PURPOSE

The Photography Competition / Art Competition 2006 is an international contest organized by TCB-Cafe Publishing of San Francisco. The contest aims to develop and raise the visibility of photographic and creative graphics talent, in the form of a competition and the resulting book publication. The culmination will be a beautiful cloth-bound photographic book, showcasing the competition winners, and gracing the libraries of museums, galleries, individuals and collectors.

To see a sample of the Photography Competition 2004's photography book, click here.

PHOTO CONTEST / ART CONTEST THEME

The 2006 photo contest / art contest has two separate book themes. In this Call for Entries, submissions may interpret these themes broadly:

1) A Smile is Worth a Thousand Words (photography)
DESCRIPTION: Humans are some of the only living creatures that can smile, and for that reason smiles are unique. Some may even say they are a gift from beyond. But smiles can mean much more than just happiness and mirth. They can be mysterious, fashionable, sexy, deceptive, inviting, friendly, or even alarming. They can indicate good health or bad, and can make the recipient's day unfold in joy, or descend into misery. Smiles must be interpreted, and those interpretations can be worth hundreds, if not thousands, of words. (...and not all of them need come from close-up portraits)

Note: "A Smile is Worth a Thousand Words" is a photographs only contest. Images can be closeups, portraits, full bodies, or even group images

2) Super Heroes (photography & art)
DESCRIPTION: Super heroes have always existed, both real and imagined. Photography and art allows the artist to now capture and illustrate those fictional and non-fictional persons (and animals) as never before. Photographers and illustrators are invited to show us the Super Heroes in our world, or not of it.

Note: "Super Heroes" is for photography, painting, graphic arts, comics, manga, and photo-essay/journalism. The topic is also very open to your interpretation - entries based in reality/real life people, historic figures or fantasy (even "winged" characters can be considered super heroes).

All submitted images must represent one of the competition themes. Photographs can be in color or black & white.

PRIZES

Selected images will be published in the books "Smile" or "Super Heroes" by TCB-Cafe Publishing. Selected images will also appear in a TCB-Cafe Publishing exhibit on the contest's theme. A total of 40 First and Second Place Finalists will be selected per theme.

First Place Finalists (20 will be awarded):

• First Place winners will be published in the Deluxe Editions of the books, "Smile" or "Super Heroes"
• First Place winners will also receive a numbered copy of the Deluxe Editions of "Smile" or "Super Heroes," as well as credited in all press materials sent to the media, agencies, and collectors, included in the touring gallery exhibit on the contest's themes

Second Place Finalists (20 will be awarded):

• Second Place winners will be published in the Deluxe Editions of the books, "Smile" or "Super Heroes"
• Second Place winners will also receive a 30% discount on copies of the Deluxe Editions of "Smile" or "Super Heroes"

Honorable Mention

Additional prizes and sponsors to be announced.

JUDGING

The jury, consisting of respected photography, visual arts and publishing professionals who represent each aspect of the photography book and exhibition process, will base its decisions on the images submitted and designate the First Place and Second Place winners. The consistency and innovativeness, as well as the technical ability, in which the image reflects the designated theme and category will be the main criteria of Finalist selection.

ELIGIBILITY

The photo contest / art contest is open to all except TCB-Cafe Publishing staff and immediate family members, as well as the staff and immediate family members of the contest sponsors

Photography and art entries must be the original work of the Entrant. Entrant is solely responsible for obtaining necessary authorizations in order to submit their work to the Photography Competition / Art Competition 2006 (e.g. model release forms, etc). Payment must accompany every entry.

SUBMISSIONS

n this Call for Entries, all image submissions to the Photography Competition / Art Competition 2006 should be in digital format, submitted either online via email or mailed in a CD-ROM. Photographic slides and prints are ineligible, unless specifically requested by the contest organizers.

Each Entrant may submit up to 3 images in digital format either via email or on a CD-ROM. Only digital format submissions are accepted when determining eligibility. Submitted work must have been created within the last four years.

DEADLINE

All entries to the photo contest / art contest must be postmarked by December 15, 2006. Entries cannot be accepted afterwards unless the deadline is officially extended. Finalists will be announced on February 1, 2007. Finalists will be posted on the Competition website. All entrants are required to check that website to determine status.

ENTRY FEES

The entry fee for the photo contest / art contest is $25 for the first image, and $10 for each subsequent image. Each Entrant can submit up to three images.