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APEC Photo Contest

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APEC Photo Contest

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Show us the big picture. Now in its 12th year, the APEC Photo Contest showcases inspirational photos from around the region with a creative take on APEC host priorities. The annual photo contest celebrates the resilience and adaptability of the 21 APEC member economies.

Share with us images that will make us think, reflect and admire how people are interconnected, innovative, and inclusive in their daily lives, what sights they see and the sounds they hear in the APEC region.

How do you picture a resilient and sustainable future for all?  Show us your vision of the theme and priorities of the United States’ APEC host year. Inspire us with your photography and interpretation of any one of the following #USAPEC203 theme and priorities:

  • Interconnected
  • Innovative
  • Inclusive

These priorities aim to build a more interconnected region, support innovation and reaffirm equitability and inclusivity in all parts of the Asia-Pacific. Your photos paint a thousand words that can help tell the story of this endeavor. Give us your best shots.

The photo contest is open to everyone—professionals and amateurs alike, young and old. Your work will be evaluated by a panel of judges consisting of the APEC Secretariat’s Executive Director, Chair of APEC 2023 Senior Officials’ Meeting, award-winning photojournalists, and photographers from the region.

PRIZES TO BE WON

First Prize – SGD 2,500

Second Prize – SGD 2,000

Third Prize – SGD 1,500

Popular Choice – SGD 1,000

Instagram Influencer – SGD 1,000

CONTEST TIMELINE & WINNER SELECTION

Photo submission opens: 24 July 2023
Photo submission deadline: 10 September 2023, 23:59 (SG - GMT +08:00)

Participants agree that the APEC Secretariat will feature the 10 selected finalist photos on APEC’s social media channels – Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

The 10 selected finalists will also have the chance to win APEC Popular Choice Award on top of the main prize. Members of the public will choose their favorite photo to win the APEC Popular Choice Award via a link posted on the APEC website and social media channels, starting from 9 October 2023 at 10:00 (SG) and closing on 22 October 2023, 17:00 (SG - GMT +08:00). 

 

Winners of the photo contest will be announced during APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in San Francisco, California in the United States on the week of 11 November 2023. Results will be published on the APEC website and on APEC’s social media channels.

 

CONTEST FAQs

 

HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST?
Entry(s) for the APEC Photo Contest 2023 must be submitted using the online form in the link below or by tagging APEC on Instagram (@apec). The entry must fulfill all the requirements, as specified, to be eligible to win a prize. Entries that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of APEC Secretariat. 
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY ENTRY VIA INSTAGRAM?

Photo submission is open through our Instagram account (@apec), encouraging both amateur and professional photo enthusiasts to take part in the contest. Here are the entry requirements for Instagram submission:

  • Follow APEC Instagram account: @apec
  • Must include hashtags #APECPhotoContest2023 and #USAPEC2023 in caption
  • Must include a hashtag indicating the APEC priority that the photo represents 
Priority 1: #InterconnectedPriority 2: #InnovativePriority 3: #Inclusive
#ResilientSupplyChain#ClimateResilience#GenderEquity
#CrossborderTravel#FoodSecurity#InvestinWorkers
#CleanTransport#DigitalEconomy#InclusiveTrade
  • Must include title and location of the photo in caption
  • Make sure the photo follows the general guidelines of APEC Photo Contest 2023. Please read the section on General Guidelines of APEC Photo Contest 2023.
  • Maximum submission is 3 photos per account. More than 3 entries submitted will not be accepted.

Those who participate in the contest through Instagram stand a chance to win the APEC Influencer Award on top of the chance to win the main prize.

HOW DO I SUBMIT MY PHOTOS THROUGH THE ONLINE FORM?

For those who do not have access to Instagram and wish to participate in the contest, you can submit your photos through APEC Photo Contest 2023 online form. You can access the form here.

Fill in all the details required in the form accurately

  1. Include title and location of the photo
  2. Submit maximum 3 photos
  3. Make sure photos follow the general guideline of APEC Photo Contest 2023.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ENTRY GUIDELINES.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

  1. The APEC Photo Contest 2023 is open to all amateur and professional photographers.
  2. Participants must be citizens or permanent residents of the APEC member economies: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States; and Viet Nam.
  3. The photo can be taken using any kind of camera, including mobile phone.
  4. The photo must be taken in one or more APEC member economy(s). Participants need to include or tag the location of the photo in the online form and Instagram caption.
  5. Photo format can be square, portrait, or landscape.
  6. All photos submitted through online form must be a high-resolution digital image file in JPEG format with minimum compression. Each image should not exceed 10 MB in file size.
  7. Minor digital manipulation (i.e., color enhancement, cropping) is allowed. Excessively manipulated photos are grounds for disqualification.
  8. Collage or photomontage will not be accepted.
  9. The photo must be an original work by the participant and was not submitted in other similar photo contests including previous editions of the APEC Photo Contest.
  10. The photo must not contain material that violates or infringes on another’s rights, including publicity and intellectual property rights.
  11. Each participant is allowed to submit a maximum of three photos.
  12. Staff  of the APEC Secretariat and their immediate family members, host economy organizing committee and its affiliates are not eligible to participate in the contest
  13. The decisions of APEC’s Judging Panel are final.
  14. All prizes shall be paid in Singapore dollars.
  15. All deadline submissions and timelines are based in Singapore time GMT +08:00.
  16. The Secretariat reserves the right to disqualify any photo submission that does not conform to the rules and guidelines
WHAT IS THE JUDGING CRITERIA?
Each photo will be evaluated based on the following criteria: (i) interpretation and message of the photo based on APEC 2023 priorities, (ii) composition and quality, (iii) creativity.
WHAT ARE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS?

Read the full Terms and Conditions below:

I. Copyright

  1. The participant must be the author and sole owner of the copyright of each photograph submitted.
  2. All images submitted must be original work of the individual submitting them.
  3. The participant shall retain the copyright of the photos submitted in the competition.
  4. The winners shall also grant the right to the APEC Secretariat to publish, display and exhibit their submitted photographs in its publications, brochures, and other materials as well as on its website and other online platforms. The photos will be used for non-commercial purposes without payment or fee to the participant. The APEC Secretariat will make every effort to credit photographers, but we cannot guarantee that every use of the photographs will contain the photographers' names. 

II. Lost entries

The Secretariat will not be held responsible for any photos lost or not received. 

III. Privacy

By submitting photos, participants agree that if they win, the APEC Secretariat may use the personal information on their entry forms for publicity purposes, with the exception of street address, email address and telephone number.

The finalists and winners' consent to the use of their personal information and photos by the APEC Secretariat in publicity in all media, such as online, newspaper, television, and radio. 

IV. Liabilities

  1. By submitting photos, participants agree that no claim relating to any damage, loss, injury or inconvenience shall be asserted against the APEC Secretariat, and the directors, officers, employees and assignees from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind resulting from the project.
  2. The participants hereby indemnify and hold the APEC Secretariat harmless from any claims, actions, proceedings costs and expenses arising because of any allegation that the relevant participants did not own or are not wholly entitled and authorized to allow publication and reproduction of the work by the APEC Secretariat.
  3. The APEC Secretariat reserves the right to disqualify any entries if the contents are deemed inappropriate or against the public interest.
  4. The terms and conditions above are subject to change and/or supplement by the APEC Secretariat at any time during the submission period as and when it deems fit. The APEC Secretariat assumes no liability whatsoever for any outcome because of such action.