Aside from granting underwater photographers with the opportunity of finally winning some real worthy prizes, the Epson Red Sea competition also aspires to provide photographers with the international exposure they deserve.The unique characteristics of this production constantly draw the attention of many media sources and therefore, throughout the years and ever since the Epson Red Sea competition first took place, it has been covered by many online magazines, TV channels and newspapers worldwide.

Eilat Shoot-Out- 2011 The competition is open to both amateurs and professionals.  The Shoot-Out will be held in Eilat during the three days of the competition, on November 14-16, 2011. It is recommended that photographers interested in participating in this competition register in advance.

Eilat Shoot out Main Categories and Prizes

Categories and Prizes1.  Main Category –  5 Best Images  5 images submitted to the competition as a set with an idea, goal or visual connection among the photos. There must be a linking theme to the 5 images, either visually or thematically.  Keep in mind that each image should also be able to be judged as a standalone image through its visual quality.Prizes: 1st prize- $10,000 USD check, courtesy of Epson 2nd prize- 3 weeks diving safari for 2 in Papa New Guinea with Walindi and Loloata resorts and onboard the M.V. FeBrina plus round trip airline tickets Singapore-Papua-Singapore,courtesy of the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority.3rd prize- 10-day diving holiday for 1 person including dives at the Lissenung Island Resort, Papua New Guinea2.

Fish of the Year Portfolio – 5 Best Images. Images submitted to this category should feature a set of 5 images that best and most creatively introduce a modeling book of the fish which was chosen as the “Fish of the Year”.On the opening ceremony, which will take place on November 8th, a marine biologist will introduce the fish chosen to be the Fish of the Year along with corresponding images and basic information regarding this fish, such as its habbits and preferred locations. During the 3 days of the Epson Red Sea 2011 shoot-out competition, the fish announced as the Fish of the Year will serve as a case study for all photographers participating in the Fish of the Year category. Images submitted to this category should be creative, original, professional and diverse, introducing the daily routine of the fish in the context of the reef. The visual value of images will also be standalone judged. Prizes: 1st prize- $3,000 USD check, courtesy of the Israeli Diving Authority. 2nd prize- 7-day diving trip for 2 with MV Sea Queen or MV Sea Spirit live aboards, courtesy of Maldives Scuba Tours Ltd. 3rd prize- DM-3 Epson home cinema combo projector, including a built-in DVD and powerful speakers, courtesy of Epson.

3.  The Best Singular Entry Images submitted to this category should introduce an integration of the photographer’s photographic capabilities, his/her visual attitude towards the underwater environment and the best of the reef in Eilat.

Prizes: 1st prize- 1,000 bottles of “Maccabi” beer courtesy of Tempo.2nd prize- 11 days diving safari in Cocos Islands, courtesy of the Undersea Hunter Group.3rd prize- Soon to be annaounce4. The Fashion & Nudity Category  Images submitted to this category should introduce creativity, aesthetics, originality, technical control of the media, creative lighting and an interesting approach towards the combination between the human body, fashion and nature.The series of images should be visually homogeneous and should serve as a campaign that features an explicit style. The photographer can make use of nudity and fashion elements upon his choice. The series can consist of nudity only, fashion only or a combination of the two. Prizes: 1st prize- $2,000 USD check, courtesy of Eilat’s Underwater Observatory Marine park. 2nd prize- 7-day diving trip for 2 in the Red Sea aboard Sinai Dive’s legendary Ghazala 1 3rd prize- Soon to be announced.

5. The Mayor’s Prize (competition album cover)  The image that will be awarded for the Mayor’s Prize should introduce an impressive visualization. This image will be chosen among all images submitted to the different Eilat Shoot-Out categories and a designer will join the jury for the purpose of judging this specific category.Prize: A $2,000 USD check + exposure of the image as the cover of the competition album + a set of 3 EXPLORER photograph cases, courtesy of Merlin.6.  The Judges Prize A special prize will be granted for the photographer that submits the judges’ favorite image. This image will be chosen among all images submitted to the different Eilat Shoot-Out categories Prize: $5,000 USD for purchasing a SeaCam Housing for a Nikon or Canon camera and/or SeaCam underwater photo accessories.General RulesAlong with the participant registration packet in Eilat, participants will receive a final explanation and update regarding the rules for the competition.  These rules received at the competition are final and will cancel out any previously stated rules for the competition.

Rules:1. Participants must sign the registration form and the participant registration packet along with their participant number at the Manta Diving Center in Eilat, on Sunday morning, November 13th, 2011.2. Participants must read the Rules and Regulations and confirm their agreement prior to signing the registration form.3. Images may be taken during day or night.4. Images must be taken either underwater or half-half.5. Participants are not allowed to submit the same or similar image to more than one category.6. Participants should back up their images every day on the production’s computers room, within a separate file labeled with the picture date. The production’s computer room will be located at the second floor of the Manta Diving center.7. It is not permitted to erase any pictures from the memory card prior to downloading all the images to the backup computers at the Manta diving center.8.  It is not permitted to carry out any modifications on these photographs using any software.  Any file that will be found with changes/enhancements carried out on the photograph will be disqualified from the competition.9. Preserving the nature should be carefully considered during the process of taking images. Anything that has to do with disturbing or moving animals from their natural environment will disqualify the images or the photographer.Registration for the competition will be carried out by properly filling in the entire official registration form, which should be also signed by the photographer.Signing the official competition registration form states the photographer’s agreement to the rules stated above.In order to submit final pictures to the judges, it is permitted to burn the photograph(s) on a CD using a private computer.In addition to regular working hours, computers on the second floor of the Manta Diving Center will be available for photographers on Wednesday , November 16th till midnight and on Thursday, November 17th, from 6:30am to 10:00am.Competition Fees:Best 5 Images + Best Singular Entry categories: 40 EUROFish of the Year Category and Events:  35 EUROFashion and Nudity Category and Events:  35 EUROUse of Photographs:By registering to the competition, the participant agrees that images taken during the competition or submitted to various categories can be reproduced and used for media coverage.  This includes Israeli and International media, as well as the press, TV, internet and any other media.  Competition organizers reserve the right to produce photograph albums of the competition, calendars (for resale or give away) and promotional materials as found useful by the organizers of the competition.All images will be back upped with no limit of space or time in the archives of the production.  Use of images as described above will require no additional written or verbal permissions from the photographer.Responsibilities:Each participant is responsible for his/her personal safety and the proper use of diving and photography equipment. Organizers and sponsors will not be responsible for the safety of photographers during the entire competition. Divers must follow all safety rules.Organizers and sponsors do not recommend any one dive site over the other.  Good luck to you all! 

David Pilosof

Epson Red Sea 2011

E-Mail: info@eilatredsea.comTell: +972-9-7457055Cell: +972-52-4808722

Skype: David-Pilosof