Click here to download the PDF version of the Contest Rules and Entry Form.

The 2009 Annual Riverfest Photography Contest
is presented by Wichita Festivals, Inc. (WFI) and Douglas Photographic Imaging (DPI) for the purpose of partnering with the Wichita River Festival® (WRF) attendees to produce a collection of photographic images to help promote future festivals and activities. 
An Official Contest of Riverfest.

Contest Rules, Terms and Conditions, and Entry Form

1.       The 2009 Riverfest Photography Contest is open to United States residents who are 18 years of age or older.  (Entries from photographers 14-17 years of age are accepted with authorization and signed consent from parent or guardian.) No purchase is necessary to enter. Winners may be required to provide proof of citizenship and age.

2.       Photographs must be taken at the 2009 Riverfest between May 8, 2009 and May 16, 2009.

3.       The contest will run between May 8, 2009, and June 12, 2009.  All entry forms¹, and entries must be submitted to Douglas Photographic Imaging by June 12, 2009².  Late entries will not be accepted.

4.       A completed contest entry form¹ must accompany each submission (a submission includes all photos from one photographer). Only entries with complete, accurate and legible information will be considered eligible. Entry forms must be signed and dated.

5.       Previously published photographs may be disqualified.  Do NOT publish photos on any website or social networking site before or during the Contest.  Any publicly accessible display of your photos prior to contest judging may disqualify your entries.

6.       Photographers may enter up to four (4) photographs per category.  Each entry must be listed on this entry form (space provided below) and clearly identified by the digital file name.   Digital file names MUST begin with the Category number followed by the entry number in that category (i.e. Category #1, Entry #1 should have a file name beginning with 11).  It is preferred that file names are limited to category number and entry number, as all other characters will be removed during processing.

7.       Photographs are submitted in digital format on CD or DVD.  All photographs must be in sharp focus.

a.       Digital photographs must be submitted in jpg or tif format, no smaller than 3 megapixels (5” x 7” x 300 dpi). 

1.        If you do not have a digital camera, Douglas Photographic Imaging will scan your negatives or prints to contest-size entries for 50% of our normal fees.  The scans will be submitted directly into the contest and will not include a CD.  

b.       No e-mail submissions will be accepted.

c.       Digital manipulations ^{(see note below)} will be disqualified. Do not add borders or text of any kind to images.  NO copyright marks, logos or photographer names should appear on any image.

d.       All CD/DVD entries may be picked up at DPI between July 27^th, 2009 and September 28^th, 2009. DPI is not responsible for entry materials not claimed by September 28^th, 2009.

NOTE: Cropping for best composition, sharpening, dust-spotting, color corrections, dodging and burning are acceptable manipulations for both digital and film images.  NO artificial blurring or blending of images should be performed. 

8.       Damaged photographs will not be accepted. This includes digital images that have been damaged by manipulation, including the use of progressive compression on jpg files as well as other file handling errors that compromise image quality. All images should be saved at the highest possible quality with minimal (or no) compression.  Digital images must not include any copyright text or digital watermarks. Camera-imprinted dates or other text may result in disqualification of the photograph.

9.       Wichita Festivals, Inc., Douglas Photographic Imaging or their agents or assigns are not responsible for late, lost, damaged, destroyed or misdirected entries, or for miscommunications, misdirected transmissions, or other errors of any kind whether human, mechanical or electronic.

10.   Photographer grants unlimited, non-exclusive use license to Wichita Festivals, Inc. WFI reserves the right to use the photographs in printed materials and by electronic means in the promotion of Riverfest and other event-related activities.  DPI may use the photographs in printed materials and by electronic means for Riverfest promotional materials with WFI permission.

11.   Prizes will be awarded only to entries that are deemed worthy by the contest judges.  If no acceptable entries are received in any category, the prize for that category may not be awarded.  All decisions by the judges are final.

12.   Any and all taxes and other additional expenses associated with the awarded prizes are the responsibility of the winner.  Winners may be required to submit applicable tax forms before prize money is paid.

13.   Contest is void where restricted or prohibited by state or local laws.

14.   Employees and family members of Wichita Festivals, Inc. and Douglas Photographic Imaging are prohibited from participation in this contest.

15.   Contest entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the judging organization, which are final on all matters pertaining to the contest. The return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Entrant grants Wichita Festivals, Inc. the right to use and publish their proper name online, in print or any other media format, in connection with the photography contest.

16.   By entering, participants release and hold harmless WFI and DPI, as well as any directors, officers or employees of these organizations from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the contest.

17.   If for any reason the contest is not capable of being conducted as planned, including any causes beyond the control of the administrators of the contest, WFI reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, modify, suspend or terminate the contest without notice to the entrants.

18.   Entry into the photography contest does not create any vested right or interest for the participants in the prizes offered for the contest.

1.        Entry forms may be picked up at Douglas Photographic Imaging, 2300 E Douglas Avenue, Wichita, KS 67214 or downloaded from douglasphoto.com.

2.        Douglas Photographic Imaging is located at 2300 East Douglas Avenue, Wichita, KS 67214.  Entries may be dropped off with our counter staff Monday thru Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  Entries may also be deposited in our night drop slot located next to the Spruce Street door on our building.  Entries should be placed in a sealed bag or envelope before depositing in our night drop slot.  Be sure to label your CD/DVD with your Name and Phone Number before submitting your entry.

3.        See full category descriptions and numbers below.

4.        Naming your digital image files is easiest if you simply use the category number and entry number as your file name.  If you are submitting jpg files you could simply name the files for category #1 as 11.jpg, 12.jpg, 13.jpg and 14.jpg, assuming you were submitting 4 images in that category.  Likewise, category #2 would be 21.jpg, 22.jpg, etc.  The judges will not see your name or any title or file name, so inclusion of a title in the file name is not productive.

Category Descriptions – The descriptions below are intended to help you take photos that will fit the categories in a way that makes them most useful to the contest sponsors.  While you’re taking photos for the contest, keep in mind that these photos will be used to promote future festivals and events.  The best thing you can do in most of the photos for the contest is to be certain that the photo can be identified clearly as representing an activity or event at Riverfest.  In many cases, this can be as simple as making sure that your subject is wearing a 2009 Riverfest Button.  The inclusion of festival banners and logos can be an important element in your photo (as background for your primary subject).  It is important that you show the fun and excitement of Riverfest. Crowd sizes can also be an important element for you to capture as a part of your photo or background. 

1. Musical Entertainment:
   1. Concerts – Crowd size shots – Try to be sure you capture the stage (to identify that it’s a concert), while showing the large crowd sizes too.
   2. Artists – Capturing images of the artist(s) with the crowd spreading out before them or with Riverfest banners in the background.
   3. Artist(s) interacting with the crowd.
   4. The Crowd – Show the crowd enjoying the show, dancing, waving, clapping, etc.
2. Bank of America River Run / Tot Trot:
   1. Runners and teams gathering for the Race(s).
   2. Scene shots showing the large crowds, especially runners ready to start the race.
   3. Packs of runners on the route of the Run.
   4. Finish line shots of runners coming in.
3. Cultural Events:
   1. Catch all the fun and action at events like: Intrust Festival of Broadway, Koch Industries Twilight Pops Concert, River City Dance Review, or "The Little Red Hen" presented by Wichita Children's Theatre.
4. Sponsorship:
   1. Festival attendees participating with sponsors at sponsored events.  Shots of attendees’ involvement with the sponsors’ staff and with the sponsors’ logos and/or name displayed.
   2. Recognition of sponsors throughout Riverfest.  Get the logos, names and banners of the sponsors in their various representations throughout the festival.
   3. Shots of events with sponsors’ logos and/or names.
5. New 2009 Festival Events:
   1. Capture the excitement and crowds participating in a host of new events including: Plunge presented by Aeroflex, Riverfest Bull Riding: 8 Seconds of Fun, the Kids’ Cowboy Camp, Riverfest Movie Night, Senseney Music Battle of the Corporate Bands; Guitar Hero® World Tour and the First Annual Funnel Cake Eating Contest among others.
6. General Festival:
   1. Photos depicting general festival fun and excitement.  Show people (with their 2009 Riverfest Button) as they have fun participating in the wide range of Festival activities.  This could include things like watching a race on the river, or eating at the food court, or maybe even walking around with balloons, etc.
7. Fireworks:
   1. Photos of 1st Friday and/or 2nd Saturday fireworks.
   2. It’s best to be sure that you capture some skyline and/or crowds too.
8. Kids’ Events/Activities:
   1. Photos of kids and families enjoying Festival activities together.  The Cessna Kids’ Korner is an especially good area to capture kids in action.

Douglas Photographic Imaging is presenting four Briefing Sessions on April 30, May 1, May 4, and May 6, 2009 to give you pointers about shooting photos for the Riverfest Photography Contest.  These sessions are free, but you MUST register prior to attending.  Registration links for these session are available above.