Wetpixel.com is proud to host the 2009 Raja Ampat Entrance Tag Design Contest.

Media representatives and other interested parties: you may download the press release here.

If you have the perfect photo that captures the excitement and beauty of Raja Ampat diving, enter this contest for a chance to have your image printed on the 4,000 park tags that will be attached BCDs of visiting divers!

In addition, the first place winner will receive a 7-day, 6-night, all-inclusive dive trip* to Raja Ampat’s original eco-resort at Kri, kindly donated by Papua Diving. (*excludes airfares)

2nd and 3rd place winners will receive a fabulous book about Raja Ampat by 10 of the world’s leading underwater photographers.

To enter the contest, submit up to 2 photos or graphic designs per contestant before midnight on Thursday, August 28, 2008. After finalists are chosen, you –- the public -– will vote for the best image or design until September 25, 2008. Winners will be announced on October 1, 2008.

Submission Details:

1. Prepare your images. Images should be in JPG format, 5 MB maximum file size. High-resolution images preferred, but we will also accept smaller images (minimum: 1200-pixels in the long dimension). Each contestant may submit up to 2 images or designs.
2. Rename your images so the filenames include your full name. This is very important because if your filename doesn’t include your name, we won’t be able to associate it with you!
3. Again, RENAME your images so the filenames include your full name. Your entries will be disqualified if you don’t do this. We only mention this a second time because so many people are failing to do this.
4. Email your image to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). This year, we are accepting submissions by e-mail only. If you cannot e-mail large files from your e-mail account, we suggest signing up for a new account at gmail for use in entering this contest.

Contest Timeline:

Thu, Aug 28, 2008 - Submission deadline (via e-mail)
Thu, Sep 04, 2008 - Finalists announced, public voting begins
Thu, Sep 25, 2008 - Public voting ends
Wed, Oct 01, 2008 - Winners announced!

When submitting a photo or design, please bear in mind the limitations imposed by reproduction on a small (5 cm diameter), circular, plastic tag. Please see below for the 2007 and 2008 tag designs, for your reference. Note that images do not have to be submitted in circular format, though we will need to adapt images to the circular tag.

Prize-winners retain copyright for their image, but grant a full license to Tim Pengelola (management team) for use in non-profit park management activities (e.g. village-education programs , village posters, calendars, management presentations, etc). Any such use of submitted photos will include accreditation of the photographer/designer’s name. Note that the winners will be required to submit a signed waiver, which grants the Tim Pengelola non-exclusive rights to the images/designs.

For more information about Raja Ampat please see www.diverajaampat.org.