Frequently Asked Questions
How do I submit an entry to the Storyteller Competition?
You can submit entries through the submission entry page. The submission period begins December 7, 2011 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (“PDT”) and ends March 31, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. All Entries must be received by March, 31, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Please register at MatadorU.com/Storytellers to upload your entries online. We no longer accept mail-in entries as an alternative to digital uploading.
Before you submit an entry, please make sure it meets the following requirements:
• All entries must be in English.
• Blog entries must have a maximum of 300 words.
• Magazine Article entries must have a maximum of 700 words.
• Videos have a maximum limit of three (3) minutes. Video must be uploaded to Vimeo.com or Youtube.com.
• Photo Essays entries have a maximum limit of five (5) images.
Please read through the Storyteller competition rules for more information regarding entry.
Why do I need to register with MatadorU to submit an entry?
Registering with MatadorU ensures that we have your contact information and that you have read and accepted the terms and conditions for the competition.
Why do I need to create a Matador Community profile to submit an entry?
Creating a Matador Community Profile provides a standard medium for the National Geographic Traveler and Matador Editors to review the submission.
What is the entry fee?
The entry fee is U.S. $25 per entry. An entry consists of one submission in one category.
How many categories may I enter?
There is no limit to the number of categories you enter, but you must pay U.S. $25 per each individual entry. For example, you would pay $50 total to enter in both the photo and blog categories.
How do I pay the entry fee?
You must use PayPal or the Credit Card form to pay the contest entry fee. Your credit/debit card information is securely maintained by PayPal and Authorize.net and is not shared with the National Geographic Society or Matador Network. Please visit the PayPal or Authorize.net Help Centers if you have further questions regarding this process.
How do I know that you’ve received my entry?
You will receive a confirmation email from MatadorU. You will only be able to access the submission screen after your payment has been received.
I can’t remember which photographs I’ve already submitted. Can you tell me which of my photos you’ve received?
Unfortunately, there is no way you can see what you have uploaded already so we suggest moving your entry into its own folder on your desktop so you can keep track of exactly what you’ve entered.
How will my photograph be judged?
Competition consists of two (2) rounds of evaluation. In Round One, Matador judges (“Judges”) will select twenty (20) entries for each category from among all eligible entries based on the following criteria (“Judging Criteria”):
For Photos and Videos:
(1) Creativity 50%
(2) Photographic quality 50%
For Blog and Magazine Articles:
(1) Storytelling creativity 50%
(2) Ability to make travel / culture accessible to reader 50%
The entries selected in Round One will proceed to Round Two. In Round Two, the National Geographic Traveler Judges will collectively select a Winner for each prize level based on the Judging Criteria.
In the event of a tie, the tied entries will be re-submitted to the Judges for a re-judging between the tied entries alone. In the event that a tie remains after re-judging, the entry with the highest score in the creativity criteria will be declared the winner.
When will the winners be notified?
Winners will be chosen on or about April 30, 2012 and will be notified by e-mail. Please do not call or email us about the status of your entries.
What is the Prize?
One First Prize will be awarded for each category (Blog, Magazine Article, Video, Photo Essay) for a total of four first prizes. Winners of the First Prize will be invited to a “Storytellers’ Day” with the NG Traveler editorial staff at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, DC. Economy class air transportation from a major US airport near your home and one night in a hotel will be provided. (ARV $1000); Each Winner will also receive a one-year subscription to National Geographic Traveler magazine.
Is airfare included in the trip to DC?
Yes, economy class air transportation from any major US airport near your home and one night in a hotel will be provided. All reservations will be handled through National Geographic Traveler magazine.
Why are Arizona, New Jersey, and Vermont not allowed to participate?
Those states do not allow operation of a skill contest that requires an entry fee.
Is this for US Residents Only?
No, contest is open to residents of any jurisdiction except those excluded in the Storyteller competition rules.
Why is the Province of Quebec excluded from participating in the contest?
Running contests of broad geographical scope requires observing the regulations of all of the jurisdictions in question. The legal complexities of doing so make it prohibitive, if not impossible, to run competitions that are open to all jurisdictions, states and territories, in some instances. Restrictive laws in certain jurisdictions sometimes prompt their ineligibility.
Why are Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria excluded from participating in the contest?
U.S. laws impose economic and trade sanctions against certain countries based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals, and preclude residents of those countries from participating in the contest.
It says I must be the age of majority to enter. What is the age of majority?
The age of majority varies from place to place. You can check the Web site of your state or local jurisdiction, or call your government offices to get information specific to your place of residence.
I’d like to enter a photo that has previously been published. Is that allowed?
Yes, you may enter a submission that has previously been published.
I’d like to enter a photo that has previously won a contest. Is that allowed?
Photographs or video must have been taken within two (2) years before the date of entry and may not previously have won an award in the National Geographic International Competition, the National Geographic Competition or any National Geographic Traveler Competition.
How old can my entry be?
Entries must have been created within two years of the date of entry.
Will my entry be seen online?
Selected entries and the entrants’ names may be published at the discretion of the National Geographic Society and Matador Network.
Will I be notified if my entry is chosen to be published?
You will be notified only if you are a winner.
What are my chances of winning?
That depends upon the number of submissions and the skill of each entrant. Typically we get thousands of entries each year.
Do photos have to be taken with a digital camera?
Submitted photos do NOT have to be digital photos from a digital camera. Any digital scan that meets the specifications stated in the competition rules will do, as long as the end result is a JPG or JPEG file. You may submit scans of negatives, transparencies, or photographs taken with traditional cameras.
Is image manipulation allowed in the photo contest?
Minor burning, dodging and/or color correction is acceptable. Fisheye lenses are acceptable. Hand tinting and High dynamic range images (HDRI) are not acceptable. Stitched panoramas are acceptable only if the combined parts are all made around the same time. Any changes to the original Photograph not itemized here are unacceptable and will render the Photograph ineligible for a prize. Alteration cannot change material content of the photo. We trust our users to submit unaltered files. We cannot research every photo entry. However, if a photo is chosen as a winner, it will be scrutinized for possible alterations.
When I submit an entry, what rights does the National Geographic Society or Matador Network have to my submission?
National Geographic and Matador Network will have the nonexclusive, perpetual right to use your creative work in connection with the contest and promotion of the contest, in any media now or hereafter known, including, but not limited to: display at a potential exhibition of winners; publication of a book featuring select entries in the contest; publication in National Geographic Traveler magazine or online, and publication on MatadorNetwork.com.. However, you will always retain the copyright to your photograph. Please read through the official photo contest rules for further information on the rights you grant when submitting a photograph to the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.
I accidentally uploaded the wrong entry and paid the entry fee. Can I delete my entry and submit a new photo?
Unfortunately, due to the large volume of images submitted to the contest, all entries are final and cannot be replaced or modified.
Are release forms required when submitting an entry to the competition?
By submitting an entry to the competition you warrant that you are the owner of the original work, that you alone own the copyright, and that you have obtained any necessary third-party releases. If your entry is selected as a winner of the contest, you may be asked to submit a personal release, a location release, and/or an artist release. Do not send any releases unless we’ve asked you to. Please read through the competition rules for more information regarding releases.
The photograph I’d like to submit was taken while I was on vacation. There’s no way for me to get a release form. Can I still enter this photograph or video in the contest?
If your photograph or video is chosen as a winner of the contest, you may be required to submit a release. If you cannot supply a release, your entry may be disqualified.
What is a personal release form?
If any person in your photograph or video is recognizable, you may be asked to provide National Geographic and Matador Network with a personal release form signed by that person or those persons. Images of unrecognizable people do not need personal releases. A personal release form is a binding contract between the photographer and the subject(s) of the photograph or video. By signing the release, the subject of the photograph forgoes the right to sue for specific types of claims. Download NatGeo’s printable Personal Release form.
Do photos of children require personal release forms?
Yes, if the children are recognizable (see answer above). But personal release forms for anyone under the age of majority must be signed by the subject’s legal guardian—not by the child. Download NatGeo’s printable Personal Release form.
What is a location release form?
A location release form is a binding contract between the photographer and the owner(s) of private property within or upon which a photograph was taken. By signing the release, the owner of the property forgoes the right to sue for specific types of claims. Download NatGeo’s printable Location Release form.
What is an artist release form?
An artist release form is a binding contract between the photographer and the copyright holder(s) of any art in the photograph. By signing the release, the copyright holder of the art in the photograph forgoes the right to sue for specific types of claims. Download NatGeo’s printable Artist Release form.
Why can’t I just upload my images directly?
We’ve decided that, given all the file formats and sizes people use for digital photography that it would be a lot easier for everyone if we accepted links to photos instead of allowing direct uploads. This is especially important in making sure each image submitted to the competition is associated with an account, which will help us prevent copyright infringement.
I didn’t receive my confirmation email. Why?
Some ISPs (Internet service providers) commonly install email filters that block or filter emails sent from unknown addresses. If you have a “junk mail” box, check to see if that’s where the email landed. If you’ve installed software to monitor your email, make sure your settings aren’t causing your emails to get blocked.
Still have a question?
Email our support team.