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Feather Focus

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Feather Focus Contest Winners

Grand Prize: Judi Dressler

Title: Coming In For A Landing

“This young burrowing owl was about seven weeks old, and was flying very well, one of five that survived thanks to attentive parents. I was happy to finally get an image of the owl landing with talons out, ready to grab the mullein stalk, which I was hoping to capture! I had been observing these little owls from my car a few times over the weeks since they were born, shooting through the car window since these little owls would immediately run and hide in their burrow if a human got out of the car.”

Second Prize: Tim Hopwood

Title: Sapphire In The Snow

Waylaid by early spring snowfall during their migration north, I had the pleasure this particular morning of enjoying a flock of foraging mountain bluebirds during their brief stopover in my local park in Calgary, Canada. Truth be told, I took many shots of these dazzling birds as they roamed the park that morning, but it was only later at home when I looked through my shots that I found I had captured this split-second moment of action that I hadn’t noticed at the time with my naked eye—truly a wonderful surprise!

Third Prize: Bill S. Petrunich

Title: Female Northern Cardinal

“I spent a couple afternoons photographing from a blind at a watering hole on a south Texas ranch. I was pre-focused on the stump with a fast shutter speed to help freeze spreading wings, waiting for a bird to come in to perch located just in front of the pond. After much patience I was fortunate to see a female northern cardinal fly in, catching her just before landing on the tree stump.”

Prizes

1st Prize
  • Grand Prize
  • One (1) Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III & M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO Kit ($2,899 MSRP)
  • $500 Cash Prize
  • Placement as Imaging Resource’s Facebook Cover Photo
  • Placement as Digital Photo’s Facebook Cover Photo
  • Publication in the Imaging Resource online Winners’ gallery
  • Publication in the Digital Photo online Winners’ gallery
2nd Prize
  • 2nd Prize
  • $250 cash prize
  • Publication in the Imaging Resource online Winners’ gallery
  • Publication in the Digital Photo online Winners’ gallery
3rd Prize
  • 3rd Prize
  • $100 cash prize
  • Publication in the Imaging Resource online Winners’ gallery
  • Publication in the Digital Photo online Winners’ gallery

Past Contests

Explore past winners, finalists and prizes from our previous contests.

View Contests

Frequently asked questions and official rules

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions. If your question isn’t answered here, please send us an email at contests@madavor.com with the following details:

  1. The name of the contest (2020 Feather Focus Photo Contest)
  2. Your username
  3. The image ID # (if applicable)
  4. The exact nature of your problem

Question: Who may enter?

Answer:

Contest is open to individuals over the age of 18 and are residents of the U.S or Canada (excluding Quebec).

Question: How do I enter?

Answer:

Click “Submit Your Images.” You’ll need to be logged in to your Digital Photo account to enter. If you don’t have an account, click here to register for your free account.

Question: In what format should I submit my photos?

Answer:

Each photograph must be submitted in .JPG format and cannot exceed 4 MB in size. Also, make sure your photo is in the sRGB color space, or else your image may look discolored after submitting.

Question: How many photos may I enter?

Answer:

You may enter up to ten images. There is no entry fee required to enter.

Simply visit the entry page at https://www.dpmag.com/photo-contests/feather-focus and the system will determine your order status.

Question: Can I pass the word on this competition to my friends, classmates, Facebook/Twitter followers, etc.?

Answer:

Yes, please! The link to the contest portal is https://www.dpmag.com/photo-contests/feather-focus

Question: Do I have to print or mail in my photos?

Answer:

No. Please upload entries using the online entry form. Mailed submissions will not be accepted.

Question: Can I process my photos using Photoshop or another image-processing program?

Answer:

Entries must be a single image as captured by the camera, with adjustments limited to standard photo processing such as color and exposure adjustments and basic retouching such as spot removal or noise reduction.

Images must not be “composite images” that combine subjects or elements from different scenes—replacing a background or sky, for example.

Exceptions include the use of HDR exposure stacking, focus stacking or similar techniques used for a single composition where the camera was not moved. As part of the judging process, our judges at their discretion may request the original RAW file or JPEG capture for review.

Question: Can I watermark my photos?

Answer:

While we prefer you do not use watermarks on your submitted images because they can muddle the judging process, we understand that you want to protect your work. You may use a small watermark in the corner of your image, but we ask that you refrain from using a substantial watermark that covers a large portion of your photograph.

Question: When will the winners be notified?

Answer:

All winners will be notified by April 30th, 2021.

Question: When will the winners be announced?

Answer:

All winners will be announced online by April 30th, 2021.

Question: What are the prizes?

Answer:

See the contest landing page or the official rules for a complete list of contest prizes.

Question: When I try to enter online, I get an error message. What's going on?

Answer:

If your attempts at entering online aren’t successful, our system might be struggling. Try waiting a few minutes, then clear your browser’s cache and cookies—you might even try restarting your computer—and go to the online entry page again.

Additionally, title your photos with alphanumeric characters only. Please don’t use apostrophes, ampersands or any other character symbol, as doing so may cause errors during uploading.

Question: I accidentally submitted duplicate photos, or there was some sort of error while submitting and I wasn’t able to complete my description. What do I do?

Answer:

We can update your submissions manually on our end. Just send us an email at contests@madavor.com. In your email, please indicate:

  1. The name of the contest (2020 Feather Focus Photo Contest)
  2. Your username/email address
  3. The image ID # (if applicable)
  4. The exact nature of your problem (please include the name(s) of your submission(s), including the information you want us to update for your submission(s).

Question: I've tried clearing my cache and cookies, and I even bought a new computer. The online entry form just isn't working for me.

Answer:

Double-check that the size of your images meets our requirements. If all else fails, send us an email at contests@madavor.com. In your email, please indicate:

  1. The name of the contest (2020 Feather Focus Photo Contest)
  2. Your username/email address
  3. The image ID # (if applicable)
  4. The exact nature of your problem

Digital Photo Feather Focus Official Rules

ELIGIBILITY:
Digital Photo and Imaging Resource’s 2020 Feather Focus Photo Contest (“Contest”) is open only to individuals who are over 18 years of age and who are residents of the U.S. and Canada (excluding Quebec). Employees of Madavor Media, LLC, (“Sponsors”), and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies, and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child and sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and/or those living in same household of each, whether or not related, are not eligible to participate or win. Sponsors reserve the right to verify all eligibility requirements. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

CONTEST PERIOD:
The Contest will begin on November 10th, 2020 at 7:00 AM PDT, and end on January 5th, 2021 at 11:59 PM PDT (the “Contest Period”).

HOW TO ENTER:
Click the submit your images button above to submit. All entries must be received by January 5th, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. PDT to be eligible. Each photograph must be submitted in .JPG and cannot exceed 4 MB in size. There is no entry fee for this contest.
Please note: Entries submitted online will be eligible for (i) the Grand Place Prize (as described below), (ii) Second Place Prize (as described below), (iii) Third Place Prize (as described below), and (iv) Finalist Prize (as described below).
Entry must be the original work of the entrant and entrant must be the sole owner of the copyright of such entry. Entry must be in keeping with the Sponsors’ image and may not be inappropriate or offensive, as determined by the Sponsors in their sole discretion, nor can it defame or invade publicity rights or privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person’s personal or property rights or any other third-party rights. The Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify any entry they deem to be offensive, inappropriate, that is not in keeping with Sponsors’ image or that is otherwise not in compliance with the terms of these Official Rules. Entrant must have obtained express written consent to submit any entry that contains persons other than entrant or third-party elements not owned by entrant and, if requested to do so, produce such written consent from appropriate parties in a form and manner acceptable to the Sponsors.
By submitting an Entry, entrant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsors may obtain many Entries in connection with this Contest and/or other contests staged and/or promoted by the Sponsors, and that such Entries may be similar or identical in theme, idea, format or other respects to other Entries submitted in connection with this Contest and/or other contests sponsored by the Sponsors or submitted for other reasons or other materials developed by the Sponsors. Entrant waives any and all claims entrant may have had, may have, and/or may have in the future, that any Entry and/or other works accepted, reviewed and/or used by the entrant may be similar to his/her Entry, or that any compensation is due to entrant in connection with such Entry or other works used by Sponsors.

GRAND PLACE PRIZE JUDGING:
One (1) potential Grand Place Prize winner, one (1) potential Second Place winner, one (1) potential Third Place winner, and up to twenty-five (25) potential Finalists will be determined from among all eligible entries received by a panel of qualified judges, based equally on the following criteria: Adherence to Theme, Composition and Creativity/Originality (“Judging Criteria”). The entrants who submitted the entry receiving the highest scores, as determined by the Sponsors in their sole discretion, will be the potential winners and finalists respectively.
In the event of a tie for any prize, an additional “tie-breaking” judge will determine the applicable winner or finalists from among those tied using the Criteria. The Sponsors reserve the right to not award any prize if, in their sole discretion, an insufficient number of eligible and qualified entries are received. Decisions of the Sponsors and judges are final and binding.

WINNER NOTIFICATION:
Potential winners will be notified by telephone, mail and/or e-mail by April 30th, 2021 and will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and, unless prohibited, a Publicity Release, a W-9 Form and any additional documents that may be required by prize provider within fourteen (14) days of date of issuance. If any potential winner is an eligible minor in his or her jurisdiction of residence, prize may, at the Sponsors’ discretion, be awarded in the name of the parent or legal guardian, and such parent or legal guardian will be required to fulfill all requirements imposed on winners set forth herein. Noncompliance with this time period or with these Official Rules, or the return of any prize notification as undeliverable, may result in disqualification and, at the Sponsors’ discretion, the prize will be awarded to an applicable runner-up.

PRIZES:

Grand Place Prize: $500 (U$D) cash prize;

One (1) Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III & M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO Kit (ARV $2,899); Placement as Imaging Resource’s Facebook Cover Photo (ARV priceless); Placement as Digital Photo’s Facebook Cover Photo (ARV priceless); Publication in the Imaging Resource online Winners’ gallery (ARV priceless); Publication in the Digital Photo online Winners’ gallery (ARV priceless).
Total First Place ARV: Approximately $3,299

Second Place Prize: $250 (U$D) cash prize;

Publication in the Imaging Resource online Winners’ gallery (ARV priceless); Publication in the Digital Photo online Winners’ gallery (ARV priceless).
Total Second Place ARV: approximately $250

Third Place Prize: $100 (U$D) cash prize;

Publication in the Imaging Resource online Winners’ gallery (ARV priceless); Publication in the Digital Photo online Winners’ gallery (ARV priceless).
Total Third Place ARV: Approximately $100

Current total ARV of all prizes: approximately $3,649

If, for any reason, the Sponsors do not feature any of the winning entries in Digital Photo Magazine, no compensation or substitution will be provided; however, the remainder of prize package will be awarded and the Sponsors will have no further obligation to winners. All prize details are at the sole discretion of the Sponsors. No substitution, cash equivalent or transfer of prizes permitted by winners. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) of comparable or greater value, in their sole discretion. All federal, state and local taxes as well as any costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being awarded are sole responsibility of each winner. Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied by the Sponsors. Limit one (1) prize per household.

USE OF ENTRY:
By submitting an entry, entrant grants the Sponsors and their designees an irrevocable, royalty-free, nonexclusive, worldwide perpetual license to use the entry and his/her name, city and state of residence for credit purposes in Sponsors’ online galleries, without further compensation, notification or permission, unless prohibited by law. In addition, each winner grants to the Sponsors and their designees an irrevocable, royalty-free, nonexclusive, worldwide perpetual license to use and distribute the entry (as submitted, or as cropped by the Sponsors), and his/her name, city and state of residence for credit purposes, in any and all media now or hereafter known, including without limitation in Digital Photo and Imaging Resource and any Madavor Media magazines for purposes of promotion of this Contest except as otherwise stated herein, without further compensation, notification or permission, unless prohibited by law.

USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Your personal information collected in connection with this Contest will be used in accordance with Madavor Media’s Privacy Policy (available at http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/privacy-policy) including, without limitation, for marketing and promotional purposes.

MISCELLANEOUS: Released Parties (as defined below) are not responsible for late, lost, garbled, damaged, incomplete, delayed, undelivered, or misdirected entries or photographs or for computer, technical, printing, typographical, human or other errors relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, inability to access any website associated with the Contest, errors which may occur in the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of entries, the announcement of the prizes or in any Contest-related materials. If for any reason the Contest (or any portion thereof) is not capable of running as planned, including infection by tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and, if terminated, at its discretion, determine winners from among all non-suspect, eligible entries received up to time of such action using judging procedure described above. By participating, entrant agrees (i) to be bound by the terms of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsors and judges, which are final and binding in all respects, and (ii) to hold the Sponsors and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, prize suppliers and advertising and promotion agencies, and the respective directors, officers, employees and agents of the foregoing (collectively, the “Released Parties”), harmless against any and all claims and liability arising, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, out of or in connection with participation in this Contest, acceptance and use of any prize or Released Parties’ use of any of the rights granted herein. Sponsors may disqualify (and void all associated entries) anyone from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that such person is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, deception or other unfair practices, or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrant or Sponsors’ representatives or who is otherwise not in compliance with the terms of these rules. ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

WINNERS’ LIST: For the list of winners (available after April 30th, 2021), send a separate, stamped, self-addressed envelope to: DPH 2020 Feather Focus Photo Contest Winners’ List, Attn: Marketing Department, 35 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 101, Braintree, MA 02184, to be received by May 31st, 2021.

SPONSORS:
Madavor Media, 35 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 101, Braintree, MA 02184, USA
Olympus, 3500 Corporate Parkway, Center Valley, PA 18034, USA

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