FAQs
Who is the organizer of the contest?
NGC Network Middle East FZ LLC, PO BOX 77886, First Floor, Building No 3, TwoFour 54, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, are the official organizers of the 2020 National Geographic Abu Dhabi Photography contest. This year it is presented in partnership with Almarai Company
What is the period of the contest?
The competition begins on the 17th of August, 2020 at 9:00:00 a.m. Abu Dhabi time and ends Octobe 15th, 2020 11:59:00 p.m. Abu Dhabi time.
Who can participate in the contest?
The contest is open only to individuals who are residents at the time of entry in the following countries - Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Eritrea, Iraq and Libya and are of Arab Nationality. Open for individuals 13 and above.
What are the different categories?
This year there is 1 category.
What is the theme of the contest?
The theme of the contest is “2020 Moments”. Entry should be accompanied by a caption / description (300 characters max) in either Arabic or English on what makes this photograph so special.
How do I submit a photo to the photo contest?
Participants should visit www.natgeo-moments.com and click on participate to register and participate. Only online entries will be eligible.
Why do I need to register with National Geographic Abu Dhabi in order to submit a photo?
Registering for National Geographic Abu Dhabi ensures that we have your contact information and that you have read and accepted the Terms of Service for the 2020 National Geographic Abu Dhabi Moments Awards photography contest.
What is the entry fee?
There is no entry fee to participate in the 2020 National Geographic Abu Dhabi Moments Awards photography contest.
How many photos may I submit?
You can submit up to 10.
How do I know that you’ve received my entry?
After you submit your photograph we will send you a confirmation email.
How will my photograph be judged?
Judging consists of two (2) rounds of evaluations. In round one, a panel of photographic experts will select fifty (50) entries from each category from all eligible entries, based on the following criteria: (1) Creativity 50%; (2) Photographic quality 50%. The entries selected in round one will proceed to round two. In round two, the Judges will collectively select 1 winner from each category from amongst the short listed 50 entries from each category and the same cannot be contested. In the event of a tie, the tied entries will be re-submitted to the Judges for a re-judging between the tied entries alone. In the event that a tie remains after re-judging, the entry with the highest score in the creativity criteria will be declared the winner.
When will the winners be announced?
Winners will be declared on July and notified by email and phone call. Decisions of the judges are final and binding.
What are the prizes?
there is one prize; it is $10,000 photography kit.
I’d like to enter a photo that has previously been published. Is that allowed?
Yes, you may enter a photo that has previously been published.
I’d like to enter a photo that has previously won a contest. Is that allowed?
Photographs that have previously won an award in the National Geographic International Photography or any other contests at any time are not eligible.
How old can my entry be?
Photographs must have been taken within one year of the date of entry.
Will my photography be seen online?
Selected entries and the entrants’ names may be published on the National Geographic Abu Dhabi’s contest gallery at the discretion of the TV channel and Almarai owned platforms as eligible parties of Organizers.
Will I be notified if my photo is chosen for the online galleries?
You will be notified only if you are a winner.
Do photos have to be taken with a digital camera?
Submitted photos do NOT have to be digital photos from a digital camera. Any digital scan will do, as long as the end result is a JPG or JPEG file. You may submit scans of negatives, transparencies, or photographs taken with traditional cameras and mobiles.
What should I include in the description of my photograph?
Captions are mandatory and part of judging criteria for Photo.
Are captions fact-checked for accuracy?
We trust our users to give accurate caption information, so we do not research or fact-check their captions. However, if a photo is chosen for publication in the magazine, it will be fact-checked.
When I submit a photo to the photo contest, what rights does National Geographic Abu Dhabi & Almarai have to my submission?
National Geographic Abu Dhabi & Almarai will have the nonexclusive, perpetual right to use your image in any media now or hereafter known, including, but not limited to: display at a potential exhibition of winners; publication of a book featuring select entries in the contest; promotional use for Almarai or National Geographic Abu Dhabi, publication in National Geographic magazine or online, highlighting entries or winners of the contest. Please read through the official “Moments Awards “ photo contest rules for further information on the rights you grant when submitting a photograph to the 2020 National Geographic Abu Dhabi Photo Contest.
I accidentally uploaded the wrong photo. Can I delete my entry and submit a new photo?
Unfortunately, due to the large volume of images submitted to the contest, all entries are final and cannot be replaced or modified.
What is a personal release form?
If any person in your photograph is recognizable, you may be asked to provide National Geographic with a personal release form signed by that person or those persons. Images of unrecognizable people do not need personal releases. A personal release form is a binding contract between the photographer and the subject(s) of the photograph. By signing the release, the subject of the photograph forgoes the right to sue for specific types of claims.
What is a location release form?
A location release form is a binding contract between the photographer and the owner(s) of private property within or upon which a photograph was taken. By signing the release, the owner of the property forgoes the right to sue for specific types of claims.
What is an artist release form?
An artist release form is a binding contract between the photographer and the copyright holder(s) of any art in the photograph. By signing the release, the copyright holder of the art in the photograph forgoes the right to sue for specific types of claims.
Are release forms required when submitting a photograph to the photo contest?
By submitting a photograph to the 2020 National Geographic Abu Dhabi Moments Awards Photo Contest you warrant that you are the owner of the image, that you alone own the copyright, and that you have obtained any necessary third-party releases. If your photograph is selected as a winner of the contest, you may be asked to submit a personal release, a location release, or an artist release. Please do not send any releases unless we’ve asked you to. Please read through the official photo contest rules for more information regarding releases.
The photograph I’d like to submit was taken while I was on vacation. There’s no way for me to get a release form. Can I still enter this photograph in the contest?
If your photograph is chosen as a winner of the contest, you may be required to submit a release.
Do photos of children require personal release forms?
Yes, if the children are recognizable (see answer above). But personal release forms for anyone under the legal age must be signed by the subject’s legal guardian–not by the child.
Why won’t my images upload?
Make sure your images meet the following requirements: • JPG or JPEG file format. • Total file size must be less than 5 megabytes (MB).
I didn’t receive my confirmation email. Why?
Some ISPs (Internet service providers) commonly install email filters that block or filter emails sent from unknown addresses. If you have a “junk mail” box, check to see if that’s where the email landed. If you’ve installed software to monitor your email, make sure your settings aren’t causing your emails to get blocked.
How will I be notified if I win the contest?
If you are one of the winners of the contest, an email will be sent to you and you will be called. On the email address and numbers provided during registration. You shall be required to send us necessary documents / releases / declarations and any other document as necessary to verify the entry and yourself. Upon satisfactory receipt and verification of the documents the prize will be handed over.
Still have a question?
A comprehensive list of terms and conditions can be accessed here and if you still need more information, please contact us on our social media accounts.