Contest FAQ
Some common questions about our photo contest
When will the winners be announced?
The category winners and Grand Prize winner will be announced on our website and social media in September 2024.
When will the finalists be announced?
What are the prizes?
Grand Prize winner: 3-night stay at Hamanasi in a run of house room including breakfast and one Barrier Reef adventure (snorkeling or diving).
Category winners: The winners of each of the 4 categories will receive a Hamanasi gift pack.
All winners will be displayed at Hamanasi.
For full details, see our rules.
Who selects the winners?
Hamanasi will select the finalists per category, a winner for each category and a Grand Prize winner from the finalists.
Will I be notified if I was NOT chosen as a finalist or winner?
No. Due to the large number of submissions, only the finalists will be notified of their status by July 30 2024. If you do not hear from the Hamanasi by then, you are neither a finalist nor a winner.
How many photos can I enter into the contest?
You may enter up to 10 photographs in each category for a total contest submission of 40 photographs.
I shared an email address with another person. Can we both enter under the same email address?
We accept one contestant per email address.
Can I submit a photo on someone else’s behalf?
No. You may only submit a photograph if you are the sole creator and copyright owner.
How do I submit my photograph?
You can submit your photograph, or a high-quality scan of your photograph, online at go.hamanasi/photocontest. We do not accept entries submitted through the mail.
What category should I select for my photograph?
Use your best judgment, but here are the guidelines we suggest you follow when selecting the category:
- Macro underwater species: Large aquatic animals, such as sharks, turtles, rays, dolphins, corals.
- Micro underwater species: Small aquatic animals, such as a seahorse, nudibranch, feeder shrimp, small fish, etc…
- Diver(s) or snorkeler(s): Photos of groups or individuals while diving or snorkeling. Snorkel photos may be taken above or under water.
- Topside on a boat: Photos of individuals or small groups on a boat, gear, boat equipment, etc.
Do you accept non-digital photographs?
No. If a photograph taken on film does not have a digital version, it cannot be entered into the contest unless you have a high-resolution digital scan. All entries must be submitted digitally through the official online contest form.
Can I enter if I live outside of Belize?
Yes, but photographs must be uploaded by 5:00 PM Belize Time on June 30, 2024.
I took a photo ten years ago. Can I enter it?
Photographs that were taken before October 18, 2000 are not eligible. This date applies to all images used in a composite.
Do I need release forms for people in my photo?
If they are recognizable, and especially if they are children, you must be prepared to obtain a release form and provide it to Hamanasi upon request. A sample release is available here.
Can photographs be cropped?
Cropped photographs are eligible in all categories.
Can photographs be manipulated or enhanced?
Some photo editing is acceptable. Images generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not permitted.
Do you accept black-and-white photographs?
Yes. Also, color photographs converted to grayscale are acceptable in all categories
May I enter the same photograph into multiple categories?
Yes. You can enter a photo in multiple categories, as long as it fits the description for that category.
What size should my digital image be for uploading with the online entry form?
In order to be displayed in our online gallery without being stretched or distorted, photographs must be submitted in .jpeg, .jpg, .png or .heic format, at least 1500 pixels wide and no larger than 25 MB. Photo contest images are judged on computer screens, which have a maximum resolution of 72dpi.
Please retain a high-resolution version of your photograph(s) in your personal files. You will need to have a higher-resolution image on hand, a minimum of 300 dpi and 3,000 pixels on the longest side, to be considered in the final rounds of the contest. Mobile photographs are exempt from this size requirement, but must be submitted at their highest resolution.
What if my digital photograph does not have a resolution of 300 dpi and is not at least 3,000 pixels on the longest side?
Without this requirement, Hamanasi cannot consider your photograph as a possible finalist or winner in our contest. Mobile photographs are exempt from this size requirement, but must be submitted at their highest resolution.
Will you accept photos with watermarks?
We will always try to display a credit alongside your photo as it appears on the site. We prefer not to accept photos with watermarks or descriptive text.
Will you change the category if you think I put my photograph into the wrong one?
Yes. If appropriate, Hamanasi judges will change the category of your submission. This will not affect your eligibility to win.
Is it OK to enter a photograph that has been on my website?
Yes, your photograph is eligible for submission.
I am a Hamanasi intern. Can I enter?
No. Hamanasi employees, employees, trustees, interns, volunteers, and their immediate families (children, parents, siblings and spouses) and others living in their households are not eligible for any prize.
I'm 17 years old. Can I enter the contest?
We are sorry, but you will need to be 18 by the day of your entry to the contest in order to qualify.
What rights to my photograph do I retain?
You retain your rights to your photograph; however, by entering the contest, you grant Hamanasi (and those authorized by Hamanasi) a royalty-free, world-wide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to publicly display, distribute, reproduce and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or later developed, for any purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion of the hotel and its website, exhibition, and commercial products, including but not limited to Hamanasi publications. Any photograph reproduced will include a photographer credit as feasible. Hamanasi will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such uses.
Where can I send questions and feedback?
Please submit further questions and feedback here. Due to the high volume of emails that we receive, we may not be able to respond to each individual email. Please do not contact us about the status of entries or judging.
More Questions?
Have any questions? We are always open to talk about your business, new projects, creative opportunities and how we can help you.