SEARCA PHOTO CONTEST 2009

Community-based Climate Change Adaptation: Best Practices in Southeast Asia

“As KC3 embarks on a journey to prepare Southeast Asians for the impacts of climate change, let us look through the camera lens and see how people have adapted with our changing climate.”

GUIDELINES

1. The photo contest is open to all Southeast Asian nationals except SEARCA employees and immediate family members.
2. The theme will center on Community-based Climate Change Adaptation: Best Practices in Southeast Asia.
3. Each contestant may submit as many entries as he/she wants provided that said photos have not been submitted to previous photo contests.
4. Entries must be submitted in 8” x 10,” full color prints (digital or conventional camera). Digital entries should be in either JPEG or TIFF format and at least 3,000 pixels wide for a horizontal image or 3,000 pixels tall for a vertical image at 300 dpi. There is no maximum file size or resolution as long as it can be sent by e-mail or via file upload.
If submitting a print from a digital file, please include an e-copy. The print should match the quality and character of the original file.
If submitting a print using conventional camera, please include the negatives and indicate settings used (aperture and shutter speed).
5. All entries must be original. Photos must not be digitally altered and/or enhanced in any way other than simple cropping.
6. Each entry should include the following details: name, country, brief statement/description of the photo, where the photo was taken, when it was taken, and the equipment used in taking it.
7. All photos may be used by SEARCA but proper credit will be given to the photographer. Submitted entries may be used by SEARCA for all advocacy and promotion activities, including but not limited to photo exhibits without liability on the part of and fee to be paid for by the contest organizers.
8. Photos will be judged based on the following criteria:

35% Relevance to the theme
20% Regional flavor
20% Originality/Creativity
15%Composition
10% Sharpness
100% TOTAL

DURATION

The photo contest will run from August 3 (Monday) to October 2, 2009 (Friday). Screening will be on the first week of November 2009.

Winners will be notified via e-mail. SEARCA has the right to offer the prize to the next winning entry if and only if, the winner does not initiate any contact. Likewise, winners are requested to be present at the awarding ceremony on SEARCA’s 43rd anniversary -- celebrated during the last week of November. If he/she could not attend the ceremonies, SEARCA shall be notified on how the price shall be transmitted.

DEADLINE

All entries must be postmarked or e-mailed on or before October 2, 2009 (12 midnight, Philippine time).
Mail or deliver entries to:

SEARCA Photo Contest 2009
SEAMEO SEARCA, College, Los Banos
Laguna 4031, Philippines

Or send by email to fotos@agri.searca.org.

Note: SEARCA cannot be held responsible for entries that are lost, damaged or delayed during transportation.

PRIZES

First Place $500
Second Place $300
Third Place $200

Note: Transportation cost of winners for attending the awarding ceremony shall be borne by the winner.

RATIONALE

Dr. Juan Pulhin, Filipino scientist in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) once said, “While we can’t stop the effects of what we’ve done in the past, we can influence the future. Tackling climate change starts with understanding why we need to.”

Indeed, the world’s climate is changing -- at present, some countries are experiencing longer wet season while others face continuous drought. Climate change is upon us; and it is considered as one of the most serious threats to sustainable development. Its adverse impacts can affect human health, food security, economic activities, physical infrastructure, and the environment as a whole.

Slowly, people have learned to cope with the changing climate. Likewise, plants and animals which were also adversely affected by climate change developed certain mechanisms in order to survive. In biology, this concept is more popularly known as “adaptation.” Adaptation is the process wherein a certain species become accustomed to a change in its environment for survival. It may take time and usually entails a change in behavior, appearance, and/or practice of the affected species.

As SEARCA embarks on its new initiative, the Knowledge Center on Climate Change (KC3), adaptation is one concept that often arises. In certain parts of the world, people have already developed best practices on how to abate the negative impacts of climate change. But some people are still caught unaware of what is to come. It is likewise important to prepare the rest of the world for the worst; to teach them of what has worked best in other areas.

Aside from publishing scholarly articles and documenting Community of Practices, another effective and creative way to communicate a message is through the use of photographs. An old adage says that “a picture can say a thousand words.” Thus, on its first year, KC3 is launching a Southeast Asian wide Photo Competition centered on adaptation measures practiced and used by Southeast Asians in the fight against climate change.

This photo competition builds up from the 2008 photo contest also organized by SEARCA themed “Coping with Climate Change: Finding Solutions.” Recognizing that solutions are already being practiced in some Southeast Asian communities, it is time to look once again through the camera lens and see how these adaptation measures translate into solving the problem on climate change.

more info http://www.searca.org/web/photo-contest/