range) and focus-stacking techniques, whether done in camera or post-capture, are strictly forbidden.

Traditional Photo
A photo travel image expresses the characteristic features or culture of a land as they are found naturally. There are no geographic limitations. Images from events or activities arranged specifically for photography, or of subjects directed or hired for photography are not appropriate. Close up pictures of people or objects must include features that provide information about the environment. Techniques that add, relocate, replace or remove any element of the original image, except by cropping, are not permitted. The only allowable adjustments are removal of dust or digital noise, restoration of the appearance of the original scene, and complete conversion to grayscale monochrome. Other derivations, including infrared, are not permitted. All images must appear natural.

Notification cards will be sent by email.
The results and PDF Exhibition catalog will be publishing on website baku.gilavar.net and it will be possible to download. All entrants of the contest (participants which submitted works and paid entry fee) will receive on-line PDF catalog of the photo contest. The organizer will take all possible care while handling the emails, awards and catalogs, however will assume no liability for damages and loses during shipment.

Salon Chairman Mr. Rashad Mehdiyev, AFIAP
e-mail: [email protected]