BBC Coutryfile Calendar Comp

[Digifrog]

Hi

Just a line to mention the BBC Countryfile 2008 Calendar Competion.

BBC - Science & Nature - Countryfile

Some of you are probably already aware of this but I mentioning as I have seen an excellent shot of a Rabbit being stalked by a Stoat/Weasel on here somewhere. I can't remember who took it, but it seems a contender to me.

The images need to be action shots and not taken by a professional. Other rules also apply.

All the best

Scott

[Leif]

This is another of those competitions that I consider to be decidedly dodgy, as they assign to themselves the right to distribute, publish and sell the submitted images without any obligation to pay the original photographer. It is a sneaky way to build a photo library on the cheap. I've seen others criticise the BBC for this practice and I do not like it.

[Blackbrook Eye]

Another point is, I can't understand the insistance on 'prints' in this day and age, particularly by the BBC who should be at the cutting edge of digital imagery. Apart from the waste of paper it generates, the very cost of producing prints up to competition standard is prohibitive to all but the most dedicated, not to mention the cost of postage etc.

Keith

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by Leif

This is another of those competitions that I consider to be decidedly dodgy, as they assign to themselves the right to distribute, publish and sell the submitted images without any obligation to pay the original photographer. It is a sneaky way to build a photo library on the cheap. I've seen others criticise the BBC for this practice and I do not like it.

This is an excellent point about so many of the BBC competitions, whether via T.V, magazine or website. They take advantage of the gulible becasue they know most folk don't read the rules, or don't fully understand what they mean, or don't care. One day someone is going to enter a shot that turns out to be a real money earner - for the BBC, not the photographer.

Steve.

[Digifrog]

Originally Posted by Leif

This is another of those competitions that I consider to be decidedly dodgy, as they assign to themselves the right to distribute, publish and sell the submitted images without any obligation to pay the original photographer. It is a sneaky way to build a photo library on the cheap. I've seen others criticise the BBC for this practice and I do not like it.

Why? It's not a 'get paid' thing, it's for Children In Need. If you decide to submit up to 4 images for the competition then you are doing it as a donation to charity. All money raised from the sale of the calendar goes to Children In Need.

The rules are here..

BBC - Science & Nature - Countryfile Photo Competition

You, the photographer still retain the copyright. You obviously grant the BBC the right to print the image in the calendar (if successful), and for it/them to be shown on the TV or the BBC website. If you are worried about this from Rule #15...

Originally Posted by BBC

Entrants whose photographs are one of the Finalists or selected to appear in the Countryfile Calendar 2009 pursuant to paragraph 11 above grant to the BBC (including BBC Worldwide and other publishers authorised by the BBC) the further rights to publish and exhibit their photographs in print, on their respective websites or in any other media. No fees will be payable for any of the above uses.

.. as a non professional, I wouldn't care. If you enjoy photography and want to give to Children In Need then that above clause isn't even worth worrying about.

[eeyore]

I agree with you DF - all the photographer is doing is granting non exclusive use to use the images , this doesnt have any serious impact on your ability to use them comercially (except that you can't then sell exclusive rights).

I very much doubt that the bbc needs to build a photo library on the cheap when you think about the number of images their film departments have.

I do however agree with blackbrook Eye that the insistence on prints is outdated , a digital submission would make a lot more sense.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by Digifrog

Why? It's not a 'get paid' thing, it's for Children In Need. If you decide to submit up to 4 images for the competition then you are doing it as a donation to charity. All money raised from the sale of the calendar goes to Children In Need.

The rules are here..

BBC - Science & Nature - Countryfile Photo Competition

You, the photographer still retain the copyright. You obviously grant the BBC the right to print the image in the calendar (if successful), and for it/them to be shown on the TV or the BBC website. If you are worried about this from Rule #15...



.. as a non professional, I wouldn't care. If you enjoy photography and want to give to Children In Need then that above clause isn't even worth worrying about.

Actually I did read the rules.

They give themselves the right to use the images elsewhere without payment, and not just for use in the calendar for the charity. This condition applies to the 12 finalists, i.e. the best images, not all entrants. It looks like they can sell them on for their profit, and not just to make money for the charity.

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

ALL entrants give permission for the images to be used on TV or internet.

The 12 finalists AND the other 9 which will appear in the calendar give permission for re-use of images on any BBC media or authorised by BBC. They sell them as postcards etc which fall into this catagory.

No mention is ever made of selling them for a profit. This would be in breach of the rules they lay out and in breach of copyright which they do not and will never have.

neil

[Leif]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Hi

ALL entrants give permission for the images to be used on TV or internet.

The 12 finalists AND the other 9 which will appear in the calendar give permission for re-use of images on any BBC media or authorised by BBC. They sell them as postcards etc which fall into this catagory.

No mention is ever made of selling them for a profit. This would be in breach of the rules they lay out and in breach of copyright which they do not and will never have.

neil

And how does selling them as postcards etc fall outside "selling them for a profit".

I am cynical because the BBC ask people for pictures of major events via the news webs site, and they take the right to sell them on at a profit, with nothing going to the photographer. Sell a good picture to the Sun, and you make a mint. Give it to the BBC, and they might make a mint.

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

because they are not selling the "image" to a third party,they are selling a product on which the image has been used ( by permission ) by the BBC.These are sold for the children in need charity to which , I presume, most of the profit will go.
I know where you are comming from because there have been some real rip-off compatitions reported in the photo press/web sites where photographers have been asked to give copyright ( inso many words) , but I personally don't think this is one.

By the way , I don't enter it

neil

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Leif

Actually I did read the rules.

They give themselves the right to use the images elsewhere without payment, and not just for use in the calendar for the charity. This condition applies to the 12 finalists, i.e. the best images, not all entrants. It looks like they can sell them on for their profit, and not just to make money for the charity.

I can see where you're coming from and if I was a professional photographer I'd probably not enter for that reason. But for amateurs or people starting out, to get your picture splashed all over the bbc and its merchandise? I'd give my right arm for that kind of exposure!!! Presumably you'd have to pay loads for that kind of coverage and promotion!!

I'm not entering because I'm not really good enough - or rather I don't have any images good enough, that and I'm quite lazy, but if I did and they liked my images enough to put on postcards etc I'd be chuffed to bits!!

[Digifrog]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I can see where you're coming from and if I was a professional photographer I'd probably not enter for that reason.

Thats it tho, professional photographers aren't allowed to enter. The rest of your statement therefor makes perfect sense.

[SteveHL]

Is this the image that you where refering to Digifrog?
Regards
SteveHL

[ellen h]

Originally Posted by SteveHL

Is this the image that you where refering to Digifrog?
Regards
SteveHL

What a lovely shot!!!
ellen

[jennyb]

Wow, that is definitely wildlife in action. It's a great shot.

I entered the competition last year and it said max size for prints A4 size. I took this to mean that you could send any size with a maximum of A4, so I sent 6 x 4.

When they came to judge them, they showed a lot of the photos on the programme and all of them were in a large A4 format or 10 x 8 format. They did not show any in smaller sizes. I don't know whether they enlarged the best photos for the programme or whether they disregarded the small ones. My advice would be to send large size prints just in case.

Steve this is definitely worth entering. Good luck!

Jenny

[Digifrog]

Originally Posted by SteveHL

Is this the image that you where refering to Digifrog?
Regards
SteveHL

Aye, that's the one

I'd enetr that I would.

[deer boy]

Did anyone watch Coutryfile on Sunday they announced the final 12 now the viewers choose the overall winner

BBC - Science & Nature - Countryfile

Swan Lake,Dolphins on Display,Highland Fling or Heading Home for me

[Blackbrook Eye]

Just shows how tastes differ, 'In flight meal' was streets ahead of the others for me but I like humorous pictures and this had an almost cartoon like look to it, also unlike some of the others really showed action, the theme of the competition, although its a bird, and not an animal as the brief asked for.

Keith

[Dutchess]

Winter Hares
Highland Fling
Knots in Flight
In-flight Meal

My four favs

D.

[pressld2]

There are some great finalists there. The only one I'm not sure about is "Slippery Customer" - not because of the subject but because the flash is too strong (pot calling the kettle black there ) and the background is not blurred enough for my taste. It also doesn't say "action" to me, neither does the "Busy Bee".

To pick just one is hard but I think I'd also go for "In-Flight Meal" but with "Sea Horses", "Swan Lake" and "Highland Fling" all very close behind.

Dave P.

[LynM]

"In Flight meal" for me, but then I have a thing about Puffins!

Not too sure about "Slippery Customer" though. Not from the criteria set down or the technical detail, but I'm sure there must be a lot of people who might not want to look at that picture for a whole month!