Contest

The theme of this photo contest is “Discover Navajo.”   We encourage people to take unique photos of Navajo Nation’s beautiful landmarks, scenery, and people.  The photos should encompass the essence of what the Navajo Nation is.  What a visitor would “discover” while traveling through the area.   

Eligibility

The contest is open to all ages, both amateur and professional photographers, and from all residents of all states and countries where legal.  If you are a minor (under the age of 18 years of age) you must obtain permission from your parent or legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian must sign the minor release form.   All photos must be taken with in the Navajo Nation.  All photos must be original, and solely created by the submitting entrant.  Any entry deemed inappropriate for publication by the Navajo Nation Tourism Department will be disqualified.  Any entries that have been significantly altered (by computer or otherwise) will be disqualified.  Releases that cannot be verified for authenticity (including missing, incomplete or incorrect contact information on the release form) will result in the disqualification of the entry. 

Submitting photos

There is NO entry fee.  The deadline for entries and voting will be October 15, 2009.  We will only accept high resolution color digital images- use the highest quality setting on your camera (no larger than 10MB will be allowed.)  Images can be submitted in two ways. Either uploaded online at www.discovernavajo.com or on a CD or DVD (jpeg or tiff files) mailed to:

Discover Navajo Photo Contest
Navajo Tourism Department
PO Box 663 

Window Rock, AZ  86515

or hand delivered to the following address:

Discover Navajo Photo Contest
Navajo Tourism Department
Karigan Professional Building

HWY 264 & 100 Taylor Rd.

St. Michaels, AZ 86511

Must include name, address, phone number and number of images clearly marked on CD.
CDs will not be returned.
Not responsible for lost of miss-directed mail.  Not responsible for damaged or unreadable CDs

Photos that are emailed will NOT be accepted.  Entrants may submit up to 5 photos total; the Navajo Nation Tourism Department retains the right to post the photos of their choosing.  All photos submitted are not guaranteed to be entered and posted on the website. Any photos that contain recognizable people MUST be submitted with a Model Release Form, if not they will be disqualified.  Any identifiable person in the photograph under the age of 18 must have a model release form signed by their parent or guardian.   Although caution will be exercised with all work, Navajo Tourism and its associates are not responsible for technical errors, damaged, lost, incomplete, illegible, misdirected, stolen, returned, separated, or undelivered entries or mail. 

A model release form must accompany each photo that has an identifiable person in it.  The release form can faxed to 928.810.8500 or mailed to:

Discover Navajo Photo Contest
Navajo Tourism Department
PO Box 663 

Window Rock, AZ  86515

Use of Photos

Upon submission contestants grant the Navajo Nation Tourism Department unlimited usage and unrestricted rights of any photograph submitted for the contest regardless of whether or not it is a winning entry.  The Navajo Nation reserves the right to use the photos in printed or on-line materials and for educational, informational, and promotional purposes without paying compensation to the photographers or the subjects.  Photos used in published materials will be submitted with credit for the photographer unless otherwise requested by the entrant.  The Navajo Tourism Department reserves the right to publish the name of the contest winner.  The Grand Prize winner’s photo may be used for the new Discover Navajo poster which will be unveiled on November 18, 2009.  Runner-up prizes will also be announced on this day.

Judging

Voters will help guide the decision but the marketing department at the Navajo Tourism Department will ultimately decide the winner.  Winning entrants will be contacted by phone, email, or in writing on or about October 30, 2009. The winners are required to contact the Navajo Tourism Department within 30 days of notification to confirm their address for delivery of their prize.   If for any reason the contest is not capable of being conducted as planned, including any causes beyond the control of the administers of the contest, the Navajo Tourism Department reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, modify, suspend, or terminate the contest without notice to the entrants and retain all photo entries.  The winning entry will be judged on: how well they conform to the title and aim of the competition “Discover Navajo,” visual appeal, originality, and whether they satisfy the minimum of technical criteria as decided by the judges.  Decision of the judges will be final. 

Prizes

A grand prize valued at $3,590, will be given to one winner.  This prize includes a hand- woven Navajo rug provided by Toadlena Trading Post, $500 cash from Navajo Tourism, $300 shopping spree at Navajo Arts & Crafts Enterprise, Overnight stays (1 night),  with dinner and breakfast included at the Quality Inn- Window Rock, AZ, Quality Inn-Tuba City, AZ, and The View hotel inside Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, and a $100 Gas Card from Navajo Nation Oil & Gas Co.  Discover Navajo Vacation hotel restrictions apply and rooms are based on availability.  Reservations are required. A 2nd Place winner will receive a hand-crafted wedding basket from the historic Shonto Trading Post.  One 3rd place winner up will receive an Antelope Point  Marina Logo Jacket and a certificate for dinner for two at Antelope Point Marina's Ja'di' Tooh Restaurant.  Ten runners up will receive a t-shirt from Fire Rock Navajo Casino and either a copy of the award winning Arizona Highways’ photography book, Navajo Land: A Native Son Shares His Legacy by LeRoy DeJolie or a copy of Navajo Nation 1950 Traditional Life in Photographs by Jonathan B. Wittenberg provided by the Navajo Nation Museum. Prizes will be awarded on November 18, 2009.