📝 Official Terms and Conditions for the "Thumbs Up Photographer of the year - 2025" Competition

1. Promoter and Partnership

The competition is promoted by the "Thumbs Up Photography" Admin Team (the Promoter). This competition is run in partnership with DxO Software, who will serve as the final judge.

2. Eligibility

a. Participants must be active members of the "Thumbs Up Photography" Facebook group at the time of entry and throughout the competition period. b. The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers, excluding the "Thumbs Up Photography" Admin Team members directly involved in the shortlisting process.

3. Submission Rules

a. Date of Photo: Submissions must have been taken between January 1, 2025, and December 27th, 2025. Any photo taken outside of this date range will be disqualified. b. Entry Limit: Only one (1) photo submission per person is permitted. c. Submission Method: All entries must be submitted exclusively via the designated official Google Form link. Submissions made via Facebook comments, private message, or any other means will not be considered. d. Required Information: The Google Form submission must be fully completed and include the participant's Full Name, Email Address, the Photo's Title/Description, and the precise month the photo was taken in 2025. e. AI and Composites: Submissions must fundamentally be based on a photograph captured by the entrant. * Permitted Composites: Compositing is permitted for technical purposes that enhance the final image quality, such as focus stacking, HDR bracketing, and techniques common in astrophotography (e.g., combining tracked exposures for the Milky Way, star trails, or deep sky objects). * Permitted AI Use: Generative AI tools may be used only for localized and corrective adjustments (e.g., noise reduction, lens correction, minor removal of sensor spots or distracting elements). * Prohibited Composites: The photo must not be a composite where multiple unrelated elements (e.g., a landscape taken in January and a model taken in June, or stock images) are digitally stitched together to create an artificial scene. Large-scale generative AI that fundamentally alters the original photographic scene is also prohibited.

4. Intellectual Property and Usage Rights

a. Ownership: The participant retains the full copyright and ownership of their submitted photograph. b. License Grant: By entering the competition, the participant grants "Thumbs Up Photography" and DxO Software a non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, publish, display, and promote the submitted photograph in connection with this competition (e.g., announcing the shortlist, displaying the winner, and promoting future group activities) across all media platforms, including Facebook and the DxO website/social channels. c. Credit: The photographer will always be credited where the image is used.

5. Judging and Notification

a. Shortlisting: A shortlist of finalists will be selected by the "Thumbs Up Photography" Admin Team. The criteria will include technical quality, composition, originality, and adherence to the theme ("Best photo taken in 2025"). b. Final Decision: The overall winner will be selected from the shortlist by a representative of DxO Software. The judging decisions are final and binding; no correspondence or appeal will be entered into. c. Winner Notification: The winner will be notified directly via the email address provided in the Google Form within 30 days of the final judging conclusion.

6. Prize Details

a. Prize: The overall winner will receive a package from DxO Software. b. Non-Transferable: The prize is non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and no cash or other alternative will be offered. The Promoter is not responsible for any costs or taxes incurred by the winner related to the acceptance or use of the prize.

7. Disqualification and Data Protection

a. Compliance: Entries that violate any of these rules or terms (including multiple entries, non-2025 photos, or inappropriate content) will be disqualified. b. Data Use: Personal data collected via the Google Form will be used solely for the purpose of competition administration, notification, and prize fulfillment, and will be handled in accordance with the Promoter’s privacy policy.

8. General Disclaimer

a. Facebook Disclaimer: This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. By participating, entrants agree to release Facebook from any and all liability related to this competition. b. Changes: The "Thumbs Up Photography" Admin Team reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel the competition if circumstances beyond their control require it.