ENTRIES: Photographers may enter up to ten (10) prints, of which no more than 8 may be entered into any one category. The entry fee is $1 per print. There is no fee if the print is donated to the NSS. All entries must be delivered to Print Salon area on Saturday, June 23d between 9am-5pm, or on Sunday, June 24th between 8-10:00am at the NSS Convention Print Salon exhibition area or mailed so that we receive it before June 1st.  Please include your email address on the outside of the package so that we can let you know by email that your package has arrived.  If mailing please post it no later than July 1st so that we can make sure it arrives in time. Kindly include a CD with digital files of all your entries, a digital file of a head-and-shoulders self-portrait, and a brief (~100 word) text file about yourself for use at the awards ceremony.  The files should be in JPG or TIFF format, uncompressed and in the maximum size available.  No entrant may enter more than 10 prints, of which no more than 8 may be in the Color Print category. Each entry, or group of entries, must include return postage, a note indicating that you will pick up the prints at the end of the Salon, the name of a designated person to pick up the prints, or the notation “donated to the NSS”.  Please complete this entry form, online (preferred) or by hand, and enclose it with your entries.

ENTRY CRITERIA: Prints may be created digitally (using a computer) or traditionally (in a darkroom). Prints must measure at least 20 x 25 cm (8 x 10 inches), but be no larger than 51 x 61 cm (20 x 24 inches). All prints must be mounted, but not framed. They may be matted at the discretion of the entrant. All prints must be titled.  There must not be any lettering on the print.  A small title card with the Title and Entry Category ONLY will be displayed with each print during judging.  If one is not included with the print a handwritten one will be made for it.  A full info card, to be shown AFTER judging, should also be included with each print.  The following information should appear on the info card: Title of the print, Name of the photographer(s), Entry Category, and a Print Description, which may be up to 100 words of description and could include the cave/expedition/project, special conditions, etc.  Details of the photo such as exposure settings, flash type, software and other technical data may be in addition to the 100 words but should be kept as short as possible. See also the judging criteria at the 'Criteria' button below.

CATEGORIES: There are four (4) entry categories this year: Color, Black & White, Technical Science, and Digitally Enhanced. The Technical Science category is for prints that depict the technical science of Speleology. They may be close-ups of animals, formations, or gear, or perhaps a haul system detail. Digitally enhanced could be surrealistic colors, a collage of photos, or other computer based techniques. A smaller print showing the original photo(s) you worked from is acceptable for this category. [NOTE: Changes to the categories are under consideration; check back here for revisions.]

JUDGING: Judging will occur on Sunday, June 24th at 10:00am. Entries received after 10 will not be judged but may be shown. The criteria used by the judges is shown at the 'Criteria' button below.

DISPLAY ONLY: Entrants may offer prints for display in addition to those entered for competition. In addition to the ten (10) prints permitted for competition, you may offer up to five (5) more for display only. These prints will not be judged, only admired. If space is limited, the chairman of the salon may be unable to display them; prints entered for judging will have priority. “Display only" prints must be postmarked by June 1, 2012. Prints submitted for display must be mounted, but not necessarily titled or matted. They may also be prints that have been exhibited in other competitions. They may not be larger or smaller than the size requirements for those accepted for judging.

SALES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: For questions concerning entries or sales of prints, please e-mail Pat Seiser at printsalon@caves.org call 505-292-5793. If you have trouble meeting the deadline, please contact her before June 1st, 2012.

CHAIR
Pat Seiser
1106 Tracy Place
Carlsbad, NM 88220
505-292-5793
printsalon@caves.org