Rules

The Pennsylvania Equine Council is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. As such, donations are NOT tax-deductible. Consult a tax attorney for details about tax laws pertaining to a donation made to an organization with a 501(c)6 non-profit designation, such as the Pennsylvania Equine Council.

The Crawford County Pennsylvania Equine Council is conducting this 2nd annual fundraiser, a photo contest and subsequent calendar. This fundraiser will benefit Pennsylvanians by supporting the mission, programs and projects of the Pennsylvania Equine Council through direct contributions made by participants in this online photo contest and calendar sponsorships.

We encourage you to submit your favorite photos and invite your family and friends to vote and support our work to keep the equine industry strong in Pennsylvania.

Photos will be accepted on the PEC Equine Hot Shots Photo Contest website (www.gogophotocontest.com/pec) from April 1st 2016 at 8:00 am EST through June 28th, 2016 at 8:00 pm EST.

1. Submit your photo(s) with a $5.00 donation per picture. You many enter as many photos as you wish.
2. One vote is given per every $1.00 donation and you may vote as many times as you wish. Votes will be accepted until June 28th at 8:00pm EST. The top voted photo will win a prize listed below (See Awards).
3. A panel of six (6) impartial judges will select one (1) GRAND PRIZE JUDGES' CHOICE and eleven (11) other FIRST PLACE photos and eleven (11) RUNNERS UP photos from among all the entries (See Awards, below). To help ensure impartiality, the judges will not be able to view the title, entrant name or town of the photos entered at the time of judging. Also, judges are ineligible to enter the photo contest.
4. Previous winning entries are ineligible, however a Runner Up from a previous contest or non-winning entry may be resubmitted.
5. Photo entries may NOT be copyrighted, must be the entrant's own work and they must own full rights.
6. By Submitting a photo(s) to the Hot Shot Photo Contest you are giving the PEC exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license to use the photo as we wish.
7. Winning entries will be required to submit written copyright and any signed releases if necessary before prizes will be awarded.
8. This contest is open to professional photographers this year.
9. Winners will be notified in July 15, 2016 and ribbons, calendars and other prizes will mailed by August 15, 2016.

To optimize your chances of winning a prize, please read all requirements carefully.

1. We are looking for photos that feature the beauty of the equine. Every photo should feature one or more equines or a part of an equine. i.e.: an eye, hoof, mane, ears, etc. The subject should be in focus. Uncluttered or blurred backgrounds work the best.
2. Equine being defined as a horse, donkey, mule, zebra, burro etc.
3. If any recognizable humans are in the photo, you will be asked for signed releases and permission to use their likeness in printed materials as well as on social media, should your photo be selected as a winner. If you are unable to produce a signed release, the entry may be disqualified and the next photo on the winner's list moved up.
4. The winning entrant may also be asked for an interview and/or photo of you accepting your award, should your entry be selected as a winner.
5. Please avoid using artwork, museums, monuments etc. in your photos. If unavoidable, you may be asked for written permissions and signed releases should your photo be selected as a winner. If they cannot be provided, the entry may be disqualified and the next photo on the winner's list moved up.
6. Complete the entry process and submit your photo(s) in JPEG, TIFF, or GIF format.
7. Cropping of the image is the only acceptable form of alteration. Absolutely no manipulation in Photoshop or any other photo editing program.
8. To be considered for a calendar spot, or the grand prize, images must be of high resolution: at least 1500 X 1200 pixels and 300 pixels/inch to minimize distortion when enlarged for the calendar. (Hint: Most phone cameras cannot meet these specifications.)
9. The photo that receives the highest number of votes will receive a prize for the popular vote. (See Awards, GRAND PRIZE PEOPLE'S CHOICE.) If that photo does not meet the image criteria for the calendar, the entrant will still receive a prize, except we are under no obligation to include it in the calendar or in any other promotional capacity.
10. A panel of judges will select one grand prize winner from all of the photos entered in the contest. (See Awards, GRAND PRIZE JUDGE'S CHOICE). This photo must be calendar quality. The number of popular votes made by donors are irrelevant. The judges' decision is final.
11. All remaining photo entries will move on to round two, where the panel of judges will select 11 photos as first place winners. (See Awards, FIRST PLACES.) These will be calendar quality images. The number of popular votes made by donors are irrelevant. The judges' decision is final.
12. The panel of judges will also select 11 photos as runner up winners. (See Awards, RUNNERS UP.) These will also be calendar quality images. The number of popular votes made by donors are irrelevant. The judges' decision is final.
13. All submitted photos and information become the property of the PEC to be used at their discretion for any and all purposes.


Your personal information will never be sold, however, on winning entries, the photographer's name and location, may appear in the winner's circle, in the calendar, on social media, and in the monthly newsletter of the Pennsylvania Equine council, etc.

1. Each $1 donation counts as one vote. When you donate to vote, you will purchase a bank of votes in $5 increments that then may be applied to photo entries, one vote per $1 donated, as you wish. You can place all votes on one entry or place them on multiple entries.
2. All entries and voting transactions online are through a secured site.
3. All donations for entries and voting are non-refundable and must done on our online contest page.
4. Due to the 501(c)6 designation of the Pennsylvania Equine Council, donations are NOT tax-deductible.

(1) GRAND PRIZE JUDGES' CHOICE
A panel of 6 judges will choose one photo from all eligible entries to win the JUDGE'S CHOICE. The number of popular votes on this prize is irrelevant. Grand Prize JUDGES' CHOICE Awards are as follows:

• Winning entry featured on the cover and on one of the inside (month) pages of the official 2017 PEC Equine Wall Calendar
• Three (3) copies of the PEC 2016 Hot Shot Equine Calendar
• Grand Prize JUDGES' CHOICE Rosette Ribbon
• Additional prizes will be announced as they are donated by photo contest sponsors. (Please check back later for the additional prizes.)

(1) GRAND PRIZE PEOPLES' CHOICE
The TOP vote-getter wins the PEOPLE'S CHOICE. In case of a tie, the judges will choose. Grand Prize PEOPLE'S CHOICE Awards are as follows:

• Winning entry will be displayed on the center spread of the calendar, as well as in the official contest update flyer that will be distributed with all calendars upon conclusion of the contest
• Three (3) copies of the PEC 2016 Hot Shot Equine Calendar
• Grand Prize PEOPLE'S CHOICE Rosette Ribbon
• Additional prizes will be announced as they are donated by photo contest sponsors. (Please check back later for the additional prizes.)

(11) FIRST PLACES
Chosen by the judging panel from among all entries. This prize includes:

• First Place Rosette Ribbon
• Three (3) copies of the PEC 2016 Hot Shot Equine Calendar and, if possible*, placement in the calendar.

(11) RUNNER'S UP
Chosen by the judging panel from among all entries. This prize includes:

• Runner's Up Rosette Ribbon
• One (1) copy of the PEC 2016 Hot Shot Equine Calendar and, if needed*, placement in the calendar of the calendar.

*The JUDGES' CHOICE GRAND PRIZE winner will be featured on the cover AND on one of the months inside the PEC 2017 Hot Shot Equine 12-month calendar. It is absolutely our intention to feature the eleven FIRST PLACE photos on the remaining eleven months of the 12-month calendar, however due to the unique reproduction/printing requirements regarding resolution quality, background clutter, cropping requirements, etc., we cannot guarantee with total certainty that the FIRST PLACE photos chosen will appear in the calendar. In such a case, when we cannot use a FIRST PLACE winning entry, the judging panel will choose from the RUNNERS UP winning entries. Beyond that, we reserve the right to use any photos deemed necessary by the judges. Regardless of whether or not winning photo(s) can be used in the calendar, other prizes will be awarded. Please see the digital file resolution requirements for entries on the RULES page.


Please note: Prizes are not transferrable. Prizes must be accepted as presented and are not redeemable for cash. We reserve the right to exchange any part or all of the prizes listed here for alternate items of equal or greater value at the sole discretion of the PEC fundraising committee.