Competition Rules

Competition Rules

Entries are open to all ages and abilities. Anyone can enter providing they are an adult or have appropriate permissions from a parent or guardian. Professional camera equipment and night sky knowledge is advantageous although not essential for your entries. Images will be judged objectively considering your environment and abilities.

• You must have a permanent UK address. The competition is to celebrate the UK night skies and as such only open to UK residents.
• You may submit between 1 and 5 images. Photographs submitted must be in JPEG format and no larger than 5MB. Please make sure you keep a large copy of your photograph in your archive in case you are lucky enough to progress in the competition.
• Image files must be named with the following - full name and date of image capture. Date should be written as 8 numbers, eg. 08102020 (DDMMYYYY).
• All entries must be taken on or between the dates 1st May 2019 - 30th April 2021.
• All entries must be taken from an IDA designated dark sky place in the UK (see terms and conditions for more details).
• Digital enhancing and / or manipulation is permitted. It is generally accepted that enhancing or digital editing is usually a requirement for night time photography and in particular deep space objects. Images that are in this state are permitted however it is vital you make this clear in your description.
• Group entries are not permitted. At this time we only permit individual photographer entries. No group efforts or collaborations are permitted.
• Your submissions must be new content. Entries must be unpublished, original photographs that have not been awarded prizes previously.

Competition Uploader

Before uploading your photos please make sure you read our competition rules and terms and conditions.

How to upload your photos:

• Fill in your personal information to allow us to contact you if your photos are shortlisted.
• Select the competition category you want to enter.
• Click the “Choose Files” button.
• Select up to 5 photographs in JPEG file format from your computer ensuring each individual file is 5MB or less.
• Select the dark sky place that each image was captured / or nearest one to your dark sky location.
• Once your files have uploaded make sure you give each image a title and a short description in the ‘enter photo caption here’ section.
• Click to agree to the terms and conditions
• Click the “Enter Competition” button and your entry will be sentPlease note depending on the file size and your internet speed uploading can take some time. Please be patient and wait until you’re redirected to the completion.Good luck!

1. ABOUT THE COMPETITION

UK Dark Sky Photographer 2021

Kielder Observatory’s Astrophotography competition is different – we intend to celebrate those places in the United Kingdom which are protected against light pollution by designation from the International Dark Sky Association. There are 14 such places in the UK:

• Northumberland National Park (England) • Elan Valley (Wales)
• Galloway Forest Park (Scotland)
• Cairngorms (Scotland)

• Brecon Beacons (Wales)
• Snowdonia National Park (Wales)
• Bodmin Moor (England)
• Exmoor National Park (England)
• Cranbourne Chase (England)
• South Downs National Park (England)
• Yorkshire Dales National Park (England)
• North York Moors National Park (England) • Coll (Scotland)
• Moffat (Scotland)

Kielder Observatory is one of three observatories in the UK sited in an IDA-designated dark sky area, and it is the largest IDA Gold Tier Dark Sky Park in Europe: we want to take every opportunity to celebrate our fellow dark sky areas and encourage more to apply.

Therefore only images taken in and around IDA-designated dark sky areas will be eligible to enter. If your images are taken near one of the 14 designated dark sky areas please select the nearest one from where your image was taken.

There are three competition categories:

• UK Dark Sky Photographer 2021 (Main Competition)
• Young Dark Sky Photographer 2021 (17 and Under)
• Smartphone Dark Sky Photographer 2021

UK Dark Sky Photographer 2021 competition is owned and operated by Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society (KOAS).

The competition is open to all ages. Children aged 17 or under should seek permission from a parent or guardian prior to entry and are eligible to enter the ‘Young Dark Sky Photographer 2021’ category.

We have included a smartphone category due to the low-light/astro capabilities of modern smart-phone cameras. We will accept all types of astrophotography that can be done on a smartphone, eg. The moon through a telescope, the milkyway, nightscapes, deep sky objects through a telescope etc...

Although the competition is aimed at celebrating dark sky areas, submissions do not exclusively have to be an image of a ‘dark sky’. We want to see all types of astrophotography - that includes

images of the moon and moonlit landscapes - when technically the sky isn’t dark due to moon-light.

2. CONDITIONS OF ENTRY TO THE COMPETITION

2.1 Entries must be received by 23:59 BST 30th April 2021.

2.2 KOAS employees, any person who receives payment from KOAS not related to volunteer travel expenses, judges, judge’s relatives and partners of KOAS are not permitted to take part.

2.3 KOAS volunteers are eligible to take part.

2.4 By taking part in the competition the entrant agrees not to do or say anything that might damage the reputation of the organisers, the competition itself, subsequent exhibitions, merchandise or the other entrants.

2.5 It is the responsibility of each entrant (parent or guardian for children aged 17 or under) to ensure that they read and abide by the rules when submitting an entry. Those found to have not complied with these rules will be liable to KOAS in respect of any damages or losses incurred.

2.6 Entrants are not permitted to submit images that:

2.6.1 have had success in other photography competitions in way or receiving a prize, commendation or have appeared in touring exhibitions and/or annual publications (not including daily news reports).

2.6.2 contain any content that has been created independently from the taking of the photograph (e.g., watermarks, text, adding Aurora Borealis colours to an otherwise clear sky, superimposition of a Moon from a photograph not your own).

2.6.3 were taken or include elements within the photograph that were taken before 1st April 2019.

2.6.4 you are unable to explicitly state you are the sole photographer and copyright owner.

2.7 Any entry found not to comply with the rules at any stage of the competition may be disqualified with any prizes will be forfeited. The decision of KOAS on all matters relating to the competition is final. KOAS reserve the right to amend the Rules and to waive breach of the Rules at their sole discretion, acting reasonably.

3. SUBMISSION

3.1 Entry must be via http://kielderobservatory.org/photo-comp
3.2 Entry is completely FREE.
3.3 Each entrant is allowed a total of five (5) separate images
3.4 Images must be uploaded to the correct category.

3.5 Images must have a title followed by a short description.

4. IMAGE SPECIFICATIONS

4.1 Image file must be named as follows: Full name, date of capture (date format example 22112019).

4.2 Submissions can only be made in a digital format however the original entry is not required to be born digital. High quality scans of negatives or photographic paper are also acceptable.

4.3 Digital files must be submitted as JPEGs with a maximum size of 5mb. The resolution should have a longest side of no more than 2000 pixels. No borders, watermarks or signatures should be included.

4.4 Entrants whose work has been shortlisted will be required to provide the following:

4.4.1 Camera RAW files, original untouched JPEGs, and original analogous media, will be required for authentication;

4.4.2 High resolution TIFF or JPEG files required for printing should match the colour and cropping of the JPEG submitted during entry. Files must not exceed 500MB;

4.5 Any entry that cannot be authenticated or is not of an acceptable quality will be disqualified.

4.6 Digital adjustments such as those most commonly found in Adobe Lightroom editing suite (contrast, exposure, noise removal, lens correction, sensor dust removal, etc,) are permitted. More stringent editing practises such as HDR, stitched panoramas, star stacking and multiple exposure stacking, video frame stacking are permitted providing that they are reported within the description and comply with KOAS’ principles of authenticity so not to deceive the viewer or misrepresent the reality of nature.

4.7 Descriptions of any post processing an entry has entailed must be listed with accuracy and honestly. While digital adjustments are allowed, such as composites (from the same tripod position), the addition or removal of objects for the benefit of a greater composition is not.

4.8 Caption information must be complete and accurate, and provide the following depending on type of astronomy photography practised:

4.8.1 for wide field (non-tracked DSLR) a description of the location;

4.8.2 for deep field (tracked, usually telescope acquired imagery) a detailed description of the object photographed, e.g., M31, Owl nebula, Hubble Deep Field.

4.9 Entrants are advised not to use their name in either the title or image description, or as a ‘signature’ on the photograph itself. Where possible if it exists the EXIF data should be left attached and provide lens and camera information.

5. ETHICS

5.1 A breach of the competition ethics will result in a breach of the rules and likely disqualification.

5.2 Entrants are encouraged to be creative and honest with their photography when representing the night sky with their images:

5.2.1 entries must not make effort to deceive the viewer or attempt or misrepresent the reality of the night sky or objects within without mentioning so in photograph description;

5.2.2 description information supplied must be complete, true and accurate.

5.2.3 where necessary please include in your description equipment and/or special editing processes used to achieve the associated image.

5.3 No third party should have any part in the creation of and editing of any submitted file.

5.4 Entrants must ensure they are in full compliance with any applicable permits that may be required for shooting in particular locations that can be made available on request by KOAS.

5.5 If KOAS suspect an entry has been achieved through unethical practices, the entry will be disqualified.

6. JUDGING, AWARDS, PRIZES

6.1 An independent panel of appropriately fielded experts will be appointed by KOAS..

6.2 Of all images selected as finalists, one image will be used to determine the Overall Winner, however at the judges’ discretion may choose to revoke this in favour of a different entry if any 1 of the 5 entries are disqualified for breaking rules or ethics reasons.

6.3 If successful, winning entrants will be notified by telephone, mail or email in strict confidence. The entrant must not disclose the details of any shortlisted or winning entries publicly.

6.4 A full breakdown of winners and prizes will be made available on our social media platforms. Prizes are non-transferable. KOAS reserve the right to substitute prizes with an alternative of equal monetary value (entrants shall not have any right to ask for this allowance).

6.5 Prizes must be collected within one year of being awarded.

7. PUBLICITY

7.1 Entrants must agree that, if an image from their submission is selected as a finalist, that they must make reasonable attempts to if asked make their likeness available to the press and conduct interviews in a positive manner with regards to their image and or practice.

8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

8.1 All individual entries must be the original work of the sole entrant who submitted the photograph and must not infringe the rights of any other party.

8.2 The entrant must be the sole owner of the copyright. In the event that an entrant is not the sole copyright owner of the entry(s), they will be disqualified.

8.3 Ownership of the copyright in all entries submitted will remain with the copyright owner. Where possible, the photographer’s name will be credited along with their image. The photographer agrees that KOAS will not be liable to the photographer in the event of inadvertent omission of the credit.

8.4 By entering the competition, the entrant grants to the Owners a nonexclusive, irrevocable licence to reproduce, publish, exhibit and communicate to the public, by any means and in all media throughout the world any entry. This licence is granted only for use in relation to KOAS events and competition-related media such as:

8.4.1 inclusion in KOAS talks and lectures
8.4.2 displayed in exhibitions both internally and externally
8.4.3 reproduction on to merchandise made available for sale to the public 8.4.4 publication in an annual or commemorative book
8.4.5 catalogued within a KOAS e-collection

8.5 Images will NOT be transferred or sold on to a third party without first gaining explicit written approval from the photographer in which case an agreement will be determined between KOAS and the entrant.

9. LIABILITY

9.1 All entrants will be the recipient of an acceptance email informing them that their submission of 1 to 5 images has been received.

9.2 KOAS is not to be held responsible for correspondence that does not arrive. Please ensure your email provider accepts emails from @kielderobservatory.org.

9.3 KOAS regret they cannot accept liability for loss of or damage to digital files and included text submitted to the competition.

9.4 Entries not awarded a prize or commendation will not be returned to the submitting photographer. They will be deleted.

10. DATA PROTECTION

10.1 All personal data of entrants will be managed by KOAS in accordance with the principles of GDPR.

10.2 KOAS will collect personal data about entrants (and the entrant’s parent/guardian where applicable) at the time of registration, and as otherwise provided in order to administer the competition and/or all associated activities.

10.3 Entrants will be asked at the time of registration if they would like their contact details added to KOAS newsletter mailing list.

10.4 Entrants may contact KOAS at any time to update their details and/or preferences regarding permitted use of their personal data.

11. COMPETITION PRIZES

UK Dark Sky Photographer 2021-

Overall Winner - £500
Runner Up - £250 ‘First Light Optics’ Voucher England Winner - £200
Scotland Winner - £200
Wales Winner - £200

Young Dark Sky Photographer 2021 -

Winner - Telescope (Opticstar EQ700 Mount, Sky-Watcher Explorer 130P-DS Telescope). Runner Up - Family Ticket for a Kielder Observatory Event.

Smartphone Dark Sky Photographer 2021 -

Winner - Telescope (Opticstar EQ700 Mount, Sky-Watcher Explorer 130P-DS Telescope). Runner Up - Two Tickets for a Kielder Observatory Event.