National Geographic Expeditions

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OFFICIAL 2012
"NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS
PHOTO CONTEST" RULES

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY AND A PURCHASE
WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

SPONSOR

Sponsor is National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-4688 ("Sponsor" or "NGS").

TERM

The 2012 National Geographic Expeditions Photo Contest ("Contest") begins January 5, 2012 at 12:01am US Eastern Standard Time (EST) and ends July 1, 2012 at 11:59pm US Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). All entries must be received by July 1, 2012 at 11:59pm EDT. Information on how to enter and prizes form part of these official rules ("Official Rules"). By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to the Official Rules and warrants that his or her entry complies with all requirements set out in the Official Rules. This is a skill-based contest and chance plays no part in the determination of winners.

WHO MAY ENTER

Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States and Canada (excluding the province of Quebec) who have reached the age of majority (adult) in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry, and who have registered for, or traveled on a National Geographic Expedition or a Lindblad Expedition between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011. Employees of National Geographic Society, Lindblad Expeditions, their subsidiaries, tour operators and their immediate families (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or members of the same household are not eligible. CONTEST IS VOID IN THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

HOW TO ENTER

You must submit your entry digitally online.

  • To enter, please go to our online entry form and follow the step-by-step directions on that page.
  • Submit an original photograph, taken by you while on a National Geographic Expedition or a Lindblad Expedition that you believe captures an "expedition moment" (the "Photograph"). Include a title for the Photograph, a brief written description of the "moment" captured, the location where the Photograph was taken, the names of any persons in the Photograph (if known) and on which National Geographic Expedition or Lindblad Expedition the entrant was traveling.
  • Your Photograph must comply with the following requirements (the "Photograph Requirements"):
  • All photograph submissions must be 5 megabytes or smaller, must be in JPEG or JPG format, and must be at least 1,600 pixels wide (if a horizontal image) or 1,600 pixels tall (if a vertical image).
  • Minor burning, dodging and/or color correction is acceptable. Hand tinting is acceptable, as is cropping. Fish-eye lenses are acceptable. High dynamic range images (HDR) and stitched panoramas are acceptable only if the combined parts are all made around the same time. Any changes to the original Photograph not itemized here are unacceptable and will render the Photograph ineligible for a prize.
  • Photographs that include sculptures, statues, paintings, and other works of art will be accepted as long as they do not constitute copyright infringement or fraud. When photographing the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment and not a full-frame close up of another person's art.
  • Photographs that include other persons will be accepted, provided that entrants, upon Sponsor's request, submit a release form as described below in "Releases."
  • The Photograph, in its entirety, must be a single work of original material taken by the contest entrant. By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges and warrants that the submitted Photograph is an original work created solely by the entrant and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the Photograph.
  • Though you retain copyright in each image submitted, the digital image file(s) submitted become property of Sponsor and will not be returned or acknowledged.
  • Obscene, provocative, or otherwise objectionable content will not be considered, and such determination is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
  • Each entrant may submit up to five Photographs. Photographs entered in previous National Geographic Expeditions photo contests are not eligible for re-submission to this contest.
  • The photographs will be judged in accordance with the Judging Criteria, as defined below.

All entries must be submitted and received by July 1, 2012 at 11:59 pm EDT. Proof of submission is not proof of receipt.

Entries must be made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, internet domain owner, or other person or organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

RELEASE

Upon Sponsor's request, each entrant must provide a signed written personal release and/or license from all persons who appear in the Photograph submitted, authorizing use of the Photograph in Sponsor's promotional catalog (in all media in which the catalog is published) to feature the winning entry, without compensation, permission or notification, unless prohibited by law. All releases must be in the form provided by Sponsor. Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

LICENSE

Each entrant retains the copyright to his/her Photograph(s), but explicitly grants Sponsor, its licensees, affiliates and their designees (collectively, the "Authorized Parties") an irrevocable, nonexclusive license for the duration of copyright to use each Photograph for advertising, marketing, and promotional purposes, in any and all media now known or hereafter created, including but not limited to publication in catalogs, brochures, blogs, and websites, at Authorized Parties' discretion. By participating, all entrants acknowledge that any Authorized Party may edit, modify, reproduce, publish, distribute or otherwise use each Photograph and all elements of each Photograph, including, without limitation, the names and likenesses of any persons or locations embodied therein, in any media now or hereafter known, without restriction, including commercially using the Photographs to fullest extent possible in perpetuity, without additional consideration, notification, permission to entrant or any third party, unless prohibited by law. Additionally, by participating, each entrant grants to Authorized Parties the unrestricted right to use all statements made in connection with the Contest, or choose not to do so, at its sole discretion, for no additional consideration, notification or approval except where prohibited by law.

CONTEST PRIZE

THE POTENTIAL WINNER IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THE FOLLOWING: (1) AN AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY AND LIABILITY RELEASE; (2) WARRANTY OF OWNERSHIP AND LICENSE; AND (3) PUBLICITY RELEASE, UNLESS PROHIBITED BY LAW, WITHIN 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF NOTICE IN ORDER FOR SPONSOR TO AWARD THE PRIZE. NONCOMPLIANCE OR RETURN OF PRIZE NOTIFICATION AS UNDELIVERABLE MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION AND SELECTION OF AN ALTERNATE WINNER.

  • One (1) Grand Prize Winner will be selected. The Grand Prize will consist of roundtrip coach air transportation for two (2) between Miami, Florida and Guayaquil, Ecuador; coach air transportation between Guayaquil, Ecuador and Galápagos; and meals and other items as described in the catalog description of the 'Galápagos Photography Expedition' expedition, at http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/expeditions/galapagos-photo-tour/detail.
  • WINNER AND HIS/HER TRAVEL COMPANION ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THEMSELVES TO/FROM MIAMI, FLORIDA AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of Grand Prize is US$14,500. Winner must coordinate with Sponsor to select a mutually agreed upon departure date. If winner has already been on a National Geographic Expedition to Galápagos, or is unable to travel on the dates for this trip, an alternative National Geographic Expedition will be selected by NGS, in consultation with the winner. Tips, taxes, personal expenses (including but not limited to alcoholic beverages, internet charges, and spa services), and all other items not stated herein are the sole responsibility of the winner and travel companion. No prize transfer or assignment by winner permitted. No cash equivalent will be provided. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize in the event of unavailability, in which case a prize of equal or greater value will be awarded.
  • Retail value of Grand Prize may vary depending on fare fluctuations and other variables. Any difference between actual retail value of prize and the ARV will not be awarded.
  • Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received and skill of the entrant.

JUDGING

  • Contest consists of two (2) rounds of evaluation. The judges will use the same Judging Criteria in each round. The top candidates in Round One will proceed to Round Two.
  • In round One, a single National Geographic employee with expertise in both photography and in the field of travel and adventure will evaluate the entries based on the following criteria, and will select the top entries by applying those criteria ("Judging Criteria"):
    1. 1. Extent to which the photo captures the essence of the travel experience, place or event (40%)
    2. 2. Relationship between the photo and the description submitted by the entrant (10%)
    3. 3. Photographic Quality (50%).

The top entries in Round One will proceed to Round Two.

  • In Round Two, a panel of National Geographic photographers, photo editors and travel professionals ("Judges") will evaluate the top entries from Round One and select a winner based on the Judging Criteria.
  • Winners will be notified by mail on or about August 15, 2012.
  • Decisions of the Judges are final.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

By participating, participants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless National Geographic Society and its partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, tour operators, agents and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in this Contest or any Contest-related activities and the acceptance and use, misuse, or possession of any prize awarded hereunder.

National Geographic Society assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay in operation or transmission; communications line failure; theft or destruction of or unauthorized access to Contest entries or entry forms; or alteration of entries or entry forms. NGS is not responsible for any problems with or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, human errors of any kind, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrants' or any other persons' computers related to or resulting from participation, uploading or downloading of any materials related to in this Contest.

CONDITIONS

THIS CONTEST IS VOID IN QUEBEC AND WHERE PROHIBITED. Entrants agree that this Contest shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the District of Columbia and the forum for any dispute shall be in the District of Columbia, United States of America. To the extent permitted by law, the right to litigate, to seek injunctive relief or to make any other recourse to judicial or any other procedure in case of disputes or claims resulting from or on connection with this Contest are hereby excluded and any entrant expressly waives any and all such rights. Certain restrictions may apply. Entries are void if the Sponsor determines the photograph to not be an original, or if the entries are illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error, obtained through fraud or theft or do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above.

Participants also agree (a) to be bound by these Official Rules; and (b) that the decisions of the Judges are final on all matters relating to the Contest. All federal, state and local taxes, fees and surcharges on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. In the event that the selected winner(s) of any prize are/is ineligible or refuses the prize, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may choose whether to award the prize to another winner.

Grand Prize winner and his/her travel companion must travel together on the same departure and itinerary. The trip may not be combined with any other offer. Regulations and conditions may apply. Grand Prize winner and Grand Prize winner's travel companion will be responsible for all necessary immunizations and other preventative measures, travel authorizations and for any travel insurance. By accepting the Grand Prize, Grand Prize winner and his/her travel companion represent that they understand and accept the Responsibility statement, and the applicable Terms and Conditions associated with the Grand Prize.

RIGHT TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND CONTEST

If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, worms, trojan horses, denial of service attacks, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of NGS that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, NGS reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. If Sponsor elects to cancel or terminate the Contest, Sponsor will not retain any rights to the submitted photographs.

WINNERS LIST

For names of finalists and winners, visit the photo contest section of our website after August 31, 2012 at http://www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com

DATA PRIVACY

Entrants agree that personal data, especially name and address, may be processed, shared and otherwise used for the purposes and within the context of the Contest and any other purposes outlined in these Official Rules. The data may also be used by the Sponsor in order to verify the participant's identity, postal address and telephone number or to otherwise verify the participant's eligibility to participate in the Contest. Participants have the right to access, review, rectify or cancel any personal data held by Sponsor by writing to Sponsor at 1145 17th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Personal data will be used by Sponsor and its affiliates exclusively for the purposes stated herein.

NOTICE TO INDIVIDUALS: REMOVAL FROM MAILING LIST: Any individual (or other duly authorized person) may elect to exclude the name and address of that individual from all lists used by National Geographic Society to mail skill contests or sweepstakes. To elect to have an individual's name excluded from all such lists, submit a removal request in writing to: National Geographic Society, Attention: NG Expeditions, National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-4688. This notification system may be used to prohibit mailing of all skill contests or sweepstakes by National Geographic Society to such individual.

Your participation in a National Geographic Expedition provides support to National Geographic's mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography education, and research.