Competition Rules & Terms of Entry

1. Welcome

Welcome to the Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award.

More than a photography competition, the Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award is an invitation to

discover, appreciate and protect one of Europe's most remarkable wetland ecosystems through the universal language of photography.

We believe that powerful images have the ability to inspire people, raise environmental awareness and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of future generations. Every photograph submitted contributes to a growing visual archive that documents the extraordinary biodiversity, landscapes and enduring relationship between people and nature within Lake Kerkini National Park.

The competition welcomes photographers from around the world who share a passion for authentic storytelling, creativity and respect for the natural environment. Whether you are an experienced professional or an enthusiastic amateur, your photographs can help reveal the unique character of this internationally important wetland.

These Competition Rules & Terms of Entry have been created to ensure a fair, transparent and enjoyable experience for every participant. They are designed to protect photographers, safeguard the integrity of the competition and promote ethical photography while respecting the unique ecological and cultural identity of Lake Kerkini.

By entering the competition, participants acknowledge that they have read, understood and accepted these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry.

Every photograph has the power to inspire, educate and help protect one of Europe's most valuable wetlands. Thank you for becoming part of this shared commitment to celebrating and protecting Lake Kerkini.

Thank you for your participation, and we wish you every success in the competition.

2. About the Competition

The Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award is an annual international photography competition dedicated to celebrating the natural beauty, biodiversity and cultural heritage of Lake Kerkini National Park and its surrounding wetland ecosystem in Northern Greece.

The competition aims to promote photography as a powerful means of artistic expression, environmental awareness and nature conservation, while encouraging photographers to document the unique relationship between wildlife, landscapes and local communities.

The 2026 Edition includes the following competition categories:

• Birds of Kerkini
• Wildlife of the Wetland
• Wetland Landscape
• Human & Wetland

The competition is open to photographers from around the world and welcomes images that truthfully represent the ecological, cultural and visual identity of Lake Kerkini.

The official competition timetable, submission period, awards, jury announcements and other important dates are published on the official competition website and submission platform. Any updates will be communicated through the official communication channels of the competition.

Unless otherwise stated, these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry apply to all participants, all competition categories and all submitted photographs.

3. Eligibility

Participation in the Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award is subject to the following eligibility requirements:

3.1 The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers from all countries.

3.2 Participants must be at least 18 years of age on the closing date of the competition.

3.3 Participants aged 18 to 25 are automatically eligible for the Young Photographer of the Year Award, provided they meet all other competition requirements.

3.4 Participants may submit photographs regardless of their nationality or country of residence.

3.5 Each participant must submit only photographs of which they are the sole author and copyright holder.

3.6 Employees of the Organizer, members of the Jury, and any person directly involved in the administration or judging of the competition are not eligible to participate.

3.7 Immediate family members (parents, spouses, partners, children and siblings) of Jury members are not eligible to participate in the competition.

3.8 By submitting an entry, participants confirm that all information provided is accurate and complete.

3.9 The Organizer reserves the right to refuse or cancel any participation that does not comply with these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry.

4. Competition Categories

The Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award includes the following competition categories:

• Birds of Kerkini
• Wildlife of the Wetland
• Wetland Landscape
• Human & Wetland

4.1 Participants may submit photographs to one or more competition categories, subject to the maximum number of entries permitted by these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry.

4.2 Each photograph may be entered in one category only. The same image may not be submitted to multiple categories.

4.3 Participants are responsible for selecting the category that best represents the subject and content of each photograph.

4.4 The Organizer reserves the right, after consultation with the Jury, to reassign an entry to a more appropriate category if this improves the fairness and consistency of the judging process. The photographer will be informed of any such change.

4.5 If a submitted photograph clearly does not correspond to the selected category and cannot reasonably be reassigned, the Organizer may reject that entry from the competition.

4.6 If a competition category receives an insufficient number of eligible entries or does not meet the expected quality standards, the Organizer reserves the right not to award a prize in that category.

5. Submission Requirements

To ensure a fair and consistent competition, all entries must comply with the following submission requirements.

5.1 Entries must be submitted exclusively through the official competition submission platform within the published submission period.

5.2 Each participant may submit a maximum of 10 photographs in total, regardless of the number of categories entered.

5.3 Submitted photographs must have been taken by the participant and must accurately represent the original scene.

5.4 All photographs must have been taken within Lake Kerkini National Park or within the wider ecological, cultural and landscape area directly associated with Lake Kerkini. Where the eligibility of a location is uncertain, the Organizer shall determine its eligibility in accordance with the purpose and spirit of the competition.

5.5 Images may have been captured in any year, provided they comply with these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry.

5.6 Images must be submitted in JPEG (.jpg) format and meet the technical specifications published on the official competition website and submission platform.

5.7 Participants are responsible for ensuring that all submitted files are complete, correctly uploaded and free from technical defects or corruption.

5.8 Participants may modify or replace submitted photographs until the official submission deadline. After the competition has closed, no changes may be made unless requested by the Organizer during the verification process.

5.9 By submitting an entry, participants confirm that the information provided, including titles, captions and category selection, is accurate and truthful.

6. Image Authenticity & Editing

Photography is both an artistic expression and a truthful record of a real moment. The Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award encourage creative photographic vision while preserving the authenticity of the photographed scene.

All submitted photographs must faithfully represent a real scene that existed at the moment of capture. Image processing is permitted provided it enhances the photographic image without altering the factual content of the scene.

6.1 Authenticity

All submitted photographs must be genuine photographic captures created by the participant.

The content of a photograph must truthfully represent the observed scene and must not mislead the Jury or the public regarding what was actually photographed.

6.2 Permitted Editing

The following adjustments are permitted, provided they do not alter the factual content of the image:

• Exposure adjustments
• Brightness and contrast adjustments
• White balance and colour correction
• Saturation and vibrance adjustments
• Highlight and shadow recovery
• Sharpening
• Noise reduction
• Lens corrections
• Perspective correction
• Cropping
• Sensor dust removal
• Local adjustments (including masking, dodging and burning)

These adjustments may be performed using any recognised photographic editing software.

6.3 Prohibited Editing

The following manipulations are not permitted:

• Adding, removing or replacing any subject or significant visual element.
• Combining elements from multiple photographs into a single image.
• Replacing skies or backgrounds.
• Using Generative AI to create, extend or replace image content.
• Cloning, healing or content-aware tools used to alter the factual content of the image.
• Any manipulation that substantially changes the reality of the photographed scene.

6.4 Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence may be used only for technical image processing that does not modify the factual content of the photograph.

AI tools used exclusively for noise reduction, sharpening, masking or similar technical corrections are permitted.

AI-generated or AI-altered visual content that changes, creates or replaces any part of the photographed scene is strictly prohibited.

6.5 Original Files

Participants must retain the original image files of all submitted photographs.

The Organizer may request original RAW files, original JPEG files or other supporting material during the verification process.

Failure to provide satisfactory evidence of authenticity may result in disqualification.

6.6 Advanced Editing Techniques

The use of advanced photographic techniques involving multiple captures (such as focus stacking, HDR, exposure blending, panorama stitching or multiple exposure) is permitted only where the final image remains a faithful and truthful representation of the photographed scene.

Such techniques must not be used to alter, exaggerate or misrepresent the factual content of the image or to create visual elements that did not exist at the time of capture.

During the verification process, the Organizer may request the original files and any additional material necessary to verify the authenticity of the submitted photograph.

The Organizer, in consultation with the Jury, reserves the right to determine whether the use of any advanced editing technique complies with the purpose and spirit of the competition.

7. Ethical Wildlife Photography

The Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award promote responsible photography that respects wildlife, habitats and local communities. The welfare of wildlife and the protection of the natural environment must always take precedence over obtaining a photograph.

All participants are expected to act responsibly, ethically and in accordance with applicable laws while photographing within the competition area.

7.1 Wildlife First

The welfare of wildlife must always take priority over the creation of any photograph.

Participants must never intentionally place an animal under stress, cause injury, interfere with its natural behaviour or compromise its welfare for the purpose of obtaining an image.

7.2 Respect for Habitats

Participants must respect habitats and avoid damaging vegetation, nests, breeding sites or sensitive ecosystems while photographing.

Protected areas and access restrictions must always be respected.

7.3 Natural Behaviour

Photographs should represent natural behaviour whenever possible.

Participants must not intentionally provoke, frighten, chase or manipulate wildlife in order to obtain a more dramatic image.

7.4 Baiting and Attraction of Wildlife

The deliberate use of bait, food, live animals, recorded calls or any other artificial method intended primarily to attract or manipulate wildlife for photographic purposes is not permitted, unless specifically addressed under the Lake Kerkini Specific Guidelines.

7.5 Captive Animals

Photographs of captive, restrained or otherwise controlled animals are not eligible unless the relevant competition category or official competition information explicitly states otherwise.

7.6 Drones and Remote Devices

Participants must comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing the use of drones and other remotely operated devices.

No photograph may be obtained through the unlawful or irresponsible use of such equipment or in a manner that disturbs wildlife.

7.7 Compliance with the Law

Participants are solely responsible for ensuring that their photographic activities comply with all applicable laws, regulations, permits and protected-area requirements.

7.8 Organizer's Right of Review

Where there is reasonable concern regarding the ethical circumstances under which a photograph was created, the Organizer may request additional information before determining the eligibility of the entry.

8. Lake Kerkini Specific Guidelines

Lake Kerkini is not only a protected wetland of international importance but also a living cultural landscape where people and wildlife have coexisted for generations.

The Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award recognise that this long-standing relationship forms part of the ecological and cultural identity of the area. The competition therefore encourages photographs that truthfully document these authentic interactions while maintaining the highest standards of ethical wildlife photography.

8.1 Traditional Human–Wildlife Interactions

Photographs depicting traditional interactions between local communities and wildlife may be eligible, provided such interactions represent established local practices and do not involve illegal activities or unnecessary harm, stress or disturbance to wildlife.

8.2 Local Fishing Traditions

The competition recognises the long-established relationship between local fishermen and Dalmatian Pelicans and other wetland species.

Photographs created during genuine fishing activities or authentic wildlife observation experiences that reflect these traditional interactions may be accepted, provided that the photographer has not personally organised, requested or directed actions intended primarily to manipulate wildlife solely for photographic purposes.

8.3 Wildlife Observation Activities

Photographs taken during organised wildlife observation or photographic boat tours are eligible, provided that all activities are conducted responsibly, lawfully and with respect for wildlife and the natural environment.

8.4 Organizer's Assessment

Because every photographic situation is unique, the Organizer, in consultation with the Jury, reserves the right to assess individual cases in accordance with the purpose, ethical principles and spirit of the competition.

8.5 Guiding Principle

The purpose of these Guidelines is not to discourage authentic photography, but to encourage images that truthfully represent the unique ecological, cultural and human character of Lake Kerkini while respecting wildlife and preserving the integrity of the competition.

9. Copyright & Image Usage

The Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award respect the intellectual property rights of all photographers.

9.1 Copyright Ownership

Participants retain full copyright and all intellectual property rights to every photograph they submit.

Submission to the competition does not transfer ownership of any image to the Organizer.

9.2 License Granted

By entering the competition, participants grant the Organizer a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use submitted photographs solely for purposes directly related to:

• the administration and judging of the competition;
• exhibitions;
• educational activities;
• non-commercial communication and promotional activities related to the Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award;
• non-commercial initiatives promoting Lake Kerkini, nature conservation and sustainable tourism;
• the official competition website;
• official social media channels;
• press releases and media coverage.

9.3 Photographer Credit

The Organizer will make every reasonable effort to ensure that every published photograph is accompanied by the photographer's name.

If, despite reasonable efforts, an attribution error occurs, the Organizer will correct it as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of the error.

9.4 Commercial Use

The Organizer will not sell, commercially license or otherwise commercially exploit any submitted photograph without the photographer's prior written permission.

9.5 Uses Beyond These Terms

If the Organizer wishes to use a photograph for any purpose beyond those expressly described in these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry, the photographer will be contacted in advance and their prior written permission will be requested.

9.6 Third-Party Rights

Participants remain solely responsible for ensuring that their submitted photographs do not infringe the intellectual property, privacy or other legal rights of third parties.

9.7 Withdrawal of Future Promotional Use

Following the conclusion of the relevant competition edition, participants may request that their photographs are not used in future promotional activities of the competition.

Such a request shall not affect material that has already been published, printed or archived in connection with the competition.

9.8 Guiding Principle

The Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award regard photographers as creative partners in promoting the natural and cultural heritage of Lake Kerkini.

Respect for authorship, transparency in image use and open communication with photographers are fundamental principles of the competition.

10. Judging Process

The Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award are committed to a fair, transparent and independent judging process.

All photographs will be evaluated solely on their photographic merit, originality and compliance with these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry.

10.1 Independent Jury

Entries will be assessed by an independent Jury appointed by the Organizer.

The Jury will evaluate photographs impartially and without discrimination based on nationality, gender, profession or any other personal characteristic of the participant.

10.2 Anonymous Evaluation

Where reasonably practicable, photographs will be presented to the Jury without revealing the identity of the photographer during the judging process.

10.3 Judging Criteria

The Jury may consider, among other factors:

• Originality
• Artistic vision
• Technical quality
• Composition
• Storytelling
• Emotional impact
• Relevance to the competition category
• Authenticity
• Ethical standards

No single criterion is automatically decisive.

The weighting and methodology applied to these criteria are determined exclusively by the Jury.

10.4 Multi-Round Evaluation

The judging process may consist of one or more independent evaluation rounds, as determined by the Organizer.

Where multiple rounds are used, Jury members may evaluate photographs independently without access to the scores or comments of other Jury members until the relevant stage of the judging process has been completed.

The purpose of this process is to promote fairness, independence and consistency in the evaluation of all entries.

10.5 Verification

Before announcing the final results, shortlisted photographs may be subject to verification in accordance with these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry.

10.6 Jury Decisions

The Jury's decisions are made independently and in good faith.

The Organizer respects the independence of the Jury and will not influence the artistic evaluation of submitted photographs.

10.7 Conflicts of Interest

Any Jury member who identifies a potential conflict of interest in relation to a submitted photograph shall declare it and, where appropriate, refrain from evaluating that entry.

10.8 Announcement of Results

Following completion of the judging and verification process, the Organizer will officially announce the winners through the competition's official communication channels.

11. Awards

The Organizer may present awards, prizes and special distinctions in accordance with the official information published for each competition edition.

11.1 Competition Awards

Awards may include overall prizes, category awards, special recognitions and honorary distinctions.

The categories, prizes and awards offered in each edition are published through the official competition communication channels.

11.2 Announcement of Awards

The Organizer reserves the right to modify, replace or withdraw any award before the announcement of the winners if circumstances make such changes necessary.

Any such changes will be communicated through the official competition channels.

11.3 Award Acceptance

Prize winners may be required to complete the verification process before any award is officially confirmed.

Failure to satisfy the verification requirements may result in withdrawal of the award.

11.4 Taxes and Legal Obligations

Participants are solely responsible for complying with any tax or legal obligations arising from the acceptance of prizes in accordance with the laws applicable in their country of residence.

11.5 Unclaimed Awards

If a winner cannot be contacted within a reasonable period or fails to comply with the competition requirements, the Organizer reserves the right to withdraw the award and determine an appropriate alternative in consultation with the Jury.

11.6 Guiding Principle

The purpose of the awards is to recognise photographic excellence, ethical practice and meaningful visual storytelling that contributes to the appreciation and protection of Lake Kerkini.

12. Verification Process

To protect the integrity of the competition, shortlisted photographs may be subject to a verification process before the final results are announced.

12.1 Request for Original Files

The Organizer may request original RAW files, original JPEG files, image sequences or any other material reasonably necessary to verify the authenticity of a submitted photograph.

12.2 Additional Information

Participants may also be asked to provide supporting information, including but not limited to:

• date of capture;
• location of capture;
• camera and lens information;
• circumstances of the photograph;
• any additional information reasonably required during the verification process.

12.3 Time for Response

Participants are expected to respond within the timeframe specified by the Organizer.

If additional time is reasonably required, participants should inform the Organizer as soon as possible.

12.4 Good Faith Cooperation

The verification process is intended to confirm authenticity and fairness.

Participants are expected to cooperate openly and honestly throughout the process.

12.5 Verification Outcome

If the Organizer determines, following consultation with the Jury where appropriate, that a photograph does not comply with these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry, the photograph may be declared ineligible.

12.6 Confidentiality

All original files and supporting material provided during the verification process will be treated confidentially and used solely for verification purposes.

12.7 Dialogue Before Disqualification

Before declaring a shortlisted photograph ineligible, the Organizer will, where reasonably practicable, give the participant an opportunity to provide clarification or additional supporting information.

13. Disqualification & Sanctions

The Organizer reserves the right to declare an entry ineligible where it does not comply with these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry.

Disqualification is intended solely to protect the integrity, fairness and reputation of the competition.

13.1 Grounds for Disqualification

An entry may be disqualified where, for example:

• false or misleading information has been provided;
• the participant is unable to demonstrate the authenticity of the photograph;
• the photograph violates these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry;
• ethical standards have been seriously breached;
• copyright or third-party rights have been infringed;
• unlawful conduct has occurred in obtaining the photograph.

13.2 Good Faith Assessment

The Organizer will consider the circumstances of each individual case before reaching a decision.

Where reasonably practicable, participants may be invited to provide clarification before a final decision is made.

13.3 Withdrawal of Awards

If a breach of these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry is discovered after the announcement of the results, the Organizer reserves the right to withdraw awards, prizes or distinctions where appropriate.

13.4 Serious Misconduct

In cases of deliberate fraud, repeated misconduct or actions that seriously damage the integrity or reputation of the competition, the Organizer may exclude a participant from future editions.

13.5 Final Decisions

All decisions relating to eligibility, disqualification and sanctions shall be made by the Organizer, taking into account the opinion of the Jury where appropriate.

14. Liability

The Organizer will take reasonable care in the administration of the competition.

However, participation in the competition is at the participant's own responsibility.

14.1 Responsibility for Entries

Participants are responsible for ensuring that all submitted information and photographs are accurate, complete and comply with these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry.

14.2 Technical Issues

The Organizer is not responsible for technical failures, internet interruptions, software malfunctions or other circumstances beyond its reasonable control that may affect participation in the competition.

14.3 Loss or Corruption of Data

While reasonable measures will be taken to safeguard submitted material, the Organizer cannot guarantee that technical failures or unforeseen events will never occur.

Participants are encouraged to retain copies of all submitted photographs and related files.

14.4 Third-Party Services

The competition may make use of trusted third-party service providers, including submission, payment or communication platforms.

The Organizer is not responsible for interruptions or failures arising from services operated by independent third parties.

14.5 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Organizer shall not be liable for indirect, incidental or consequential loss arising from participation in the competition.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability where such exclusion is prohibited by law.

15. Privacy & Data Protection

The Organizer is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of all participants.

Personal data will be processed fairly, lawfully and transparently in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

15.1 Collection of Personal Data

The Organizer collects only the personal information reasonably necessary for the administration of the competition.

15.2 Purpose of Processing

Personal data may be processed for purposes including:

• administration of the competition;
• participant communication;
• judging and verification;
• announcement of results;
• award administration;
• legal and regulatory compliance.

15.3 Data Sharing

Personal data may be shared only where reasonably necessary with trusted service providers involved in the operation of the competition.

Such providers are required to process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

15.4 Data Security

The Organizer will take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss or misuse.

15.5 Participant Rights

Participants may exercise their rights of access, correction, restriction, objection or deletion of personal data in accordance with applicable legislation.

15.6 Privacy Policy

Further information regarding the processing of personal data is available in the Organizer's Privacy Policy published on the official competition website.

15.7 Competition Communications

By entering the competition, participants agree to receive communications directly related to the administration of the competition.

Participants will not receive unrelated promotional communications unless they have separately given their consent.

16. Amendments & Force Majeure

The Organizer reserves the right to amend these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry where reasonably necessary for the proper administration of the competition, provided that such amendments do not unfairly prejudice participants.

Where significant amendments are made after the competition has opened, participants will be informed through the official competition communication channels.

16.1 Force Majeure

The Organizer shall not be responsible for delays, interruptions, postponements or cancellation of the competition resulting from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, public health emergencies, armed conflicts, government actions, technical failures or other force majeure events.

16.2 Fair Administration

Where exceptional circumstances require changes to the competition, the Organizer will make every reasonable effort to ensure that such changes are fair, transparent and consistent with the purpose of the competition.

17. Acceptance of the Rules

By submitting an entry to the Kerkini Wetlands Photo Award, participants confirm that they have read, understood and accepted these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry.

Participants also confirm that all information provided is accurate to the best of their knowledge and that the submitted photographs comply with these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry.

If any provision of these Competition Rules & Terms of Entry is found to be invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

18. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Competition Rules & Terms of Entry shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Hellenic Republic.

Any dispute arising out of or relating to the competition that cannot be resolved amicably shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of Greece.

The Organizer encourages participants to seek an amicable resolution of any issue before initiating legal proceedings.