News: The Epson International Pano Awards Photography Contest - Deadline April 15, 2011

Type:     Film and digital Panorama

Theme:  Panorama

Categories:  Open awards categories: Nature and The Built Environment

                     Amateur awards categories: Nature and The Built Environment

                     VR/360 awards category is open. 

Deadline:     April 15, 2011 with late entries accepted until April 30th (late fees apply) 

Eligibility:    International, amateur, professional, students, no age restrictions listed

                    Entry eligibility: Original images taken at any time, photographic in origin, panoramic 2:1 ratio except for VR/360 entries. No limit on number of entries.

Link:  http://www.thepanoawards.com/

          Rules: http://www.thepanoawards.com/rules.php

          Submissions: Click "enter now" http://www.thepanoawards.com/EnterAwards/index.php

Entry Fee:  

Open: US$18 per image, US$32 for two (2) images, US$42 for three (3) images, US$48 for four (4) images and US$10 for each additional image

Amateur: US$16 per image, US$28 for two (2) images, US$36 for three (3) images, US$40 for four (4) images and US$8 for each additional image

VR/360: US$16 per image, US$28 for two (2) images, US$36 for three (3) images, US$40 for four (4) images and US$8 for each additional image

Prizes:  Open overall winner: $1000, Epson Stylus Pro 4900 printer, Gigapan Epic Pro

             Open category winners (two): $500, Nodal Ninja 5W/RD16 Advanced Rotator with EZ-Leveler-II, Easypano Panoweaver 7 Professional

             Open category runner-up (two): Genius Printing voucher for $500 worth of Epson printing, PTGui Pro personal license

             Open category 3rd place winners (two): Lonely Planet book pack, Kolor Panotour Pro license

             Amateur overall winner: $1000, Epson Stylus Photo R2880 printer, Apollo campervan 7 day rental in Australia, New Zealand or the USA (Euro Tourer in Australia & NZ, Sunrise Escape in USA. Travel periods: Aust. May-June, NZ May-Sept, USA Nov-Mar. Exp Dec 2012)

            Amateur category winners (two): $250, Nodal Ninja 5W/RD16 Advanced Rotator with EZ-Leveler-II, Easypano Panoweaver 7 Professional

            Amateur category runner-up (two): Genius Printing voucher for $500 worth of Epson printing, PTGui Pro personal license

            Amateur category 3rd place winners (two): Lonely Planet book pack, Kolor Autopano Giga license

            VR/360 overall winner: $1000, Gigapan Epic Pro, Genius Printing voucher for $500 worth of Epson printing, Easypano Panoweaver 7 Professional, Garden Gnome Pano2VR license

            VR/360 runner-up: $500, Kata Owl-272 DL photo backpack, Easypano Panoweaver 7 Professional, Garden Gnome Pano2VR license

            VR/360 3rd place winner: Kolor Autopano Giga license, Garden Gnome Pano2VR license

Additionally, special gold, silver, and bronze merit awards will be awarded on a score system. Certificates will be made available online for download to awarded recipients.

Size/Format:   Images:

• sRGB colour space;
• Measure 3000 pixels on the longest side
• Resolution 300 dpi
• Be saved as a JPEG at a setting of 10 or higher

All entrants must be ready to supply a high resolution image suitable for printing in media and exhibition display, if asked, within 7 days of judging completion.

        VR/360:

• 6144 by 3072 pixel (equirectangular) image
• jpegs must be 6144 x 3072, but may have black bands at top and/or bottom
• sRGB colour space, JPEG quality setting 10

See rules for additional pan, tilt, and zoom criteria

Electronic Submission:  Yes, at submission link listed above. 

USPS Submission:  No 

Description:  A contest just for panorama and VR/360 enthusiasts. The basics are listed here, but the official list of rules is LONG. Be sure to read all the rules carefully to ensure entries comply with all the applicable rules.  

Additional Info:  The Epson International Pano Awards was founded in 2009. It is a collaboration between professional photographers, industry professionals and sponsors.  Their aim is to give the genre of panoramic photography its day in the sun. This is the second annual competition. The 2010 competition saw 2740 images submitted from 945 photographers in 79 countries. The total prize pool for 2011 is $25,000 in cash and prizes - double that of 2010.