The 2025 UIRA Photo Contest is now open! We are proud and thankful to say that Hills Bank & Trust Company is our sponsor again this year. Contest rules and procedures are featured below; please review them carefully. We hope you will submit your photos!

• Photographs must have been taken within two years before this year’s deadline—so between March 15, 2023, to March 15, 2025.
• There is no restriction on the content of photos. They may involve people, places, nature, things, etc.
• Photographs must be submitted in digital format, JPEG or JPG, 5 megabytes maximum. No print or film submissions will be accepted.
• Photos need not be taken with a digital camera; scans of negatives, transparencies, or photographic prints are acceptable.
• Minor adjustments, including spotting, dodging, and burning, sharpening, contrast and slight color adjustment or the digital equivalents, are acceptable. Photos may be cropped. Digitally enhanced or altered photos will not be accepted.
• Entrants may submit up to four photos in the contest, one in each of the categories.
• Disguising or misrepresenting the origin of content is cause for disqualification.
• Previously submitted photos may not be entered in subsequent contests.

CATEGORIES

• Iowa—photos taken in the state of Iowa
• United States—photos taken in the U.S., but outside Iowa
• International—photos taken outside of the U.S.
• University of Iowa—photos taken on the University of Iowa campus or affiliated areas (e.g., Lakeside Lab, Oakdale campus, Macbride Field Campus)

SUBMITTING PHOTOS

Photos should be sent via email to Diana Lundell at dianalundell@gmail.com. Photos will not be accepted through the U.S. mail.

When submitting photos, an entrant must include (1) their name, (2) email address, (3) number of photos submitted, (4) category in which each photo is to be judged, and (5) brief captions for each photo. While brief, captions should be complete and accurate and describe the contents of the photos.

Submitted photos are final and may not be modified, edited, or replaced.

JUDGING AND CRITERIA

Judging will be done by professional photographers not affiliated with the UIRA.

There are three criteria:

• Originality—Each photo must be original, that is, the work of the entrant.
• Creativity—Creative photos diverge from traditional methods of presenting ideas and messages, due perhaps to an unexpected angle or focus on a detail usually ignored.
• Photo Quality—High-quality photos are well composed with a clear focal point. Unless special effects are intended, photos should not be blurry or overly dark or light.

WINNERS & PRIZES

Monetary prizes are awarded in each category for 1st ($40), 2nd ($25), and 3rd ($10) places. To honor as many entrants as possible, each entrant may win only one prize.

Winners will be announced after March 31. Winning photos are posted on the UIRA website, published in The Gray Hawk, and will be displayed at one or more branches of Hills Bank & Trust.

LIABILITIES & RIGHTS

Entrants retain ownership of and all copyright and other intellectual property rights for their photos.

By entering the contest, entrants acknowledge that submitted photos are original works created solely by the entrant, that the photograph does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the photograph.

The UIRA assumes no liability or responsibility for any loss or harm resulting from any user's participation in or attempt to participate in the contest or ability or inability to upload, download, or otherwise access any information in connection with the contest.