Please read these rules carefully and in their entirety. Failure to comply with any of the rules will result in disqualification from the competition without refund of the entry fee. 

• The Theme of the BAF photography competition 2024 is Narrative Photography: A Story of Celtic Culture in a Photograph

• Winning photographs will be those that, in the view of the judges, best depict an aspect of Celtic culture in a single photographic image. Photographs will be judged on their creativity, and the best use of artistic and technical photographic techniques.

• The decision of the judges is final. No appeals will be considered.  

• Entries must be taken between 1st April and 30th June 2024.

• Photographic images taken on any device are acceptable.

• Only JPG image files will be accepted. 

• We recommend an image resolution of 72ppi and a maximum size of 3MB when you are submitting your entry. Image files larger than 10MB will not be accepted.

• Photographers receiving 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes will be asked to submit a copy of their image at 300ppi for printing, within 48 hours of notification.  

• A maximum of 3 photographic entries will be accepted, per person and only in one submission. 

• Entries must be submitted to photographsbaf@gmail.com. The deadline for receipt of entries to the competition is 6pm on 30th June 2024 (IST / UTC+01:00) 

• By submitting the entry, the entrant confirms that the photograph is their own work and that they own the copyright in the content, or are legally entitled to provide it to BAF and that the entrant has written consent of all the people in the photograph(s) - see below. 

• If the content features a child, or children, the entrant must confirm in writing that they are the parent or guardian of the child, or children, and have the legal right to grant consent (or the parent or guardian of the child, or children, has granted such consent).

• If any person or persons are recognizable in the photograph, the entry must be accompanied by a signed Model Release (MR) form, giving permission from the subject(s) for their image to be used. MR forms, such as from Alamy or Pond5 can be found online.  

• No animal or habitat should be, or have been disturbed for the purposes of your photograph, and the welfare of the subject(s) of your photograph is paramount.

• Photographs for this competition must also have been taken in adherence to any applicable legal requirements. Without limitation to the foregoing, if your photograph depicts a legally protected species and was taken at or near that species’ breeding site, you must provide details of the required licence issued to you by the National Parks and Wildlife Service or your entry will not be considered.

• All entries must be accompanied by a title for the photograph and a short paragraph outlining where and when the relevant image was captured, the photography equipment used and up to 50 words of background information on the photographer.

• Your photograph must not previously have been submitted to any photographic competition.

• The Adult competition is open to everyone aged 18 years and older.

• The Young Person’s Competition is open to anyone up to the age of 17 years.

• By submitting an entry, you grant Ballybunion Arts Festival the right to reproduce, make available and publish your photograph free of charge or restriction in both digital and printed formats, on television, online, in news and publicity articles and in promotional materials, as well as in public exhibitions during the festival.

• The use of a false name or address by a competition entrant will disqualify them from receiving any prize.

• Prizes are non-transferable and will only be awarded to the winner(s).

• Cost of entry:

• 1 photograph €10

• 3 photographs €20

• Once an entry has been accepted by BAF, it will not be possible to offer a refund of the entry fee. 

• Prizes:
  
  ADULT (over 18 years of age at the closing date of the competition)
  
  First Prize €200 plus a framed print of the winning image, up to A2 size.

Second Prize €125 plus a framed print of the 2nd place image up to A3 size.

Third Prize €75 plus a framed print of the 3rd place image up to A4 size.

First, second and third place images will be displayed during the festival virtually and in
printed form.

YOUNG PERSON (12 - 17 years of age at the closing date of the competition)

First Prize A framed print of the winning image, up to A2 size.

Second Prize A framed print of the 2nd place image up to A3 size.

Third Prize A framed print of the 3rd place image up to A4 size.

The top 10 ‘Highly Commended’ entries in both competitions will be displayed virtually during
the festival. 

• The use of a false name or address by a competition entrant will disqualify them from receiving any prize.

• Prizes are non-transferable and will only be awarded to the winner(s).

• Entry into any Competition is conditional upon and confirms acceptance of these Rules.