Submissions open for SPIE International Day of Light Photo Contest

The SPIE International Day of Light Photo Contest is held annually to raise awareness about the International Day of Light and to demonstrate the impact that light has on cultural, economic, and political aspects of the world.

Theme

• The theme of the photo contest is: A World of Light–The Vital Role That Light and Light-Based Technologies Play in Daily Life.
• Examples of content includes, but is not exclusive to, artistic images that depict:
  • Light technology such as lasers, LEDs, etc.
  • Various properties of light and how it interacts with the atmosphere and materials.
  • Images created with light technology such as telescopes and microscopes.
  • People interacting with light and/or light technology.

Prize Information

• Cash Prizes
  • First Prize: US $2,500
  • Second Prize: US $1,000
  • Third Prize: US $500
  • Technology and Science Prizes: US $750
  • Youth Prizes: Surprise gift box of SPIE merchandise

Eligibility Criteria

• The photo contest is open to people from age 13 and up, both amateur and professional photographers, except employees of SPIE and optics.org, their immediate families, the contest judges, and consultants/contractors of SPIE.
• Immediate family is defined as all grandparents, parents, spouses, siblings, children, grandchildren, in-laws, or anyone living in the SPIE or optics.org employee’s household.
• Entrants are subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Contest is void where prohibited by law.
• Digital photographs, photo titles, and artist statements must be submitted online. Entries submitted through the mail will not be accepted.
• Photographs depicting the vital role that light and light-based technologies plays in daily life must be in digital format, suitable for public exhibition and printing at high-resolution.
• All images must be 300 dpi or more and at least 3,000 pixels on the longest side. File size should be no less than 5MB and no greater than 20MB. TIF and JPEG/JPG are the only accepted formats.
• Only limited enhancement of the original photograph is permitted for the purpose of improving brightness and contrast or removing minor cosmetic flaws. Black and white images are acceptable. Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization will be disqualified.
• The photo title must be complete and accurate, sufficient to convey the circumstances in which the photograph was taken. Disguising or misrepresenting the origin of the content is cause for disqualification.
• Each person may submit a maximum of two (2) entries. The contest is limited to the first 1,500 entries. Contestants should enter one photo per entry form.

For more information, visit SPIE.