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ScRAP Photography Challenge

To celebrate the final year of the Scotland’s Rock Art Project, we are looking for striking and memorable images that capture the essence of prehistoric rock art in Scotland – its remote and beautiful setting, the stunning effect of light and weather, the enigmatic motifs and texture of the rock – and how rock art can inspire people through engagement and creativity. Are you up for the challenge?

Entries are welcomed from amateur photographers of all ages.

You can enter up to two images into each of the four categories listed below. Images will be judged by our expert panel. Prizes will be awarded to the best three images in each category. More details, tips for rock art photography, and Terms and Conditions for entries are provided further down this page.

Please note that the Photography Challenge is now closed for entries. Winners will be announced here on 29 October 2021.

Categories

  1. In the Landscape
  2. On the Rocks
  3. Altered Images
  4. Engaging with Rock Art

Challenge dates

Challenge opens:   1 November 2020

Challenge closes: 30 September 2021

Winners announced: 29 October 2021

Prizes (in each category)

First Prize:

Second Prize:

Highly Commended:

For further details of how to enter, and the Terms and Conditions of entry, please see below: 

 

Categories

 

  1. In the Landscape

Scotland’s prehistoric rock art is notoriously off the beaten track – deep in heather moorland, scattered on rough-grazed hillsides and improved pastures, or secluded within dense woodland. The challenge of finding rock art is an important part of its charm and fascination. The landscape is also crucial for appreciating the past significance of rock art – is it positioned close to certain natural features or monuments, or in places with specific views, for instance? Your image might simply focus on depicting rock art within a stunning landscape setting, but it could also capture the sense of discovery, or the particular relationship between the rock art and its surroundings.

 

  1. On the Rocks

The vibrancy of Scotland’s rock art can often only be appreciated under certain lighting conditions when the motifs are animated by the interplay of light and shade. But prehistoric rock art is also about more than just the carvings. The rock surface itself – its shape, texture, cracks and hollows, and the way in which these natural features interact with the motifs – play a vital role in the uniqueness and value of each carved rock. Your image will capture the visual impact of the motifs, as well as the behaviour of the carvings in relation to the material quality of the rock surface.

 

  1. Altered Images

Scotland’s prehistoric rock art often inspires imagination and creativity. Your image will use lighting techniques, photographic enhancement, graphic manipulation or other creative processes to show rock art in a new and exciting way that alters or challenges how we view it.  

 

D. Engaging with Rock Art

   

The experience of engaging with rock art can be highly emotive – the excitement of discovery, the sense of connecting with people in the past, and the pleasure of being immersed in the landscape (or the discomfort of certain weather conditions), can have a powerful and memorable affect. Finding prehistoric rock art, and perhaps recording it, together with others can also bring the satisfaction of a shared endeavor. Your image will capture the individual or collective experiences of engaging with rock art in a safe way that does not impact on the carved rock surface.

 

Challenge Terms and Conditions

Please read the following Terms and Conditions carefully, they apply to the Photography Challenge described above. If you have any questions that are not covered here, please contact us at scrap@hes.scot.

 

Who is running this Challenge?

The promoter of this Challenge is Historic Environment Scotland, an executive non-departmental public body, incorporated and established under the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014, being a registered charity (Scottish Charity number SC045925) and having its principal office at Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1SH, who host Scotland’s Rock Art Project (“the Promoter”).

Who can enter the Challenge?

Entries are welcome from amateur to retired professional photographers of all ages.

How much does it cost to enter?

Entry is free!

What could I win?

The three best images in each category will each receive a prize. All winning and short-listed entries will also be exhibited on our website (www.rockart.scot) and winning images will be promoted through our publicity channels and social media. Where an image is promoted through our publicity channels and social media, the photographer will be credited, unless they advise us that they do not want to be credited.

In each category:

First Prize: Historic Scotland membership for a year, and Scotland from the Sky or Scotland’s Landscapes, and Fabulous ScRAP mystery prize!

Second Prize: Scotland from the Sky or Scotland’s Landscapes, and Fabulous ScRAP mystery prize!

Highly Commended: Fabulous ScRAP mystery prize! 

The prizes are not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash.

The prizes are subject to availability. If, for any reason, it becomes unavailable, we reserve the right to supply alternative prizes of a similar value.

The prizes are supplied by the Promoter.

What are the entry dates?

The Challenge is open for submissions from 9.00am on 1 November 2020. Please do not send your images before this date.

The Challenge closes at 9.00am on 30 September 2021. We cannot accept images submitted after this time. Please make sure that you allow enough time to complete your submission.

The winners of the awards will be announced online on 29 October 2021

Do the images have to be taken within the timeframe of the Challenge? 

No. If you wish, you can enter an image taken any time before the challenge start date.

Do images have to be taken in Scotland?

Yes, the images must capture prehistoric rock art (often called cup markings or cup and ring markingz) in Scotland.

Which categories can I enter?

Anyone can enter images in all four of the categories.

How many images can I submit?

You can enter up to two images in each category. If you submit more than this for a particular category, we can only accept your first two images. Please note that you can only win one prize in each category (unless you are the only entrant)!

How do I submit my images?

Send your images as email attachments to us at scrap@hes.scot, with the subject: ScRAP Photo Challenge.

Image files must be named with the name of the entrant and the letter of the category in which you are entering your image (e.g. if Joe Bloggs is submitting an image of rock art in the landscape category (Category A), the image file will be named A-JoeBloggs).

If the same entrant is submitting more than one image in a particular category, each image must be named with the category letter, entrant’s name, and sequential number (e.g. A-JoeBloggs-1, A-JoeBloggs-2).

Images that do not use this naming protocol may be discounted.

All entries are sent at your own risk and we cannot accept liability for entries that are lost, mislaid, damaged or delayed in transit, regardless of cause, including, for example, as a result of any equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind. Entries will not be returned to entrants.

Can I withdraw or swap an image once I’ve entered it?

No, once an image is submitted you will not be able to make any changes to your entry.

Can people appear in my images?

Yes, but you must be able to prove that you have the consent of every individual captured in your images. If you wish to include young adults and children aged 16 or under in your images, you will need written consent from their parent(s) or guardian(s).

What are the image specifications?

Images should be submitted as JPEGS (2MB maximum). If you are resizing your pictures for submission, please make sure that you do not overwrite your original file. If any of your images are shortlisted you will be asked to provide a high-resolution version of the original image. We may also wish to use some non-shortlisted images, and will contact you to request your permission to use a high-resolution version

Please ensure that your images are the right way round. Images that are submitted sideways or incorrectly orientated may be discounted. Panoramic images are eligible for all categories.

Can images be taken on a phone?

Yes, images can be taken on any device capable of producing a high-resolution digital image. We recommend that you use a camera (6 megapixels or more) set on its highest-quality setting.

Can I submit a 3D model?

No. 3D models or screenshots of 3D models will not be accepted.

Do my images have to be in colour?

No, we also welcome Black and White or monochrome photos.

Can I adjust my images?

Except for images entered into category C: Altered Images, only minor digital adjustments are allowed, such as changes to tone and contrast and cropping. For Category C images you can use any form of digital adjustment or enhancement that you wish.

Sharing your images

By submitting your images to the ScRAP Photography Challenge, you automatically permit us to use them in presentations and other non-commercial media to raise awareness of Scotland’s rock art. We will always credit your images to you, and you retain the copyright in your images.

Should we wish to use your original high-resolution images in a publication connected to Scotland’s Rock Art Project, we will contact you to request your permission for this.

How will the images be judged?

Images will be viewed by our panel of experts without including the entrant’s name, and will be judged on their visual interest and impact.

The judging panel shall be made up of a rock art photographer and researcher from Ireland, a Historic Environment Scotland ('HES') Photographer/Videographer and a HES Field Photography Projects Manager.

The decision of the judges is final.

How will you use my image(s)?

All entries must have been legally obtained by you.  By entering this Challenge, you warrant and represent that you have obtained all necessary third party consents or permissions relating to any images submitted to the Challenge.

You must be the sole author and owner of copyright in all images entered by them into the Challenge. By entering this Challenge, you warrant and represent that any images submitted to the Challenge do not infringe the rights of any third parties, including, without limitation, copyright.

By entering the Challenge, you grant ScRAP a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable and royalty free licence to reproduce, enlarge, publish or exhibit, on any media available to the public any image for any purpose connected with ScRAP. This may include, but is not limited to:

- inclusion in ScRAP publications – print and digital versions
- display at any exhibitions
- on the ScRAP website and on the websites of sponsors and supporters
- for use in press, promotional and marketing materials – both print and digital
- on social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter.

Copyright of each image is retained by its photographer.

What happens to my personal details?

We are committed to protecting your personal data and your privacy in accordance with HES's Privacy Policy

The legal bases for which we will collect personal data in respect of Challenge entrants are (i) our legitimate interest of administering the Challenge, and (ii) to comply with our legal obligations in respect of competitions.

The Promoter will use the personal data of Challenge entrants as follows:

  1. to contact the winning entrants and to send the prizes to them;
  2. to contact alternative winning entrants and to send the prizes to them if the winning entrants cannot be contacted within a reasonable time; and
  3. to identify the winning entrants whose images are selected for publication as authors of their images.
  4. to comply with the legal obligation to provide the winners’ surname and county in response to requests for this information from third parties, subject to the last paragraph under the heading 'What happens after the Challenge closes for entries?'.

What happens after the Challenge closes for entries?

Judging takes place over the three weeks immediately after the Challenge has closed. Once judging is completed, we will contact the winning entrants by 25 October 2021 by email. If you haven't received an email from us by 25 October 2021, your image will not be among the winning entries. We may contact certain entrants to request a higher resolution version (4 - 40MB) of their image for publicity or publishing purposes.

If a winner is unable to be contacted after reasonable attempts, we will be entitled to offer the prize to the runner up.

The prize may not be claimed by a third party on behalf of any of the winners.

We, as the Promoter, must either publish or make available information that indicates that a valid award took place.  To comply with this obligation we will send the surname and county of the winner to anyone who emails scrap@hes.scot or writes to the address set out under the heading ‘Who is running this Challenge?’ (enclosing a self-addressed envelope) within one month after the date the Challenge closes.

If you object to either or both of your surname and county being published or made available, please contact us at scrap@hes.scot. In such circumstances, we will not provide the information to members of the public, but must still provide the information and winning entries to the Advertising Standards Authority ('ASA') on request by the ASA, to comply with our legal obligation to do so.

What do I have to provide if one or more of my images is a winning entry?

We will require a high resolution JPEG or TIFF file of your winning image(s). This should be between 4 and 40MB.

Further information on this process will be sent to people with a winning image.

Who do I contact about the Challenge?

For help with Entries please contact the Promoter on 0131 651 6781 or scrap@hes.scot.

Is there anything else I need to know?

These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of Scotland. By entering this Challenge, each entrant agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.

We reserve the right to disqualify any entrants that breach these rules or any entries that, in the sole opinion of the Promoter, are in any way fraudulent or otherwise unlawful or would damage the reputation of the Promoter.

We reserve the right to cancel this Challenge at any time. The Promoter reserves the right to amend these rules without notice by posting changes to the website www.rockart.scot  We will only notify entrants of changes if we are required to do so by law.

Insofar as is permitted by law, we will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up the prize except where it is caused by the negligence of the Promoter or that of its employees. Your statutory rights are not affected.

Important Note on Photographing Rock Art

Please remember that rock art is very vulnerable to human impact. When you access rock art for your photographs, ALWAYS follow the rock art code:

Please Always:

Please Do Not:

 

Top Tips for Fantastic Photos

Focus

The image should be sharply in focus unless intentionally blurred. It is important that the quality of your original image is as high as possible, so please use the highest quality setting on your camera - the larger the file size the better.

Light

Light can make a dramatic difference to the quality of your photographs and the visibility of the rock art. You may wish to take the same shot in different lighting and weather conditions, and at different times of day, to get the best effect.

Composition

When selecting your images for submission, look at them carefully to check the overall composition. Is there a telegraph line cutting across your photo? Is part of your rucksack or a tree branch visible at the edge of the image? Is the horizon on a slant? Could the photo be improved if you moved position slightly?

It always helps to show your photos to someone else as they may spot things that you have missed and give you an impartial opinion on which images are best.

GOOD LUCK!