SOTU Photography Competition for Africans

Our Africa, Our Rights

The State of the Union Coalition (SOTU) welcomes entries from all over Africa for four categories. Winners receive prizes, and their winning photographs will be used in a SOTU publication: “Our Africa, Our Rights,” to commemorate African Year of Human Rights. The overall winner will have their photograph used as the cover of the SOTU publication in addition will be awarded a fully-funded trip to a SOTU regional event.

Eligibility:

• African citizens based in Africa can enter the contest.
• SOTU secretariat and coalition staff and judges are not allowed to enter the contest.
• Entries may have been taken from any camera, film (as scanned slides) or digital
• Each individual can only upload an image into one category. But the overall winner will be selected from the categories.

Categories are:

• Women leading and contributing to society as key players
• Africa rising – imagery of positive developments and economic group
• African landscape and nature
• Youth Category: (Only for persons 18-30 years old) Photography of youth e.g. youth empowerment or youth movement or youth at play or at work

By submitting, the entrant warrants that the entry is their original work and they have not infringed on another rights or copyright.

Photograph Submission:

1. Prepare a brief with the following information in “English” or “French”:
   •  Personal information: Full names; Nationality; Country of residence; Age; Gender, Vocation/Profession
   • Contact info: email address, physical address, telephone/mobile
   • Title of the Photograph
   • Description of the photograph or captions (100 words max)
   • Location and country where the photograph was shot
   • Award Category you are submitting to.
2. The photograph should be high resolution. However, at this stage, please limit your images to a maximum file size of 1 MB (1,000KB) and a maximum of 900 pixels. Short listed entries will be required to send the larger file formats minimum size 3MB (3,000KB) and 2000 pixels. It should be saved in jpeg format. Images will be viewed on a large monitor. Note that entrants should retain their high-resolution files of their submissions. Winners will be asked to submit these files for printing and display.
3. Send the brief and the photograph entry to: info@sotu-africa.org. The email subject line should read ‘SOTU Photography Competition’.

If you have any questions please email Sarah at *salaro@sotu-africa.org* <salaro@sotu-africa.org>. Do not send entries to this address. The email is for enquiries only

Selection Process:

A panel of judges comprising of representatives from the media, creative industry, human rights community and development sector will decide on criteria and select the winning pictures under each category and the overall best picture. The decision of the panel of judges is final.

Prizes:

– Each category will be awarded a 1st prize winner and a runner-up prize.

-There will be a special prize for nice effort from any of the categories

– There will be an Overall winner selected from the 1st prize winners in each category

– In total 10 prizes will be awarded.

– All prize winners will receive a copy of the SOTU publication once printed

– 1st prize any category $250; Runner-up prize $200

– Special prize: $200

– Overall winner prize: Cash prize: $500; Overall winning photo will be the cover of the SOTU publication and Winner will receive a fully-funded trip (economy class ticket, hotel accommodation and incidental costs) to a SOTU regional event.

Deadline to submit entries: Monday, 7 March 2016.