“I Am An Entrepreneur” Photo Competition

Contest details

Cambridge, MA – December 1, 2009 – The SEVEN Fund is pleased to announce the ‘I Am an Entrepreneur’ photography competition. This competition recognizes the outstanding use of photography to tell compelling stories of role model entrepreneurs from around the world. Anyone is welcome to participate in this competition. The competition will award twelve (12) prizes, one per month, over a period of one year. Each month, one finalist will be selected and will receive a prize of $100. The grand prize winner (selected from among the 12 finalist photographs) will receive $1,000 at the end of the year.

Often, the imagery associated with developing nations captures the misery that accompanies poverty. While it is important that these things are taken seriously and are documented, we believe that developing nations also represent tremendous opportunities for hope. The “I am an Entrepreneur” competition strives to reframe the dialogue around solutions to poverty by infusing the world's imagination with new imagery that focuses on entrepreneurship. Our objective with this competition is to gather stunning photographs profiling individual entrepreneurs from around the globe.

Quick Links:
• Background
• About S.E.VEN
• Questions & Answers
• Important Dates
• Terms & Conditions

Background

At SEVEN, we believe an opportunity exists to change the terms of discourse surrounding poverty; and to break through existing stereotypes about emerging economies to change the assumptions and behaviors of entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, aid professionals, academics, and business leaders by exposing them to successful models of enterprise-based development. We believe that entrepreneurs who are starting and running for-profit businesses in ethical ways -serving customers, treating and paying workers well, generating returns for investors, and making investments in the public good - should be celebrated. These entrepreneurs are role models, in their own communities and on a global scale.

Photographers are invited to submit iconic images that embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and private sector innovation. These photos should feature individuals making a positive statement “I am an Entrepreneur” in their local or indigenous language and English.

Example: Young boy from East Africa, Swahili and English

The competition will award twelve (12) prizes, one per month, over a period of one year. Each month, one finalist will be selected and will receive a prize of $100. The grand prize winner (selected from among the 12 finalist photographs) will receive $1,000 at the end of the year. Finalist photos will be announced on the 30th of each month, from January 2010 to December 2010. The grand prize winner will be announced on January 30, 2011. The winning photos will be retouched to include the tagline in both languages by a professional artist. All winning photos will be featured on SEVEN’s homepage and publications, and prominently displayed in galleries at SEVEN-sponsored programs and conferences around the globe.

About S.E.VEN

S.E.VEN (Social Equity Venture Fund) is a virtual non-profit entity run by entrepreneurs whose strategy is to markedly increase the rate of innovation and diffusion of Enterprise-based Solutions to Poverty. It does this by targeted investment that fosters thought leadership through books, films and websites supporting role models - whether they are entrepreneurs or innovative firms - in developing nations and shaping a new discourse in government, the press and the academy around private sector innovation, prosperity and progressive human values.

Q&A

Who qualifies to compete in the photo competition?
Anyone may participate in this photo competition. The winning photographers will be required to enter into a contract with SEVEN prior to final awards stating that they hold rights to the image and granting SEVEN a perpetual, worldwide, royalty free license to use the image in connection with the competition. We welcome participants from every field of study, discipline, level and area of professional experience, and geographic region. Submission of the photograph grants SEVEN the right to use the photograph in its media, including but not limited to its website, marketing materials, or upcoming books and films. Any photograph selected to be used in that way would be done so with proper attribution to the photographer, who would also be compensated for that work at market rates.

Which photo should I submit?
Applicants should submit photos of individuals that they feel embody the spirit of entrepreneurship. Photos from any geographic location may be submitted. Photo submissions can be in color or black and white, and must be digital photos. Sample illustrative pictures are provided; SEVEN looks forward to receiving a broad stylistic range of photos, including but not limited to abstract, impressionistic, various tints, an element of the face, etc. Let your imagination be your guide.

What languages must the “I am an Entrepreneur” be included in?
Each submission should include the phrase “I am an Entrepreneur” in the local or indigenous language of the person portrayed in the photograph.

How do I submit my photo?
Photos must be submitted electronically using the submission form on SEVEN’s website. No printed photos will be accepted. Along with the submission, you MUST include the following information in the submission form:

• Your full name and mailing address, a contact telephone number and your email address.
• A brief paragraph biography of the photographer.
• A title for the photograph
• A brief description of the image, including where and when it was taken, any information on the person or other details in the image, and any relevant stories
  

How should the photo be formatted?
We can only accept digital photo submissions. No printed photos will be accepted. Photos must be submitted electronically as a high resolution image, with a minimum resolution of 1600 pixels on the shortest edge, a minimum file size of 2MB and minimum resolution of 300 dpi. The maximum file size is 5MB. All photos must be in .jpg format. Photos can be in color or black and white, and must be appropriate for printing as a 16 x 20 inch print, as winning photos will be printed and featured in galleries at SEVEN sponsored events.

What, if any, digital modifications are permitted on photos?

Not Permitted:

• No borders or frames may be added to images.
• No watermarks, signatures, or copyright notices may be added to images. All winning images will be displayed with the photographer's name.
• Artistic filters are not permitted.

Permitted Modifications:

• Images may be cropped and rotated as necessary as long as the rectangular format is maintained and the size is within the specifications above.
• Images may be resized as long as the aspect ratio is maintained
• Red-eye removal and spot editing
• One-step enhancement (such as "AutoFix", "QuickFix", "Auto Levels", etc.)
• Use of filters to sharpen, soften, blur, despeckle, or remove noise.
• Use of corrective functions to improve the natural appearance of the image, such as levels, contrast, brightness, curves, intensity, tone, hue, saturation, lightness, value, color balance, and tint.

Can I submit a photo taken by someone other than myself?
Photos must be submitted by the original photographer. Photo submissions that are taken by someone other than the applicant will not be accepted.

Am I required to have a release?
All photographers are expected to have the appropriate releases on file, and are expected to provide to SEVEN within five business days if requested. Photographers, if they do not have their own release, may use the sample release as provided by SEVEN Fund.

How are photos judged?
All photos that comply with the call for photo rules will undergo a competitive process of confidential jury review. Expert SEVEN Fund jurors will evaluate and rank the photos according to the criteria described in the call for submissions. The winning applicants will be required to enter into a contract with SEVEN prior to final award. The judges decisions are final, and there is no recourse.

What are the judges looking for when selecting winning photographs?
The I am an Entrepreneur photography competition judges are looking for high-quality photographs that embody the spirit of entrepreneurship.  We are especially interested in photographs that capture some emotional quality associated with entrepreneurship: risk, innovation, excitement at possibilities, fear, wonder, etc.

Can I submit multiple photos?
You may one photograph per month to the competition.

What if I’m unable to submit my photo electronically?
Only applications submitted through this form on our website will be accepted. If you encounter problems, please contact SEVEN at info@sevenfund.org.

How is SEVEN financed?
This call for photos is supported initially by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
What sort of legal organization is SEVEN?
SEVEN is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

What if I have additional questions?
You may send your questions to info@sevenfund.org.

Important Dates

• Inaugural SEVEN fund call for photos – January 2010
• Deadline for photo submission – any photos submitted by the 15th of the month are eligible for the prize that will be awarded on the 30th of that month. Photos submitted after the 15th of the month will be eligible for the prize to be awarded in the next month.
• The competition will run from January 2010 to December 2010. The first of eleven finalist prizes will be awarded on January 30, 2010. The grand prize will be awarded on January 30, 2011.

Terms & Conditions

The SEVEN Fund has sole and absolute discretion to determine which submission entries, if any, merit an award. The SEVEN Fund reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to change, modify, extend or reduce the terms and conditions of, or to suspend or terminate, the competition without prior notice. SEVEN will endeavor to inform participants of any such change, modification, extension, reduction, suspension or termination, as the case may be, through any media outlet deemed appropriate by SEVEN in its sole and absolute discretion. SEVEN further reserves the right to nullify and/or cancel any part or all of the competition if it appears that any fraud or malfunctions have occurred in any form whatsoever. Each participant undertakes to indemnify and keep SEVEN harmless from and against any loss, damage, claims, costs and expenses which may be incurred by or asserted against SEVEN as a result of such participant's participation in the competition. Participation in the competition and submission of photographs grants SEVEN a perpetual, worldwide, royalty free license to use the images in its sole discretion. Submission of the photograph grants SEVEN the right to use the photograph in its media, including but not limited to its website, marketing materials, or upcoming books and films. Any photograph selected to be used in that way would be done so with proper attribution to the photographer, who would also be compensated for that work at market rates. All photographers are expected to have appropriate subject releases on file granting the photographer permission to use the photograph in accordance with the terms and conditions of the competition and to provide those releases to SEVEN Fund within five business days if requested.