Contest Rules

1. Contest Information:

1.1 The Sunrain Solar Photo Award ("Contest") encourages people to photograph “ Solar Thermal Energy” in different ways, the people around there, the  Solar Thermal (roof)landscapes and many more.

1.2 The Contest is an initiative of Sunrain Co. Ltd., the well-known Solar Thermal Manufacturer from Lianyungang (China) in collaboration with Charlotte Green Co. Ltd. (organizing committee).

1.3 The winning photos will be chosen by an international jury ("Jury") comprised of solar and photography specialists based on criteria including photographic skill and composition as well as creativity and originality.

1.4 The winning photos will be announced on or before September 23, 2012 on the Contest's website (www.solarphotoaward.com) and the winners will be notified of the Contest's results by email and/or telephone.

1.5 The winning photos will be posted on the Owners' websites, always with the indication of the award received, and included in various forms of media (further details below).

1.6 The winning photos may be displayed in a possible exhibition and may take part in a worldwide tour.

2. Participation Terms:

2.1 The Contest is open to everyone except those individuals collaborating in its organization or employees of Sunrain Co. Ltd., Charlotte Green Co. Ltd. or the Contest's sponsors.

2.2 Participants must be eighteen (18) years of age or over on the Contest's closing date, September 10, 2012.

2.3 Registration and the submission of photos should be effected through the online system on the Contest's website (www.solarphotoaward.com).

2.4 Registration and the submission of photos will only be accepted within the period from May 20, 2012 to September 10, 2012.

2.5 Registered participants will receive correspondence with relation to the Contest from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The Owners cannot accept liability for emails that do not reach the participant due to his/her anti-spam email settings or internet provider restrictions.

2.6 Each participant can submit a maximum of three (3) photos free of charge.

2.7 Each participant in is responsible for having read and adhered to all of the Contest Rules.

2.8 When a participant submits a photo to the Contest, he/she agrees to the Contest Rules and guarantees that the photo meets the Owners' requirements and that the information provided is factual.

2.9 Any submission that is found to not follow the Contest Rules will be removed from the Contest.

2.10 Any decisions made by the Owners with respect to the Contest will be accepted as binding and non-negotiable.

3. Submission Terms:

3.1 Photos should be of Solar Thermal Energy (using).

3.2 Photos must have been taken no more than (5) years before the Contest's closing date, September 10, 2012.

3.3 Submissions must be digital files, which includes scans of negatives and transparencies.

3.4 The original image's minimum resolution must be 6 Mpixels.

3.5 Only minor burning, dodging and/or colour corrections are acceptable, as are Levels and Curves adjustments.

3.6 Cropping is acceptable as long as the resulting cropped image is bigger than 6 Mpixels.

3.7 For initial submission, photos must be in JPEG file format, with less than 2 Mpixels.

3.8 For all photos shortlisted for the final judging round, participants must be able to supply the original file, negative or transparency.

3.9 For winning photos, participants must be able to supply a high-resolution file (TIFF file if possible), which is appropriate for printing in all types of media and for use in the possible exhibition.

3.10 No photos with image manipulation, such as digitally adding or removing anything, should be submitted to the Contest.

3.11 No photos with watermarks should be submitted to the Contest.

4. Ethical Terms:

4.1 It is the responsibility of each participant to adhere to all national and international laws pertaining to the location where the photo has been taken.

4.2 All of the information provided by the participants should be factual and as complete as possible.

4.3 Any photo that, in the Jury’s opinion, has been achieved through unethical or harmful conduct will be removed from the Contest.

5. Jury:

5.1 The Owners will appoint the Jury, who will agree to a set of norms and a code of conduct to make sure that the expectations of the Contest are maintained.

5.2 The Jury will include solar and photography specialists, independent from the Owners, and will be assisted by a technical commission. One representative of the Owners will act as the Jury Secretary.

5.3 The Contest will also have a Public Jury, consisting of an open, online voting system through which any user may select the best picture. The top five (5) photos selected by the Public Jury will be awarded a Special Prize.

5.4 The Owners reserve the right not to present a winning prize in the case that no submissions are of adequate merit.

6. Prizes:

6.1 The Jury will choose 3 winning photos.

6.1.1 First Prize will receive 20,000 RMB (ca. 3,900 USD)*

6.1.2 Second Prize will receive 12,000 RMB (ca. 2,000 USD)*


6.1.3 Third Prize will receive 6,500 RMB (ca. 1,000 USD)*

6.2 A Public Jury (Vox Populi) will choose 5 winning photos.

6.2.1 Each winning photo will receive 2,300 RMB (ca. 370 USD)*

*Payment of the prize to be made at full value; local tax that may apply in the winner's country of residence to be paid by the winner. The paid currency is EURO, Hong Kong Dollar or US Dollar (depending on your choice). Currency calculation based on exchange rate from 7th May 2012

7. Publicity, Copyright and Reproduction Terms:

7.1 Each winning participant agrees to take part in publicity related to the Contest and to the use of his/her name and likeness in materials related to press, advertising, promotion and publicity of the Contest as well as the possible exhibition without further compensation.

7.2 Each submission must be the participant's original work and must not violate the rights of any other party.

7.3 Each participant must own the copyright or have obtained the written permission of the copyright owner to submit the photo to the Contest and to grant the Owners the rights explained in the Contest Rules.

7.4 The copyright of all of the photos submitted to the Contest shall remain with the copyright holder, who shall be credited as indicated in the Contest Rules.

7.5 By participating in the Contest, each participant grants the Owners a non-exclusive license to publish, reproduce, communicate and exhibit his/her photo(s) in all types of media, exclusively in relation to the Contest and the possible exhibition, including all use in the context of:

7.5.1 Judging of the contest by the Jury and the Public Jury.

7.5.2 Inclusion in the possible exhibition.

7.5.3 Inclusion in promotional materials related to the Contest and/or the possible exhibition.

7.5.4 Inclusion within interactive elements, either currently known or later created, on the Owners' websites related to the Contest and/or the possible exhibition.

7.5.5 Inclusion in a possible portfolio book, magazine or similar material.

7.6 In some of the cases outlined above, commercial opportunities from third parties may arise for winning photographers to benefit from the use of their photos. Where a commercial benefit may arise, the petition will be passed directly to the copyright holder so that permission can be sought and terms and conditions agreed directly between the third party and the copyright holder.

7.7 Winning photos may be used by the Owners during eighteen (18) months following the announcement of the winners.

7.8 From the announcement of the winners onward, the Owners may maintain the winning photos in an archive for a period of five (5) years, after which permission must be obtained from the photographers should their photos be used in relation to the Contest and/or the possible exhibition.

7.9 The nominee pictures become part of the Charlotte Green Library and be submitted for consideration to display at marenvandenberg.com. 70% of all sales via these platforms will go the copyright holder (the photographer).

8. Liability:

8.1 The Owners cannot accept liability for the damage or loss of any photo submitted to the Contest.

8.2 The Owners cannot accept liability for the misuse of submitted photos or any third party's negligence in complying with the Contest's credit guidelines.

8.3 Non-winning photos submitted to the Contest will not be kept, stored or returned by the Owners after the announcement of the winners.

9. Data Privacy:

The personal data provided by the participants will be incorporated into a file owned by Charlotte Green Co. Ltd.. The data may also be used to send commercial communications related to the activity of Charlotte Green Co. Ltd.. Any participant who wishes to exercise his/her right to access, modify or delete this information as established by the Organic Law 15/1999 concerning personal data protection, should contact Customer Services at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The personal data of the participant will not be communicated or transferred to any third party.