ORGANIZED BY: Frontier Digital Media, LLC

The Photocrati Fund offers $5000 grants to non-professional photographers to undertake important humanitarian and environmental photography projects. Our goal is to identify outstanding, up-and-coming photographers and give them the resources necessary to pursue projects that will have a tangible and positive effect on the world.

1. Who can enter?

TERRITORY: international

ENTRANT STATUS: non-professional

AGE LIMITATIONS: you must be over 21 years of age

Applicants should have a proven ability to produce outstanding imagery, as well as the background necessary to carry out their proposed project.

2. Competition info

ENTRY CLOSES: 15th March 2010 (at 11pm GMT)

ENTRY TYPE: email

ENTRY FEE: free

3. What should photos be about?

The application consists of two items:

• a 1-page project statement and bio

The project statement should be a maximum of 1-page in Microsoft Word (or compatible) format. Please include the following information, in this order, in the heading:

• Applicant’s Full Name:
• Project Title:
• Project Location:
• Applicant’s Email:
• Applicant’s Phone (including country code):
• Applicant’s Home Country:
• Web Address of Online Portfolio:

The personal statement should describe the proposed project in detail, including:

• Who or what will be photographed?

• Why is this project important? Include historical, environmental, or cultural background to the project as appropriate. You should display good substantive knowledge of your subject matter.

• What positive consequences might result from this project? We are interested in projects that will have a tangible impact or contribution.

• What background and preparation do you have that will enable you to carry out the project? This should include a description of your photographic training or background as well as your knowledge or training related to the subject matte of your project (i.e., language or cultural study, previous experience in the specified country or location, environmental or biological background, and contacts with a specific local organization or experts with whom you wish to work, etc).

• If the proposed project will take place in a country other than your own, please describe your preparations for working in the proposed project location (i.e. visa preparations, local contacts, health vaccinations, language training, etc.).

The most successful statements are those that have received a great deal of attention. Applicants think carefully about what to include, revise their statements through multiple drafts, perhaps have friends or colleagues provide feedback, and they take special care to ensure that there are absolutely no typos or grammatical errors.

• a link to your online portfolio

Each applicant should include on their Project Statement and Bio a URL (web address) to an online gallery of a coherent set of 20-30 images based around a theme or project (preferably related to the project or theme/concept proposed in your application). Carrying out an effective photography project requires not just creative and technical mastery of photography, but also the ability to focus on a single project over time. You need to take time to develop knowledge about your subject matter, build any necessary relationships, and to invest the time to be present when the best photo opportunities present themselves. Your portfolio should display these qualities. We are not looking for a hodge-podge of individual photographs of sunsets, flowers, or travel scenes.

You should display your best work, and avoid displaying work that is not your best.

> Judging Criteria

• Photographic skill and promise of the applicant (in terms of photographic vision and technique) based on the applicant’s images in his/her web portfolio.

• The degree to which the applicant’s non-photographic background and training has prepared him/her to undertake the project.

• The environmental, cultural or humanitarian significance of the project and its potential contributions.

• The feasibility and viability of the completion of the proposed project within the projected timeframe and with the grant funding.

• The quality of the overall application packet.

4. Photo Requirements

AREA WHERE IT CAN BE TAKEN: anywhere

AGE OF PHOTO: no limit

IMAGE FORMAT: Applicants should not send any hard copies or printed materials (no prints, books, CDs/DVDs or transparencies).

PHOTO EDITING: There is no information about any restrictions.

5. Legal Issues

> Your legal responsibilities

Images displayed in the online portfolio or website MUST BE TAKEN BY THE APPLICANT.

> Photo usage rights

The Grantee retains all copyright and ownership of images resulting from the project, including the right to sell, print, or distribute images as he or she sees fit.

By accepting the grant, the Grantee also agrees to give Photocrati a worldwide, non-exclusive right to display images included in the Grantee’s Photo Essay on the Photocrati.com website.

The Grantee also grants Photocrati the right to use the resulting imagery on its website, in printed materials, or in galleries for the purpose of promoting the Photocrati Fund.

The imagery produced by the grantee may be licensed (and sold) to others by Grantee, with the understanding and explicit agreement that the images may also be used by Photocrati in the manner mentioned above.

6. Judges

• Steve McCurry
• Michael “Nick” Nichols
• Art Wolfe

7. Prizes

Overall winner: $5000 grant to undertake a an important humanitarian, environmental, or social photography project

The winner will be announced annually at the Look3 Festival in Charlottesville VA, an amazing celebration of photography, or at the emerging photographers festival that replaces Look3 every 3-4 years. A selection of resulting images from the winner’s project will be posted prominently on Photocrati, and possibly exhibited at Look3 along with a number of other high profile venues (still in discussion!).

About the grant:

The funds are intended to cover the costs of travel, lodging, and expenses for up to one-month of full time photography, though they may be used in other ways by Photocrati Fellows who pursue projects in their home region.

The funds will be disbursed in two portions. Photocrati Fellows will receive $4000 up-front prior to the project. The remaining $1000 will be disbursed to the Grantee upon completion of the project and upon receipt of a Project Report and an image portfolio from the project.

The Grantee is expected to provide a brief follow-up report upon completion of the project that describes how the project progressed, and which provides a detailed explanation of how funds were used. Receipts should be provided for all expenditures over $50. Grant recipients are advised to keep conscientious records of expenses.

Along with the Project Report, the Fellow should submit an Image Portfolio of 20-30 images. These can be presented in an online gallery or sent to Photocrati Fund staff via email or FTP. These images should be 800 pixels in the longest dimension and they should be accompanied by detailed captions. The resulting Photo Essay will be displayed on Photocrati.com for at least one year following the project.

The Grantee will have 12 months from the announcement of the award to complete his or her project and to provide Photocrati Fund staff with a Project Report and captioned Photo Essay of 20-30 images from the Photocrati Fund project.

8. Useful Links

Ready to enter? Send your project proposal via email to fund@photocrati.com.

Official website of the competition:
http://www.photocrati.com/announcing-5000-photocrati-fund-grants-for-photographers/ (announcement)
http://www.photocrati.com/photocrati-fund/ (official site with rules)

I cannot take any responsibility for changing of rules or mistypes in this article. This article has only an informative nature. For official rules always refer to the official website!

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