Technical requirements

2023 Contest technical requirements

In order to ensure fair and effective judging of the 2023 Contest we ask for the following file requirements from entries. In addition to the judging the file requirements are also necessary for production of the winning entries of the 2023 Contest for the annual exhibition and yearbook.

Singles, Stories and Long-Term Projects categories

Photographs entered to the Singles, Stories and Long-Term Projects must meet the following requirements:

  • Only single-frame photographs may be entered to the above-mentioned categories
  • Upload photographs with the original pixel size (unless cropped). Do not scale and do not change the resolution.
  • ICC profile must be embedded. AdobeRGB, sRGB or grayscale Gamma 2.2 are recommended. No CMYK.
  • Must be uploaded in JPEG format with high-quality compression.

Open Format

Projects entered to the Open Format category must meet the following requirements:

Photo stories 
(including but not limited to): Polyptychs; multiple exposure images; stitched panoramas; photographic collages; photo stories using alternative or experimental image processing:

  • Upload 10-30 JPEG image files.
  • Photographic images must be uploaded in JPEG format with high-quality compression (for example polyptychs, photo collages, etc.) with the original pixel size (unless cropped). Do not scale and do not change the resolution. ICC profile must be embedded. AdobeRGB, sRGB or grayscale Gamma 2.2 are recommended. No CMYK.

Short photo-based videos (maximum duration of 15 minutes):

  • Video files must be uploaded in .mov or .mp4 and have high-quality compression. Video files must be uploaded directly to Picter.
  • Video files must have English-language audio or include English subtitles.
  • Please remove opening and/or closing credits.
  • Upload 10-25 JPEG image files of the still photography included in the project.
  • Photographic images must be uploaded in JPEG format with high-quality compression (for example polyptychs, photo collages, etc.) with the original pixel size (unless cropped). Do not scale and do not change the resolution. ICC profile must be embedded. AdobeRGB, sRGB or grayscale Gamma 2.2 are recommended. No CMYK.

Web-based photo projects:

  • Include the URL to the web-based project. Please provide any passwords or paywall log-ins required to view the piece. 
  • Upload a video screener of 1 minute. This should be a screen recording of you navigating the story through your web-based environment in order to give the jury some guidance on how to experience the piece.
  • Upload 10-25 JPEG image files of the photography included in the project.
  • Photographic images must be uploaded in JPEG format with high-quality compression (for example polyptychs, photo collages, etc.) with the original pixel size (unless cropped). Do not scale and do not change the resolution. ICC profile must be embedded. AdobeRGB, sRGB or grayscale Gamma 2.2 are recommended. No CMYK. 

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