2005 Photographic Competition

Enter SANDS 2005 photo competition and get 20 digital photo prints for free!

We are looking for inspiring pictures which reflect some of the feelings experienced by bereaved families after the death of their baby, and which illustrate the work of SANDS.

We have chosen 6 words which relate to the experience of having a baby who is stillborn or who dies soon after birth. Some of these words evoke the bleaker moments of loss, some look at the strengths which can emerge from such personal tragedy. We know also that many families have ways of commemorating and symbolising their baby’s existence, and you may want to share some of these with us.

GRIEF • DESOLATION • LOVE • SUPPORT • HOPE • REMINDERS

You can interpret these words in as wide and creative a way as you like, the only requirement is that they capture the feeling of the words. The images do not need to be specifically of baby loss: you may find unrelated images which can powerfully portray these concepts.*

The winning photos will be posted on the website and displayed at SANDS national events through 2005, and 12 photos will be featured in a SANDS calendar in 2006. Any of the photos submitted may used in future SANDS newsletters, publications, promotional materials, website etc.

PRIZES

Every entrant will receive 20 free digital prints from www.snapfish.co.uk. That is just for entering! (You will be told how to claim the prints when we receive your entry.)

The first prize, which will go to the picture selected as the best of all the entries, is a Canon Smartbase MPC200 - a Digital Photo All-In-One combining a printer, copier and scanner in a single console.

We have more great prizes for the category winners and a special prize for the best photo taken by an under 16 year old.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter the competition you must have read and agreed to the competition rules, and you must complete and sign a separate entry form for each image submitted. You can download the forms and rules below, or you can request hard copies from head office

CONSENT:
SANDS can only use images of children in our publications, website etc if we have the permission of the child's parent/guardian to do so. If your photo includes as a subject a person under the age of 16, you must get the written consent of the parent/guardian. The child's parent/guardian must sign our Consent Form, which details how the image might be used. You can download the Consent Form here or ask for copies from head office.

You must also have the verbal consent of anyone else in your photo, for their image to be used by SANDS.

UNDER 16s:
We really hope young people will enter this competition. But please note that anyone under the age of 16 must have their parent/guardian's permission to enter, so please ask your parent/guardian to sign the entry form.

DOWNLOADS:
Rules (PDF)
Entry Form (PDF)
Consent Form (PDF)
PC users: to download files, rather than opening them, right click on the link and select 'Save Target As...' , then choose where to save the file.

SENDING YOUR ENTRY:
You can send your entries by post or by e-mail.
By post:
Prints or digital pictures saved to a CD, can be posted along with completed entry forms, and consent forms as needed, to our head office, clearly marked SANDS PHOTO COMPETITION. Don't forget to label your print or your disc with your name.
By e-mail:
Or you can e-mail digital images to us at photos@uk-sands.org. (Please don’t send them to the main SANDS e-mail address). If you send your pictures by e-mail you must also scan your completed entry form, and consent forms if you need them, and return them with the picture.

ESSENTIALS:
We cannot accept your entry without a completed entry form.
You must have all consents from any people in your photo.
For picures of children under 16 you must send a signed consent form.

CLOSING DATE IS EXTENDED TO 1st September 2005.

Remember, you don't need to be a photography expert to enter and we welcome entries from any age group.

* A note for entrants whose own baby has died.
You may decide to send us a personal image from your own bereavement. We will be very honoured to receive any such pictures and assure you we will respect the personal significance of your photograph. However we can only accept photos where consent has been given to use any pictures in our publications and promotional materials. Though we will try to consult with the photographers in this case, we cannot guarantee to do so.