‘see me’, Scotland’s national campaign to end the stigma and discrimination of mental ill-health, is organising a number of local/regional photo exhibitions in collaboration with the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. These exhibitions will be hosted by our local partner organisations during Scottish Mental Health Week 6-12 October 2008. Three winning photos from each local exhibition will be selected for the national exhibition hosted by ‘see me’ on its website in November 2008.

The closing date of 23rd September is approaching, but you still have time to enter!

How can you take part in this?

You will need to take photos over the next month and a half, and send your favourites to one of the local organisations who will be hosting an exhibition. We will also promote the exhibition through posters, each showing contact details for the nearest local hosting organisation.

What kind of photos are we looking for?

There are two categories for the photos:

1. “Mentally Positive” – this incorporates aspects like positive mental well-being; recovery; things that people do to keep mentally healthy.

2. “Through Thick and Thin” – this concentrates on the support that people who experience mental health problems receive from their friends, family and colleagues. Ideally the photos would be about both the person with experience of mental health problems and their supporter(s).

How are the winners selected?

Local: Each local hosting organisation will choose three winning photos; one winner from each of the categories above. In addition, the public visiting the local photo exhibitions should be encouraged to vote for their favourite, and the photo that receives most votes (regardless of the category) will be selected as the third winning photo. If the public’s choice is the same as the organisation’s choice for the winner of one of the two categories, then the second highest public vote winner is selected. If this is the same photo as the organisation’s choice for the other category winner, then the third highest public vote winner will be selected.  The three chosen winners from each local exhibition will be sent on to 'see me' for national display.

National: The national winners for each of the two categories will be selected by a judging panel. The public will be encouraged to visit ‘see me’s website and vote for their favourite photo, with the photo that receives most votes being selected as the third winning photo for the national final. If the public’s choice is the same as the panel’s choice, the same selection procedure is followed as for the local exhibitions.

Prizes

Local exhibitions: Each of the three winners for each of the local exhibitions will receive a £50 Jessops voucher (valid in-store and by mail order).

National final: The three winners will come together and spend “A Day with a Photographer” (a full day photography guidance/tutorial from a professional photographer).

General Submission Guidelines

1. One person can submit one photo for each category.

2. A submission form must be completed and enclosed with each photo submitted.

3. Photos must be submitted in the printed format.

4. The minimum size for the photos is 5 x 7 inches; the maximum 12 x 16 ½ inches. In order for the photos to be considered for the national final, they will also need to be available in a digital format (e.g. JPEG).

5. Insurance is the responsibility of the photographer. We do not accept any responsibility for damaged or lost photos.

6. All submitted work must be original, and the person(s) on the submission form must own all distribution rights to the photo.

7. There should be enclosed information with the photo, as requested in the submission form, which clearly explains: who has taken the photo; where it was taken; and a brief description of its significance to the photographer. This information will be made available as part of the exhibition.

8. We welcome submissions from anyone who resides in Scotland.

9. All submitted photos will be shown during the exhibition. In the event that there are more photos than can be exhibited at any one time, photos will be rotated during the exhibition. We reserve the right not to exhibit photos that are deemed offensive or inappropriate.

Delivery and return of the photos

10. The photos must be received by Tuesday 23rd September 2008.

11. The photos should be sent in hard copy to one of the local partner organisations who are hosting an exhibition, and be clearly marked ‘PHOTO COMPETITION’. Contact details can be found in the local photo competition posters, or accessed via ‘see me’ website.

12. We are unable to return the submitted photos, unless a return address and stamped addressed envelope is provided. We cannot take responsibility for any damaged or lost photos.

Selection for local exhibitions

13. Each local selection panel will comprise at least five people from the local hosting organisation or their chosen representatives. The decisions of the selectors are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

14. The photographers will be notified if their work has been selected for the national final by Friday 17th October 2008.

Conditions

15. All pictures submitted must have full authorisation for display from all people identifiable within the photo, paid or unpaid. It is also the responsibility of the photographer to ensure that these consent forms and clearance are in place and valid prior to submission. By signing the submission form, the photographer(s) agree that they have obtained these.

16. Copyright of the photos is retained by the photographer, but we reserve the right to use the winning photos for promotional and informational purposes. Where this is undertaken by ‘see me’, full credits to the photographer will be published.

For further Information, please contact:
Johannes Parkkonen or Fiona Tannock at ‘see me’ campaign
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 0131 624 8945
Website: www.seemescotland.org
For further information about the Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival, visit: www.mhfestival.com

Print Entry Guidelines (PDF)

Print Entry Form (PDF)

See a list of local hosting organisations