Guidelines and Mechanics
🎯 Objective
To highlight and celebrate the rich natural beauty and cultural heritage of Batanes as a premier ecotourism destination through the lens of photography.
1. Who Can Join
The 1st Batanes International Photography Awards is open to:
- All Ivatans, and
- Both local and foreign amateur or professional photographers visiting Batanes between April 10, 2025 and May 31, 2025.
📌 There is no registration fee to participate.
2. Entry Requirements
- Each participant may submit only one (1) photo essay consisting of 3 to 5 original and unpublished photographs.
- By submitting an entry, participants agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy of the competition.
3. Theme and Scope
- All photographs must be taken within Batanes between April 10 and May 31, 2025.
- The theme is: “Breathtaking Batanes”
Entries should highlight Batanes as a spectacular destination and pay homage to the resilience of the Ivatan people.
4. Technical Specifications
- Acceptable aspect ratios: 3:2, 4:3, or 16:9
- Devices allowed: DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, drones, action cameras, or high-resolution smartphones
- Format: JPEG (.jpg / .jpeg)
- Color Profile: sRGB, with EXIF data intact
- File size: Minimum 1MB, Maximum 5MB per image
- Post-processing: Only global adjustments (e.g., exposure, contrast, white balance) are permitted
🚫 Strictly no image manipulation, compositing, or AI-generated content (including “text-to-image” or artificially created visuals).
5. Submission Details
- 📅 Submission Period:
From April 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PHT)
To May 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PHT) - 📧 Email entries to: breathtakingbatanes@gmail.com
- Do not include watermarks, borders, or frames on submitted images
- If a photo includes identifiable individuals, a signed model release and waiver must be submitted per image
6. Screening and Judging
A Technical Working Group will screen entries for quality and compliance.
Entries will be judged as a photo essay based on the following criteria:
- 🎨 Creativity & Visual Impact – 35%
- 📖 Storytelling – 35%
- 📌 Relevance to Theme – 30%
Shortlisted entries must submit high-resolution files (minimum 300 dpi) for publication.
In case of dispute, the photographer must present the untampered RAW file showing original metadata, including date and GPS location.
7. Jury Panel
The panel of judges will include:
- Renowned professional photographers
- Creative artists
- Representatives from the Batanes LGU, relevant national/local agencies, and event partners
🧑⚖️ All decisions of the jury are final and irrevocable.
8. Awards and Prizes
Six finalists will be announced online. Among them, the Top 3 entries will be declared winners and receive the following cash prizes:
🏆 Grand Prize – PHP 20,000
🥈 1st Runner-Up – PHP 15,000
🥉 2nd Runner-Up – PHP 10,000
🎖️ Finalists (3) – PHP 5,000 each
9. Copyright and Usage Rights
Photographers will retain full ownership and copyright of their work.
However, by joining the competition, participants grant the Provincial Government of Batanes and its official partners a non-exclusive, irrevocable license for the use of submitted photos for promotional, publication, and exhibition purposes related to:
- The Photography Awards
- The Photographer (Artist)
- The Vunung Festival
- The Breathtaking Batanes campaign
This license is valid for 36 months from the date of winner announcement.
📸 All published photos will include proper credit to the photographer.
10. Disqualification and Ethics
The 2025 Batanes Day Cultural Committee, led by Gawad Mangpus Awardee 2024, Mr. Noli C. Gabilo, reserves the right to disqualify entries that:
- Infringe on copyrights, trademarks, or privacy rights
- Contain commercial branding unrelated to Batanes culture or heritage
- Display misleading, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, or offensive content
- Portray harm to humans, wildlife, or damage to property and environment
- Violate any local or international laws
For inquiries and further information, please contact:
📧 breathtakingbatanes@gmail.com
Caption Let your photographs tell the story of a land shaped by time, nature, and tradition.
Capture the soul of Batanes. Share its breathtaking beauty.
