Frequently asked questions

No. Images submitted to previous edition of BIRDO contests cannot be submitted to the competition again.

You can edit the text content associated with uploaded photos, except for EXIF data. To do this, you need to select the View box next to the photo in the Upload menu in your account.

However, you cannot edit the photo itself. If you want to make changes to the photo, you must delete it and upload the photo again.

The Birdo photo competition is open: we would like to reach as many dedicated bird photographers as possible, whether they are professional or hobby photographers, or even beginners who are just getting inspired by our announcement. Please note that we require camera photos for most entry categories.

Entry is free.

In terms of the application as a whole, there is none. However, the individual categories are also age-related.
If you have reached the age of 21 by the end of the submission deadline, you can enter in all categories except the Youth category. 

If you do not turn 21 by the end of the submission deadline, you can apply in the Youth, Open and the Story-telling categories. 

Photos can be submitted online only through the contest website.
In order to nominate a photo, you must register first on the contest site. To do this, you only need to enter your name, e-mail address and telephone number, as well as accept the official legal documents of the application, which are as follows: General Terms and Conditions and the privacy notice of the Contest.

First round: 3 April – 9 July 2023
Submission start date: 3 April 2023 
Submission closing date: 9 July 2023 23:59 (GMT+1)
Judging process (first round): 10-25 July 2023 
Second round (submission of original files): 30 July - 13 August 2023
Judging process (second round): 14-31 August 2023
Public voting: 14-31 August 2023
Award Ceremony: 4 November 2023

The Awards Ceremony will be held at the Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden. 
 

The ethical photographer does not hinder the birds in their reproduction, resting place, or natural movement. Ethical photos depict wild birds photographed in their natural habitat - be it natural or urban environments. A photo is not ethical if it depicts a tamed bird kept in captivity or in a zoo, and neither is the photo of the nest.

Despite recognizing the legitimacy of drone photography, we do not accept drone images either, because the natural movement of birds can be impeded by drone photography.

You can apply with photos taken after January 1, 2018.

Timely restriction does not apply to the Story-telling category, so images taken before 2018 can also be submitted provided that at least one image shot after 1 January 2020 must be included into the photo series.

Yes.

Yes.

No.

Yes, you can enter photos taken with a mobile phone in the Open and Story-telling categories.

Yes, there is a restriction. If you turn 21 by the end of the submission deadline then you can compete in all other categories except the Youth category. You can upload 3 photos per category. 

In the Story-telling category you can enter a series of photos consisting of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 8 photos. 

If you are under 21 at the end of the submission deadline then you can enter either in the Youth category with a portfolio of 10 photos, in the Open Format or in the Storytelling category too.

No, a photo can only be entered in one category.

In the first-round digital images must be uploaded in JPG format saved in the best quality (Photoshop, jpg options: quality = 8-12), high-resolution, sRGB colour space and the file size cannot exceed 5 megabytes. Jury will assess these images

In the second-round you are required to upload the original, large file of the photos in order to participate in the further competition. However, the image size depends on the category, i.e., the photo taken with which device you entered. 

In the Open Format category, images taken with a mobile phone can only be submitted. In the Story-telling category, images taken either with a camera or a mobile phone can be submitted. In these cases, the uninterpolated, unmodified, original, minimum 10 Mpixel JPEG file of the image must be uploaded.
In all other categories - this is also the case in the Story-telling category in case the entry was taken with a camera - you must provide the original RAW file of the image and the highest resolution non-interpolated TIFF file available.

• submitted image must contain all available EXIF data

• the entry cannot be made by enlarging from a smaller image

• cropping the photo over the 50% of the original image will lead to disqualification

• any page size is acceptable, but standard page sizes (1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 5:4, 16:9) are highly recommended.

Entry rules on manipulation depend on the category. The MadArt category allows more processing than the other categories.

Changes that are not acceptable

• changing the content of the image
• combination of two or more photos, not of the same scene except in BirdArt category
• the addition or deletion of objects in the image
• borders, signatures, dates or watermarks

Normal processing of the original file is acceptable. That includes:

• cropping the photo up to 50%
• the use of digital half-filters
• HDR, stitched panoramas 
• as the correction of technical defects and lens defects
• HDR and panorama photos from combining multiple shots
• removal of dust spots and moderate reduction of image noise
• minor adjustments to colour, white balance, tone, lighting levels and curves, shadows and highlights, saturation, contrast, sharpness

In the BirdArt (C7) category the following image processing techniques are also acceptable 

• a conversion to black and white or infrared
• in-camera multiple exposures but only for an image created by combining consecutive shots taken at the same scene

The jury decides on whether the image has been significantly retouched or altered beyond the limit of acceptance.

No. Uploaded images will only appear on the website after a preliminary check.

Yes.

Yes. You can modify or replace the uploaded images until the end of the submission deadline.

Yes, photos that did not make it to the second round will be deleted by the Organiser and will not be stored.

Yes.

By entering the competition, entrants consent the Birdo Photo Contest the unlimited non-exclusive use of high-resolution images for activities in all media ((azevmadarfotosa.hu, birdo.hu, birdphotocontest.eu), including social media, online and print, in relation to the contest and all promotional activities (advertising, publications, press releases by third parties, albums, exhibitions etc.) without any remuneration being due.

In connection with publishing the submitted photos, the Organizer indicates the full name of the entrant as author.

If your photo did not make it to the top 50, we will notify you before the Awards Ceremony.

If you won but cannot attend the Awards Ceremony, we will deliver your prize to you online or by post afterwards prior consultation.

If you have any further questions about the application, do not hesitate to contact us at info(at)bird-o.hu