Frequently Asked Questions

FotoWeek DC is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of photography's role in our world by recognizing photographic excellence, and ensuring that the celebration of this powerful medium is an accessible and inclusive experience.

Yes, you retain the copyright to all images.

An entry consists of one image or one photo series (minimum of three images, maximum of six) or one multimedia piece.

A photo series includes up to six images and a minimum of three that convey a particular theme, accompanied by a descriptive written statement not to exceed 100 words. The descriptive written statement should be entered in the caption field provided for each image after the upload.

A multimedia entry is a single work that is based on still photography and may also include video, sound, and graphics.

No. You retain copyright to your photograph and the Sponsors may not sell your photo entry for a fee. Winning entries may be used by FotoWeek DC, a non-profit organization, in connection with the International Awards Competition and promotion of the International Awards Competition in perpetuity. 

You will need to provide your student status only if you are a finalist.

No, you may enter as many photographs as you like in the single image categories.  You may also enter as many series as you like, each one containing a minimum of three and maximum of six images.  You may enter as many multimedia entries as you like.

No. Winning and finalists' entries from the previous competition, those that have previously won a FotoWeek DC award or prize, may not be entered in the current competition. You may enter other images, however. Images that were previously submitted, but were not awarded may be submitted again.

Please refer to the “categories” tab on the left side of the screen for more information about the competition categories.

Choose the category that is most appropriate for that work. 

You should submit JPEG images saved with max quality compression with a long dimension of at least 1,000 pixels at 72 or 300 dpi with either Adobe1998, sRGB or untagged color space. For Mobile Photo Devices submit the image at highest resolution available.

Multimedia work should be submitted as a URL link to a web location where your multimedia piece has been posted and from which it can be streamed.

The suggested timeframe is three to five minutes for each multimedia piece.

Yes, this contest is open to photographers worldwide.   Competition is void where prohibited.

Yes, each category will have Awards of Excellence, Distinction, Merit and Student Award.

That depends upon the number of submissions.

No. Only online submissions will be accepted. Please do not send any hard materials as they cannot be returned.

No, all submissions must be paid for electronically, via credit card.

Main Category and Student Winners will be announced online and notified by email on approximately October 4, 2010. The Spirit of Washington Winner will be announced at the FotoWeek DC Awards Ceremony at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and The Corcoran College of Art + Design on November 5, 2010. The winning entries will be exhibited during FotoWeek DC November 6-13, 2010, and posted on the fotoweekdc.org website. Please do not call or e-mail FotoWeek DC about the status of your entries.

The winners will be awarded on November 5, 2010 at an invitation-only FotoWeek DC Awards Ceremony at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and The Corcoran College of Art + Design.

The People's Choice is a section apart from the rest of the contest and the votes will not influence the judges. An entrant would seek votes in order to win the People's Choice section alone. The winners for the other categories will be determined by the judges.

In order to vote you need to provide a valid email address, and only one vote per email address is possible. If after voting the first time, you decide to vote for another image, t he first image you voted for will lose that vote. You will see a message reading "Thanks for voting!" and the entry will be highlighted after your vote has been cast.

One vote per person. We ask that all voters be fair about placing their votes and remember that we track via email address and other information for the final vote scores after the contest deadline.

For additional questions contact us here.