Exhibitions

The Fourth International Photography Contest around the Gulf of Finland 2008.

The Fourth International Photography Contest around the Gulf of Finland 2008
 "Baltic Life in Motion"

Purpose of the contest

The purpose of the contest is to find new photographs of the Gulf of Finland environment that reflect positive and negative features of the interaction between man and nature. Through these images, the contest goal is to inspire Baltic citizens to protect the nature around them and to help them see the meaning of a clean environment. Both artistic and environmental aspects will be considered equally, while deciding on the winners.

Organizers

Ministry of the Environment of Finland, Ministry of the Environment of Estonia, and Committee for Nature Use, Environmental Protection and Ecological Safety of St. Petersburg

Who can take part

Any person living in Estonia, Finland and Russia is welcome to enter the contest. The contest organizers and members of their families are not eligible to enter.

Rules

The closing date for entries is Friday, 31 August 2008.

* Entrants in Finland will send their photographs to Diaidea Oy, Konalantie 18 E, 00370 Helsinki.

* Entrants in Estonia will send their photographs ...

* Entrants in Russia will send their photographs ...

The contest has three categories:

* Professional category

* Amateur category

* Youth category (born 1990 or later)

A maximum of 3 photographs are allowed per person.

Submitted photographs will not be returned.

Submitted photographs must have been taken after 1 January 2006 and must not have been published previously.

Photographs must be submitted as prints.

Minimum size of photographs is 18 x 24 cm and maximum size is 40 x 60 cm.

Each photograph must be marked with a title, the category the photograph is to be submitted to, and the name, address and year of birth of the photographer.

Each entrant is responsible for all the costs and possible insurance costs that may arise from participation in the contest.

According to the contest rules, all the photographs submitted for the contest can be used in articles or publications associated with the contest in Estonia, Finland and Russia at no extra charge.

About the jury work

A local jury in each country will select from the photographs submitted by the deadline a maximum of 10 photos per category for the final competition (the Finnish jury members are Tapio Heikkilä, Ministry of the Environment, and Tero Pajukallio, Diaidea Oy). At the beginning of September (week 37), the international jury (two persons from each participating country, at least one photographer) will meet in Helsinki and select the prize-winning photographs. In deciding on the winners, the jury will consider both artistic and environmental aspects equally.

Prizes

The International Jury will select the top-five photographs in each category for the following cash awards:

Professional category:
1st prize: €1000
2nd prize: €600
3rd, 4th, 5th prizes: €300

Amateur category:
1st prize: €600
2nd prize: €400
3rd, 4th, 5th prizes: €200

Youth category:
1st prize: €300
2nd prize: €200
3rd, 4th, 5th prizes: €100

Opening of the exhibition

After the jury has chosen the winners, the Finnish organizers will select the most interesting photographs (30-40) for framing, and bring them to be exhibited in StPetersburg at the end of September. The results will be announced at the beginning of October in StPetersburg (week 41).

Exhibition dates and venues

a) St. Petersburg, 1 October to 22 October 2008
b) Helsinki, 27 October to 9 November 2008, in Sanomatalo, Helsinki
c) Tallinn, 17 November to 5 December 2008
d) In Finland in different cities during December 2008-February 2009.