Leica Women Foto Project Award Contest is Open to Legal Residents of the 50 U.S. (and DC): Submit a 500-Word Proposal & a Series of 10 Images That Tell a Single Story, Made on Any Brand/Model Digital or Analog Camera, with at Least 4 Images Created Between 2018-19, Before 11:59:59 PM ET on August 29, 2019

“The Leica Women Foto Project is a platform by Leica Camera USA that serves to empower the female perspective and its impact on today’s visual stories. The shape of a story is reactive to the storyteller’s perspective, developing a narrative that too often is reflective of individual truths. The Leica Women Foto Project encourages diversity and inclusion in visual storytelling to amplify voices typically underrepresented in photography, discovering the breadth of shapes formed by a single story…

As part of the Leica Women Foto Project, Leica Camera USA is seeking three U.S. photographers to receive an award to support a personal project that is relevant to today’s social and political climate. The mission of the Leica Women Foto Project is to educate, encourage and empower photographers to demonstrate the importance and impact of a woman’s point of view. The award serves as a catalyst to reframe how we see, how we think, and how we express our visual narrative….“

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Eligibility

Void where prohibited and outside US.
Employees, officers, and directors of Sponsor or its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, representatives, consultants, contractors, legal counsel, advertising, public relations, promotional, fulfillment, and marketing agencies, website providers, web masters, (collectively, the “Contest Entities”) and members of their immediate families (spouses, parents, siblings and children, regardless of where they live) and those living in the same household are not eligible to enter or win.
In addition, individuals who have a formal affiliation or partnership with enterprises that compete with Sponsor and manufacture or market cameras, sport optic products, lenses, and accessories for the aforementioned products, or make such performances available to such enterprises, are not eligible to enter or win. Competitors include, without limitation, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Fuji, Samsung, Olympus, Sigma, Panasonic, and Pentax.

The following video presents Leica Q2 Accolades:
“With its newly developed, 47.3 MP full-frame sensor, extremely fast Summilux 28 mm f/1.7 ASPH. prime lens, quick auto-focus, innovative OLED technology, and timelessly elegant design, the Leica Q2 elevates the tradition established by its predecessor, the Leica Q“

Prizes:

Three (3) winners will each receive a cash prize of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00 USD) payable via check, as well as a one (1)-year loan (“Prize Period”) of a Leica Q2 camera (or equivalent model at Sponsor’s sole discretion) (the “Loaner”).
At the end of the Prize Period, each winner will receive a replacement camera of equal value (as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion).
Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of each prize: $14,995.00 USD. Total ARV of all prizes: $44,985.00 USD.
During the Prize Period, winners may be given the opportunity to participate in various promotional activities that are sponsored by, administered by, or associated with, Sponsor (e.g., digital promotions, gallery exhibitions, panel discussions, artist talks, etc.). For the avoidance of doubt, winners are not obligated to participate in such activities.
Limit one (1) prize per person, per household.
Any and all applicable federal, state, and local taxes and all fees and expenses related to acceptance and use of prize not specifically stated herein are the responsibility solely of winner.
Prize cannot be substituted, assigned, transferred, or redeemed for cash; however, Sponsor reserves the right to make equivalent prize substitutions at its sole discretion.
Sponsor will not replace any lost or stolen prizes or components of a prize(s).
Prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion or offer.
Winners take financial responsibility for any loss or damage to the Loaner outside reasonable use.
Entrants acknowledge and agree that the Loaner remains the property of Sponsor at all times.

EXCLUSIVITY: During the Prize Period, winners may not enter into a formal affiliation or partnership with enterprises that compete with Sponsor and manufacture or market cameras, sport optic products, lenses, and accessories for the aforementioned products, or make such performances available to such enterprises. Competitors include, without limitation, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Fuji, Samsung, Olympus, Sigma, Panasonic and Pentax. The scope of this exclusivity provision includes, but is not limited to, restraint from participation in events solely sponsored by competing camera manufacturers and brands, assuming the role of official brand ambassador, and posting social media content highlighting competing brands and products. If a winner is found to have violated this exclusivity provision, his or her prize must be returned in full to Sponsor within thirty (30) days of written, electronic or telephonic notice from Sponsor.

Entry:

During the Contest Period, eligible persons can enter by uploading a series of ten (10) photographs and completing the entry form (collectively, the “Submission”) to https://www.leicawomenfotoproject.com/ (the “Website”) in accordance with the “Submission Guidelines” at https://us.web.leica-camera.com/World-of-Leica/Leica-Women-Foto-Project/Leica-Women-Foto-Project-Award/Official-Award-Rules.
The Submission must tell a single story through a woman’s perspective, on a topic relevant to the current social or political climate.
Although the Contest is open to all, Sponsor openly welcomes and encourages all who identify as women to enter; Sponsor does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender expression, ability, or sexual orientation.
Limit one (1) entry/Submission per person.
Entrant must provide all required information on the Website, including without limitation first and last name and email address, to be eligible to enter.
Entries must be submitted by the participant.
Entrant may be asked to answer optional questions and/or register for future notices of online promotions; however, entrant need not answer these questions or agree to receive future emails in order to be eligible for entry in the Contest.
Entrant will receive communications related to the contest from Sponsor via email.

Judging:

All Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of jurors selected at Sponsor’s sole discretion (collectively, the “Panel”).
The Panel will be comprised of one (1) head judge (as appointed by Sponsor in its sole discretion) (the “Head Judge”) and four (4) additional judges, all renowned in the field of photography, and will include fine-art gallery curators and managers, celebrated educators and award-winning photographers.

Photo entries will be reviewed by a panel of renowned judges including:

Karin Kaufmann, Art Director & Chief Representative, Leica Galleries International
Maggie Steber, VII Agency photographer and Guggenheim fellow
Elizabeth Avedon, photography book and exhibition designer, independent curator and writer
Laura Roumanos, executive producer and co-founder, United Photo Industries
Deborah Willis, university professor and Chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and author of Envisioning Emancipation: Black Americans and the End of Slavery

Each member of the Panel will individually score each Submission using the following criteria:

• Category 1 (thirty-three (33) per cent): Quality of Photography (Composition, creativity, visual language, consistency of project, power of series, etc.)
• Category 2 (thirty-three (33) per cent): Dedication to the Medium of Photography (Artistic integrity, direct commitment to photographic community, photographic career accomplishments to date, vision of future achievement)
• Category 3 (thirty-three (33) per cent): Sophistication of project (Quality of written description, level of relevance, impact on social and/or political climate from a female perspective, level of previous engagement with community affected, quality and relevance of planned usage of prize money)

The three (3) entrants with the highest total scores (i.e., the sum of all five (5) scores from each Panel member) will be declared the potential winners of the Contest. In the event of a tied score resulting in more than three (3) potential winners, the entrant with the highest Head Judge’s score will be deemed the potential winner.

….ALL Submissions:
A. MUST be in the English language.
B. MUST be the entrant’s original idea (modification of an original work is not an original idea). Submissions MUST NOT copy or otherwise plagiarize from any source.
C. MUST NOT, unless relevant to the topic of the Submission, contain material which is (or promote activities which are) in…

Potential winner may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder. Entries specifying an invalid, non-working, or inactive email address will be disqualified and ineligible to win….

The potential winners will be announced via email and/or telephone on or about October 16, 2019. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth….

GENERAL CONDITIONS: This Contest is governed by the laws of the United States. Void where prohibited by law and outside the United States….

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; OWNERSHIP AND LICENSE: ENTRANT RETAINS ALL OWNERSHIP RIGHTS AS HE OR SHE MAY HAVE IN THE SUBMISSION (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, PROJECT TITLE, PROJECT STATEMENT, PROJECT DESCRIPTION, PROJECT TIMELINE, ARTIST BIO, AND PLANNED USE OF PRIZE MONEY), SUBJECT ONLY TO THE RIGHTS AND LICENSES GRANTED BY ENTRANT TO SPONSOR AS SET FORTH IN THIS PARAGRAPH. ENTRANT, IF ENTRANT SUBMITS ONE OF THE THREE (3) WINNING SUBMISSIONS IN THE CONTEST (SEE “SELECTION OF WINNER”), HEREBY GRANTS TO SPONSOR A WORLDWIDE, PERPETUAL, IRREVOCABLE, FULLY PAID-UP, NON-EXCLUSIVE RIGHT AND LICENSE TO USE THE SUBMISSION AND ANY PART OF IT TO CONDUCT AND PROMOTE THE LEICA WOMEN FOTO PROJECT. THIS LICENSE GRANT INCLUDES WITHOUT LIMITATION THE RIGHTS TO REPRODUCE, DISTRIBUTE AND PUBLICLY DISPLAY THE SUBMISSION OR ANY PART OF IT TO CONDUCT AND PROMOTE THE LEICA WOMEN FOTO PROJECT IN ANY AND ALL MEDIA NOW KNOWN OR HEREAFTER DEVELOPED. THIS LICENSE GRANT INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THE SUBMISSION OR ANY PART OF IT TO CONDUCT AND PROMOTE THE LEICA WOMEN FOTO PROJECT; SPONSOR AGREES NOT TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE IMAGES SUBMITTED BY ENTRANT. THIS LICENSE GRANT ALSO INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO USE ANY PUBLICITY AND/OR PRIVACY RIGHTS ENTRANT MAY HAVE IN THE SUBMISSION OR ANY PART OF IT TO CONDUCT AND PROMOTE THE LEICA WOMEN FOTO PROJECT. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, SPONSOR IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO SEEK PERMISSION OR APPROVAL OR TO GIVE NOTICE IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING RIGHTS AND LICENSES. HOWEVER, SPONSOR WILL UNDERTAKE TO CONSULT WITH ENTRANT REGARDING THE SELECTION OF IMAGES USED TO PROMOTE AND REPRESENT THE SUBMISSION. FOR THE FURTHER AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, SPONSOR WILL NOT SELL RIGHTS IN ANY SUBMISSION TO A THIRD PARTY AND WILL NOT USE ANY SUBMISSION IN ITS OWN GENERAL SALES AND MARKETING MATERIALS. SUBMISSIONS ARE NOT CONFIDENTIAL AND DO NOT CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OF ANY PARTY, INCLUDING THE ENTRANT. SPONSOR AGREES TO INCLUDE A CREDIT TO ENTRANT WHEN USING PHOTOGRAPHS INCLUDED IN THE SUBMISSION, BUT SPONSOR’S FAILURE TO DO SO IN ANY INSTANCE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A BREACH OF THE CONTEST RULES OR ANY AGREEMENT OR OBLIGATION BETWEEN SPONSOR AND ENTRANT. ENTRANT AGREES TO EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS SPONSOR REQUESTS IN ORDER TO EVIDENCE, CONFIRM, OR OTHERWISE PERFECT THE RIGHTS AND LICENSES GRANTED HEREIN.…

LIMITATIONS/EXCLUSIONS: WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EVERYTHING REGARDING THIS CONTEST, INCLUDING EACH WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CONTEST AND ALL PRIZES, ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY. CHECK LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.

NATURE OF RELATIONSHIP/WAIVER OF EQUITABLE RELIEF: Each entrant understands and acknowledges that Sponsor has wide access to ideas, designs, and other materials, and that new ideas are constantly being submitted to it or being developed by their own employees. Each entrant also acknowledges that many ideas may be competitive with, similar or identical to the Submission and/or each other in theme, idea, format or other respects. Each entrant acknowledges and agrees that such entrant will not be entitled to any compensation as a result of Sponsor’s use of any such similar or identical material. Each entrant acknowledges and agrees that the Sponsor does not now and shall not have in the future any duty or liability, direct or indirect, vicarious, contributory, or otherwise, with respect to the infringement or protection of the copyright in and to the Submission. Finally, each entrant acknowledges that, with respect to any claim by entrant relating to or arising out of Sponsor’s actual or alleged use of any Submission or other Materials submitted in connection with the Contest, the damage, if any, thereby caused to the applicable entrant will not be irreparable or otherwise sufficient to entitle such entrant to seek injunctive or other equitable relief or in any way enjoin the production, distribution, exhibition or other use of the Submission or any Materials based on or allegedly based on the Submission, and the entrant’s rights and remedies in any such event shall be strictly limited to the right to recover damages, if any, in an action at law.

DISPUTES: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey or the appropriate State Court located in New Jersey; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Contest, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New Jersey.

PRIVACY: Information collected from entrants is subject to the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, which can be found at https://www.leicacamerausa.com/service/privacy-policy/. Entrants agree that Sponsor and Sponsor’s agents, affiliates, subsidiaries, representatives or service providers may use entrants’ personal information submitted with entry for purposes of prize fulfillment and/or for future marketing by Sponsor, such as to notify them of a product or promotion that Sponsor thinks may be of interest. In addition, entrants agree that Sponsor may assign the agreement embodied by these Official Rule in its entirety to a successor to the pertinent business of Sponsor….

For complete rules and eligibility requirements, please visit https://us.web.leica-camera.com/World-of-Leica/Leica-Women-Foto-Project/Leica-Women-Foto-Project-Award/Official-Award-Rules.

Good Luck!

PRESS RELEASE

Leica Camera USA Launches Initiative to Support Gender Diversity in Photography

The Leica Women Foto Project signifies an enhanced dedication to highlight the female perspective through various programming initiatives, including a new photography award

July 22^nd, 2019 – Leica Camera USA takes its longstanding appreciation of women in the photographic arts a step further with the announcement of the Leica Women Foto Project – a platform designed to support diversity and inclusion in photography through ongoing programs, events, and a new photography award dedicated to the Project that jointly serve to inspire narratives through the female perspective. Leica recognizes that the shape of a story is reactive to the storyteller’s perspective, often leaving out those whose point of views are underrepresented. By amplifying the female perspective in photography, Leica aims to help provide a more dynamic and diverse view of the world around us.

“This importance of diversity in visual storytelling strengthens the integrity of our collective story,” says Kiran Karnani, Director of Marketing for Leica Camera North America. “Visual expressions through myriad lenses challenge and embrace ideas that drive important conversations. We enable growth through an expansion of thought when we actively support inclusivity through the photographic medium. With the Leica Women Foto Project, we aim to embolden photographers to think outside one’s own point of view, support underrepresented voices to speak their visual languages, and celebrate new ways of seeing.”

As part of the ongoing Leica Women Foto Project, Leica Camera USA is launching the inaugural Leica Women Foto Project Award, which will award three photographers $10,000 each to help enable the pursuit of a personal project. Candidates based in the United States who display the highest quality of photography, dedication to the medium of photography, sophistication of project, as expressed through the female perspective with narratives that broaden perspectives, ideas and conversations on today’s social climate, will be selected as winners.

In addition to the financial award, each winner will receive a one-year loan of a Leica Q2. At the end of the term, the cameras will be passed on to the next three winners of the 2020 award to continue the legacy. A replacement Leica camera will be offered to the initial set of recipients to continue documenting their journey through the lens of a Leica.

Photo entries will be reviewed by a panel of renowned judges including:

Karin Kaufmann, Art Director & Chief Representative, Leica Galleries International
Maggie Steber, VII Agency photographer and Guggenheim fellow
Elizabeth Avedon, photography book and exhibition designer, independent curator and writer
Laura Roumanos, executive producer and co-founder, United Photo Industries
Deborah Willis, university professor and Chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and author of Envisioning Emancipation: Black Americans and the End of Slavery

Candidates for the award must be legal US residents and are requested to submit a series of 10 images from a personal or long-term project, made on any digital or film camera of any make, model or brand, with at least 4 images created between 2018-19. Alongside the images, applicants are required to submit a 500 word proposal describing their personal project and its relevance in today’s social climate, including detail of how the funds will be allocated.

Each submission will be scored by each judge individually based on quality of photography, dedication to medium of photography and sophistication of project. The three entrants with the highest total scores from all five judges will be declared the winners of the Award.

Call for entries begins today and closes on August 29, 2019. Applications for the Leica Women Foto Project Award can be submitted through the online registration form found on http://bit.ly/Leica_Women. Leica Camera USA will announce the three winning photographers on October 16 via http://bit.ly/Leica_Women and @leicacamerausa on Facebook and Instagram.

About Leica Camera

Leica represents a union of craftsmanship, design and experience. It is a beautiful collision of art and engineering, and the future of form and functionality. Leica Camera, headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany, is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of excellence in the supreme quality and performance of cameras and lenses, and the iconic images that artists and photojournalists everywhere captured with them. For more information about Leica visit www.leicacamerausa.com, or follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited and outside US. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. (and DC) who are 21 yrs+ at entry. Contest is NOT open to individuals who have a formal affiliation or partnership with competitors of Sponsor. Contest begins at 9:00 AM ET on 7/22/19 and ends 11:59 PM ET on 8/29/19. To enter, complete the entry form at http://bit.ly/Leica_Women and upload 10 photos that tell a single story through a woman’s perspective, on a topic relevant to the current social or political climate. All photos must adhere to the Submission Guidelines. Entrants retain ownership rights in their submissions, subject to certain rights and licenses granted to Sponsor as set forth in the Official Rules. Prizes: 3 winners will each receive (i) $10,000; (ii) a 1-year loan of a Leica Q2 camera or equivalent; and (iii) a replacement camera at the end of the loan period. Restriction: During the 1-year loan period, winners may not enter into a formal affiliation or partnership with competitors of Sponsor. Total ARV of all prizes: $44,985. For complete rules and eligibility requirements, visit http://bit.ly/LeicaWomenFotoProjectRules. Sponsor: Leica Camera Inc.

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