UPDATED Feb 6, 2012: Dues to unforeseen circumstances, this contest has been cancelled. Our apologies for the inconvenience caused. Please stay tuned for more announcements at a later date.

- Cash prize of Rs 2 lakh for the winner -

As you know, the all-new Ford EcoSport was unveiled on the 4^th of Jan 2012 in New Delhi at a preview event to the 11^th Auto Expo 2012 in the capital.

“EcoSport has a tough, robust attitude that says ‘I can play with the big boys’,” said J Mays, group vice president, Design, and chief creative officer, Ford Motor Company. “But it also makes you want to play. It’s friendly and sociable, and this unique mix is its secret formula. That’s why it is so appealing. EcoSport is perfect for crowded urban streets and it inspires you to seek adventure away from the city too.”

To “Bring out the Urbaneness in the All New EcoSport”, we are announcing a contest for amateur photographers starting from Saturday, Jan 27, 2012.

Rules of Participation:

Eligibility

• Entry to the contest is open to amateurs (those who are not pursuing photography as a profession) only
• There is no age limit for the participants; there’s no entry fee
• Participation is open to individuals only

Technical Criteria

• Photographs must be in digital format, no print or film submissions are permitted
• The submissions must be in .jpeg & RAW formats
• The file size of each entry must not be more than 10 MB for .jpeg and 25 MB for RAW
• The photographs can be in portrait or landscape formats
• The submitted work must not contain material(s) offensive to any particular community, group, individual or institution
• Any amount of Photo-editing can be done on the image.  Any alterations done must be clearly mentioned at the time of submission.  Please refer to the following links as idea-starters and let your imaginations flow: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3
• The participant should have the full rights of any element other than the Vehicle’s image used in the submitted image; the rights of which shall become Ford India Pvt. Ltd.’s (FIPL).
• Photographs previously published in any media or entered for any award will be disqualified
• Photographs should be submitted physically on CD/DVD media to Mr Soumya Dev of Ford India Pvt Limited (FIPL) or submitting them digitally also (uploading it on for example on WeTransfer and sending the link to Soumya Dev) by <closing date and time for submission>
• All contest photographs will be displayed on the Flickr page of Ford APA or any other social media web sites.
• Each participant can submit a maximum of 3 entries for the contest, FIPL reserves the right to nullify the entries if it does not meet the criteria of submission.
•  All contest photos will be hosted on Flickr as a ‘set’ under Ford APA’s photo-stream. Photo albums are organised and hosted as sets on Flickr.

Rights & Reproduction

• Any moral and paternity right regarding the photos sent in for the contest is the photographer’s property. However, by submitting a photograph in the contest, the participant agrees to give Ford India Limited (FIPL) the first right of refusal to the exclusive use of the picture. This option will remain in force until 31 December 2013.
• All participants agree to allow their entries to be published or showcased by FIPL. FIPL retains the right to publish the submissions and information associated with them and the participants in all activities for its communication campaigns
• FIPL or any employee or agent of FIPL will NOT be liable for:
  • any costs incurred or loss or liability suffered by the participants in relation to the program
  • any lost expectation of profits by participant
  • any failure by participant to understand their rights in relation to Intellectual Property, or the rights of the organisers in relation to Intellectual Property
  • any other benefit applicants may expect to gain by participating in the program
  • FIPL reserves the right to change the Rules of Participation at any time without specific notice. The amended Rules of Participation will be effective immediately once notified to participants via email.
  • Disputes, if any, are subject to the jurisdiction in the courts of Chennai, India only

Selection of Participants

• Photographers need to submit their portfolios to FIPL for selection and subsequent participation in the contest. Portfolios can be submitted by sharing links to online photo-streams or albums on photo sharing websites. FIPL will shortlist 8 photographers through a short-listing process by a Jury comprising creative heads of its advertising and marketing agencies to participate in the contest
• FIPL reserves its right to use the entries in whichever manner it may deem fit
• All portfolios will be evaluated individually, the selection criteria will be at the sole discretion of the Jury, the final participants selected by consensus of the Jury and the decision of the Jury is final and binding.

Ford reserves the right to cancel participation of any selected participant during the contest, at its sole discretion.

Interested photographers may please submit their names along with their ‘Flickr id/Portfolio Websites/URLs and a brief description about themselves as a reply to this post.  The 8 photographers will be selected by FIPL and will be informed accordingly.

Selection of Winner

• The winner will be chosen by a Jury comprised of advertising and photography professionals, to be appointed by FIPL.
• Winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 200,000 (Rupees Two Lakh only). The winning amount is subject to deductions on account of applicable taxes

Winner will need to submit a copy of his or her PAN Card for FIPL to process release of his or her prize money.

Important Dates

• Registration – NOW OPEN
• Last date of submission of Portfolio – Wednesday, 25^th Jan 2012
• Announcement of 8 Participants – Thursday, 26^th Jan 2012
• Briefing of short-listed participants – Friday, 27^th Jan 2012
• Shoot at Venue 1 Starts – Friday, 27^th Jan 2012
• Shoot at Venue1 Ends – Saturday, 28^th Jan 2012
• Submission of Completed Works for the shoots done in Venue1
• Shoot at Venue 2 Starts – Monday, 7^th Feb 2012
• Shoot at Venue2 Ends – Tuesday, 8^th Jan 2012
• Submission of Completed Works for the shoots done in Venue2
• Set (Album) creation on Flickr page of Ford APA – Latest by Friday, 10^th Feb 2012
• Jury Panel Decision Meeting & announcement of final winner – Monday 13^th Feb 2012
• Date of Award Ceremony – TBC (tentatively on Saturday, Feb 18^th, 2012)

Contact

For more information please contact Anuj Gupta or call him at +91-9999639391,  Global Team Ford , Ground Floor, Block A, Enkay Centre (adjacent to Indiabulls), Vanijya Nikunj Commercial, Complex, Udyog Vihar Phase V, Gurgaon – 122 016.