Calendar Photo Contest 2021 FAQs
- When does the contest start and end?
- What are the prizes?
- How do I know if I won?
- What happens to the winning photos?
- Do I keep the rights to my photo if I win?
- How do I enter?
- How many times can I enter the contest?
- Do I have to enter on both Facebook and Instagram?
- What type of photo should I enter?
- Can professional photographers enter?
- Do you have any tips on submitting a good photo?
- Do I need to use a recent photo?
- Can I enter a photo that I didn't take?
- Where does the photo need to be taken?
- Can I enter a collage of photos?
- Can I enter a drone photo?
- Does my photo have to be landscape or portrait-oriented?
- Can I enter the same photo through Facebook and Instagram?
- Why won't it let me upload my photo?
- How can I edit/delete/change the photo I entered?
- How do I find my photo?
- How do I share my photo to get votes?
- My share link won't work, what can I do?
- Do “likes” on my Instagram photo count as votes?
- Will votes be combined if I enter the same photo through Facebook and Instagram?
- How many times can I vote?
- Why won't it let me vote?
- What happens when I get 15 votes?
- Do the total votes matter after 15?
- How do I get to the judging round?
- How will the judges select the winners?
- I am a previous winner, can I enter again this year?
- I have another question...
About the Contest
When does the contest start and end?
The contest starts on August 26, 2021. Entries will close at 11:59 p.m. on September 10, 2021. Voting will close at 11:59 p.m. on September 12, 2021.
What are the prizes?
The grand prize is $1,000 Visa® gift card. The grand prize photo will also be on the cover of the Mountain America 2022 printed calendar. Eleven runners up will receive a $100 Visa gift card and their photos will also appear in the Mountain America 2022 printed calendar. All 12 winners will receive a 16x20 print of their photo. Mountain America may also post the winning photos to our social media pages, website, in our online newsletter, as signage and more. Photographer attribution is important to us and will be given wherever possible.
How do I know if I won?
We will contact the winners via email. We will also announce the winners on our Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages.
What happens to the winning photos?
The winning photos will be featured in the Mountain America 2022 printed calendar. Mountain America may also post the winning photos to our social media pages, website, in our online newsletter, as signage and more. Photographer attribution is important to us and will be given wherever possible.
Do I keep the rights to my photo if I win?
Yes, however, to qualify as a winner, you must agree to give Mountain America Credit Union permission to use your photo in the Mountain America 2022 printed calendar, on social media pages, website, in our online newsletter, as signage and more. Photographer attribution is important to us and will be given wherever possible.
Entering the Contest
How do I enter?
You can enter either through Facebook, Instagram or both. Then get at least 15 entry votes through our official contest page to enter the semi-final round.
- Enter through Facebook by clicking the "Enter A Photo" button on our official contest page.
- To enter through Instagram, make sure your profile is set to public, then post a photo to your Instagram account with the #MACUcalendar hashtag and tag @mountainamericacu. Your photo will automatically be pulled into the "Vote for Entries" section of our official contest page. Note: Your profile must remain public for the duration of the contest to be eligible.
How many times can I enter the contest?
Each person may enter the contest four times through Facebook and once through Instagram. However, you may only win one prize.
Do I have to enter on both Facebook and Instagram?
No, it is not necessary to enter through both platforms. Your photo simply needs to be listed on our official contest page.
Your Entry
What type of photo should I enter?
A photo of a landscape or nature detail taken by you anytime in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico or Montana. Please do not include people, pets or animals. Landscape images are selected from all four seasons.
Can professional photographers enter?
We welcome photographers of any skill level to enter this contest.
Do you have any tips on submitting a good photo?
We suggest these general tips to get a great photo:
- Use the best light.
- Make sure your image is high resolution and clear.
- Keep in mind any season of the year is welcome.
Also, we ask that you please:
- Do not include people, pets, or animals.
- Only submit a photo that you own the rights to and took yourself.
- Avoid adding effects such as heavy filters, text overlays and graphics (photographer treatments and logos are acceptable).
- Remember the photo must have been taken in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico or Montana.
Do I need to use a recent photo?
You can enter any photo taken at any time.
Can I enter a photo that I didn't take?
No, you must be the original photographer of the photo you submit.
Where does the photo need to be taken?
Photos must have been taken in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico or Montana.
Can I use a collage of photos?
For this contest, we will only accept images that are entered as a single photo. Note: You may enter four times through Facebook and once through Instagram, but you may only win one prize.
Can I enter a drone photo?
Yes, drone photos are permitted. Note: You must be the original photographer of the image you submit.
Does my photo have to be landscape or portrait-oriented?
You may submit a photo with either orientation. Note: For this contest, "landscape photo" refers to the subject matter, not the orientation, i.e., a photo of a landscape. Also, some cropping may occur to format winning photos for the calendar.
Can I enter the same photo through Facebook and Instagram?
Yes, however, we recommend you enter a different photo from each platform to increase your chances of entering the semi-final round. If both entries become semi-finalists, one will be removed during the final judging round. Also, votes on separate entries will not be combined, even if they are the same photo. Note: You may enter four times through Facebook and once through Instagram, but you may only win one prize.
Why won't it let me upload my photo?
Please make sure that your file is less than 10 MB and that you are using an acceptable file format such as .jpg .png or .tiff. Also, please update your browser to the latest version. If you are still having trouble, please email socialmedia@macu.com and we will create your entry for you.
How can I edit/delete/change the photo I entered?
Please email socialmedia@macu.com and explain the issue. We can usually make minor changes for you. However, if you have uploaded the wrong photo or want to switch your photo for a different one, we will need to delete your entry so that you may try again. Note: Deleting your entry will also erase the accumulated votes the image has received.
- If you entered through Facebook, click the "Enter A Photo" button again on our official contest page while logged into Facebook to bring up your confirmation page, then click the "View Your Entry" button. Or, go to the "Vote for Entries" section and search for your entry with your Facebook name (there is a search box in the header).
- If you entered through Instagram, go to the "Vote for Entries" section on our official contest page. Look for your photo in the feed or search for it using your Instagram username (there is a search box in the header).
Voting
How do I share my photo to get votes?
-
Facebook:
After you complete your entry, you will see a "Share" button. Click or tap it to open the sharing options pop-up box. Use the icons or copy and paste your unique link to share your entry with your friends. If you come back later to share your entry, please go to the "Vote for Entries" section and search for your entry with your Facebook name (there is a search box in the header). Click on your entry and then click the "Share" button (it looks like three dots in a connected triangle). -
Instagram:
After uploading your photo to your public Instagram account with the #MACUcalendar hashtag and @mountainamericacu tag on the image, go to the "Vote for Entries" section on our official contest page. Find your photo in the feed or search for it with your Instagram username (there is a search box in the header). Click or tap the share icon button (it looks like three dots in a connected triangle) next to the vote button to open the sharing options pop-up box. Use the icons or copy and paste your unique link to share with your friends.
My share link won't work, what can I do?
Go to the "Vote for Entries" section on our official contest page and find your entry in the feed (there is a search box in the header). Click on your entry to bring it up as a popup box. Then click on your name to go to your entry's page. Copy the page link in your browser's address bar (it will look similar to this: http://a.cstmapp.com/voteme/916872/##########).
Do “likes” on my Instagram photo count as votes?
No, only votes on your entry through our official contest page count. To find your photo on our contest page, go to the "Vote for Entries" section of the contest page. Look for your photo in the feed or search for it with your Instagram name (there is a search box in the header).
Will the votes be combined if I entered the same photo through Facebook and Instagram?
No, votes on separate entries will not be combined, even if they are the same photo. Either or both can become a semi-finalist by reaching 15 votes individually. However, if both images become semi-finalists, one will be removed during the judging round. Note: You may enter four times through Facebook and once through Instagram, but you may only win one prize.
How many times can I vote?
Each person can vote for each entry one time during the contest period.
Why won't it let me vote?
In order to vote, click on the "vote" button next to the entry and fill out the form. You must click on the confirmation link sent to your email inbox to validate your vote. If you don't receive the email in your inbox within a few minutes of voting, please check your promotions or spam folder. Note: You may vote for each entry one time.
What happens when I get 15 votes?
Each entry that receives 15 or more votes will become a semi-finalist and advance to the judging round where a panel of judges will select the winners.
Does the total votes matter after 15?
No, once you get 15 votes, your entry will become a semi-finalist and advance to the judging round where a panel of judges will select the winners. The judges do not take the total number of votes received into account.
Judging Round
How do I get to the judging round?
Your entry must receive 15 votes in order to become a semi-finalist. Semi-finalists advance to the judging round where a panel of judges will select the winners.
How will the judges select the winners?
One grand prize winner and 11 runners up will be chosen. Judging criteria for the semi-finalists is based on the following:
- Technical quality and composition.
- Creativity and originality.
We suggest these general tips to capture a great photo:
- Use the best light.
- Make sure your image is high resolution and clear.
- Keep in mind any season of the year is welcome.
Also, we ask that you please:
- Do not include people, pets or animals.
- Only submit a photo that you own the rights to and took yourself.
- Avoid adding heavy effects such as filters, text overlays, and graphics (photographer treatments and logos are acceptable).
- Remember the photo must have been taken in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico or Montana.
I am a previous winner, can I enter again this year?
Yes, but please note that previous winning photos cannot win another prize.
Have another question?
Please read through the official rules. If you still have a question, please email socialmedia@macu.com.
