U.S. Mission Uganda World Wildlife Day Photo Contest: Wildlife and Uganda’s Waters
To celebrate World Wildlife Day 2019, U.S. Mission Uganda is hosting a photo contest to showcase the importance and beauty of Uganda’s freshwater ecosystems and the wildlife that depends upon them. The contest’s theme is Wildlife and Uganda’s Waters and aligns with the World Wildlife Day 2019 theme of Life Below Water.
Background
Healthy, bio-diverse freshwater systems are essential for wildlife and humanity. They buffer communities from drought and flooding, filter contaminants from water, provide materials for day-to-day activities, and support tourism, agriculture, and fishing livelihoods for the majority of Ugandans. Uganda’s wetlands and lake systems are home to an astounding array of endemic wildlife species, but are also globally important, connecting into a superhighway of stop-over sites for migratory birds and other species.
These wetland and lake ecosystems are under threat, largely from land use conversion and encroachment. Over-fishing, sand harvesting, uncontrolled burning, industry contamination and runoff, and solid waste dumping all degrade the integrity of these valuable ecosystems and their wildlife. Some species like hippopotamus, shoe-bills, and others are under even greater threat from illegal wildlife trade. The theme for this year’s World Wildlife Day, March 3, 2019 is Life Below Water. On this day people all over the world are celebrating and honoring the beauty and importance of wildlife in water-dependent ecosystems.
Categories
- Young adult: Under 25
- Adult: 25 and older
- Mobile Device photo category (e.g. Android, Iphone, Ipad)
How to Enter
Each entry must clearly connect to the competition theme: Wildlife and Uganda’s Waters.
- Submissions are open to all Ugandan residents.
- Photos must be the property of the submitter.
- Photos may be digitally manipulated, however submitter must detail what manipulation was used.
Competition Period
- The U.S. Mission Uganda World Wildlife Day Photo Contest opens on World Wildlife Day, March 3, 2019 and closes at 5:00 p.m. East African Time March 10, 2019.
- Submission limit is 3 photos per individual.
- Submissions for Young adult and Adult categories must be large format, high resolution (at least 1,600 pixels wide or 1,600 pixels tall, if vertical format).
- Photos that violate or infringe upon another person’s rights, including but not limited to copyright, are not eligible.
Judging
Photos will be judged on their merit and on their connection to both the contest theme Wildlife and Uganda’s Waters and World Wildlife Day.
Special consideration will go toward photos that showcase nationally threatened species for Uganda.
Submissions instructions
Upload your photo to an online sharing site (e.g. Flickr, Facebook, etc.). Attach a link to your photo (no more than 3 photos per individual submitter) in an email to: KampalaEmbassyContest@state.gov with a subject line “World Wildlife Day 2019 Photo Contest.” Submissions that do not use this subject line or individuals who send more than 3 photos will not be considered.
In the body of the email, please include the following information for each photo submission:
- Name of photographer
- Category of Submission
- Title of image
- Contact details of photographer
- Location where the photo was taken
- Date photo was taken
- A brief caption that explains how the photo relates to World Wildlife Day and the contest theme Wildlife and Uganda’s Waters (no more than 75 words).
- What kind, if any, of digital manipulation used
Winners
One winner and two runners-up will be selected for each category. The winners will be announced on World Water Day, March 22, 2019, and will have their photos displayed at the American Center for an entire month. Submissions will not be compensated or reimbursed.
Image Rights
Winners and runners up will be required to provide written permission for the replication and display of their photos. Winning images will only be used in connection with the U.S. Mission Uganda World Wildlife Day Photo Contest and accompanying publicity and will include appropriate photo credits.
