Rules

The SANTA MARIA SHOOTOUT is an underwater photography competition, open to anyone with interest in underwater photography, amateur or professional.
Where are all welcome!

Freely choose any dive spot in Santa Maria, shoot with a camera what you want, and participate in one of the categories.

• “CHALLENGE” – 3 best Portfolios of 4 photos

• “AMATEUR” – 3 Best photos

Each photo or portfolio must capture the magic of the Santa Maria Sea, with special focus on biodiversity, contributing to the promotion of the island as a touristic destination with special focus on dive.

Category participation fee:

• “CHALENGE” – €25

• “AMATEUR” – €5

Each participant must select a category of his choice, “AMATEUR” or “CHALLENGE”. 

It’s not allowed the participation in both categories.

• Nuno Sá

• Rui Brix Elizabeth

• Pedro Vasconcelos

• Luís Quinta

• Rui Guerra

The final decisions of the Jury may not be protested, nor questioned.

• Competition registration must be submitted by form in this website, or in paper form to e-mail geral@cnsantamaria.pt or directly at the secretary of the Club at any time before October 31.

• In this shootout may participate all photographers wich photos fullfill the defined intention of the contest.

• To participate are accepted only photos obtained at Santa Maria Island.

• To the participant photographer may be required to prove his/her stay on the Island, between the start and end dates of the contest, as well as at the photo's registration date.

• Photos may be submitted by form in this website, or to e-mail geral@cnsantamaria.pt or delivered at the secretary of the Club at any time during the competition, until 31 October.

• Photos  submitted to the competition may be taken during day or night. 

• Photos submitted to the competition must be taken underwater or half-half.

• Photos should be submitted in JPG format at maximum resolution.

• Participants who use digital cameras must shoot in RAW + JPG and may be required to participants who reach the final stage of the competition, to submit the photos in RAW format.

• Participants whose digital cameras do not shoot in RAW format may participate shooting in JPG format, however, the sequence of frames may be required to verify if photos were manipulated or not.

• It is prohibited to carry out any alternations in the original file using Photoshop or any other imaging software.

• Final judgement will take place in November.

• Winners will be announced in Clube Naval Santa Maria website in December. Participants who are unable to attend will receive their prizes by mail.

• Competition organizers will take the utmost care in handling digital files submitted to the competition. However, the organization will not be held responsible for any loss of the submitted material.

• Participants are required to comply with any local environmental conservation regulations and to share respect for the underwater world during the process of taking images. Be advised that any damage to the protected underwater world, including the disruption of the natural habitat creatures, provocation through touching, feeding or annoying, is prohibited and will disqualify the photos or the photographer.

• The organization encourages the participation of all photographers in the competition but reserves the right not to accept the participation of a photographer who does not comply with the spirit of the competition.

• The organization is entitled to disqualify a participant who acts against the rules, displays undue conduct, has caused harm to another participant, or acted in any way that is contradictory to the spirit of competition, as well as any other reason that the organization team deems fit. The decision to remove a participant from the competition is final, indisputable, and does not entitle the participant to receive compensation or refund of any kind.

• The competition is conducted individually, being forbidden to submit photos in one´s own name but which another photographer has taken or captured elsewhere.

“CHALLENGE” category:

• 1st Place – Portfólio – €300

• 2nd Place – Portfólio – €200

• 3rd Place – Portfólio – €150

“AMATEUR” category:

• 1st Place – Fotografia – €150

• 2nd Place – Fotografia – €75

• 3rd Place – Fotografia – €50

Prizes are awarded to the winners only. Bank transfer charges or any other additional expense are not included.

The prizes for the "CHALLENGE" category are not cumulative. It is not allowed for the same participant to win more than one prize in this category, although it is allowed to submit more than one portfolio.

By enrolling the competition, participants agree to give unlimited rights for an unlimited amount of time of the photos to the Clube Naval de Santa Maria, but with reference to its authorship. The photographer also retains the right to use the photos.

Use of photos will require no additional verbal or written permissions from the photographer.

Participants are responsible for their own safety and for the proper use of their diving and photography equipment. Divers must dive within the limits of their own diving certification level and in accordance with local regulations.

Competition organizers do not accept responsibility for the safety of participants during their diving activity, nor do they accept responsibility for any damage to personal equipment that may occur as a result of diving activities.
Dive Safely!