General Competition Rules & Regulations:

1 - Only amateur photographers who are certified SCUBA divers and 18 years or older; if younger, accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who will register the contestant and provide his/her written consent to participate in the Shootout, may compete.

2 - Any type of 35mm film camera or video camera may be used. Any camera with at least 1mega-pixel digital photo capture may be used in the digital photo categories. Pulling still frames from video clips is not allowed. Mpeg video files from digital still cameras are not allowed in the video category this year.

3 - Pre-registration is highly recommended in order to better plan the event. "Walk-in" sign-ups will be accepted. The registration fee is $85. (still and/or video) . Payment must accompany the entry form.

4 - All contestants must sign the Assumption of Risk and Release on the entry form and present a certification card at registration.

5 - All still entries must be photographed on the film supplied by the Shootout, courtesy of Kodak. Digital entries must be at least 1 mega-pixel capture quality in size. Video entrants must supply their own tape. It must be brought to the event unopened (original seal). One roll of film must be picked up by each contestant at the location appointed by Shootout Officials, exposed within the specified time period, and returned by 6:00 p.m. Between 6:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. of the following day, contestants must pick up their processed film, and select and submit 3 images per category. All entries must be exposed underwater. Split images are allowable.

Competition Categories:

Advanced Film:
The competitor has shot more than 150 rolls underwater both wide angle and macro shots are accepted in this category.

Novice Film:
The competitor has shot less than 150 rolls underwater both wide angle and macro shots are accepted in this category.

Advanced Digital:
The competitor has shot digital more than 1 year OR has shot more than 150 rolls of film underwater.
Two competition categories:
1) Traditional - The "traditional" categories allow for the adjustment of brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness. Cropping, cloning, and other digital manipulation is not allowed in the traditional category.
2) Unrestricted - "Unrestricted" categories have no such rules regarding manipulation, anything goes.

Novice Digital:
The competitor has shot digital less than 1 year AND has shot less than 150 rolls of film underwater.
Two competition categories:
1) Traditional - The "traditional" categories allow for the adjustment of brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness. Cropping, cloning, and other digital manipulation is not allowed in the traditional category.
2) Unrestricted - "Unrestricted" categories have no such rules regarding manipulation, anything goes.

Video:
A 30 second edited video. There is no restriction on editing process (in camera, non-linear, etc).

All images or video footage must be shot between 00:00 – 24:00 hours on Saturday, August 14th, 2004.

6 - A panel of underwater photographers appointed by the Shootout officials will judge all entries. Conservation rules will apply and the judges decision will be final.

7 - Contestants will be responsible for obtaining and submitting to the Monterey Shootout releases of all identifiable persons appearing in winning photographs before the prize is awarded. Contestants will indemnify and hold the Monterey Shootout and its assigns harmless from and against all claims arising from the rightful use of any winning photograph as described in paragraphs 8 and 9.

8 - Winning entries will remain the property of the photographer, who will retain all copyrights.

9 - The Monterey Shootout will retain the right to use winning images or clips for the purpose of promoting this or future Monterey shootout events without additional compensation by the Monterey Shootout or its sponsors. The winning original will be returned within a year. The photographer may purchase dupes of the entry upon request. Videographers will retain their original videotape.

10 - Non winning still entries will be returned after the Monterey Shootout. Entries are submitted at the contestants risk. All possible care will be taken in handling all entries, but in no event will the Monterey Shootout assume any responsibility for the loss or damage of any entry.

11 - Taxes on prizes are the sole responsibility of the winners. Prizes will be given to the winners at the time of the awards presentation.

12 - Failure to accept or comply with all the preceding rules will disqualify the contestant and entry.

Judging Criteria
In addition to the contest rules and regulations, our panel of expert judges will be asked to select the best images based primarily on artistic beauty. The judges will be read the following statement...

" Primary consideration should be based on the artistic beauty of an image. Criteria such as commercial value, technical difficulty, or rarity of subject matter should be secondary considerations and used to help determine award ranking. Please ask yourself this question, "Would I put this image on my own wall?"

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