Up Close and Spineless

Up Close & Spineless photographic competition 2008

Yes, it's on again - the competition that puts animals without a backbone on the map! Over 99% of all animal species are invertebrates (animals without a backbone). These comprise over 30 major animal groups and more than 5 million species!

To raise awareness of the wonderful world of invertebrates, the Australian Museum is holding the photographic competition, Up Close & Spineless. The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers and has four entry categories: Primary School, Secondary School, Open and Professional.

Photo: © Jenny Ough, Winner Open category 2007, Basket Star

All you have to do is choose the category that's right for you, then start taking photos and send us your best by Friday 29 August 2008. Winners of the first 3 categories will win a digital camera. Winners will receive a voucher for $600 to spend on photographic supplies.

Before entering, please read the information provided and the terms and conditions of entry.

Conditions of entry
How do I enter?
How will the photos be judged?
What are invertebrates?
2008 Up Close & Spineless entry form (PDF 904KB)

This entry form is only available in PDF format. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat, a free reader is available from Adobe.

Conditions of entry

Terms and Conditions:

All entries must be supplied as a 20 x 25 cm (8 x 10 inches) print.
Each entrant is permitted to enter a maximum of three photographs.
The photograph must be of an invertebrate (an animal without a backbone).
Each photograph must be accompanied by a title and approximately 50 words describing the photograph and the moment in which it was taken. This text must be written by the photographer.
All entries must be accompanied by a cheque, money order or credit card payment for $10 (Primary School and Secondary School categories) or $15 (Open and Professional categories).
The photograph must be taken by the person whose name appears on the registration form.
The competition is open to anyone including staff of the Australian Museum.
Entries must be received by close of business Friday 29 August 2008.
Entries must be sent to: Ms Fara Pelarek, Competition Organiser, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney 2010 NSW.
Photographs that have been digitally manipulated or altered will not be accepted.
A panel of judges selected by the Australian Museum will choose the winners. Decisions made on all matters relating to the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into concerning the competition judging and organisation.
There will be one winner in each of the four stipulated categories: Primary School Student, Secondary School Student, Open and Professional.
The winner of each category will receive a photographic voucher to the value of $600.
There will be one Highly Commended award in each of the four stipulated categories. The winners of the Highly Commended awards will each receive a one year subscription to Explore magazine.
Winners and commended photographers will be notified by mail and images and names will be published on the Australian Museum website by the end of October 2008. Winning, Highly Commended and Runner-up entries will be displayed at the Australian Museum in an Up Close & Spineless exhibition.
Participants will be notified in writing if their photographs are part of the Up Close & Spineless exhibition. Photographs not displayed will be available for return from November 2008 onwards. Photographs on display will be available for return at the end of the exhibition period.
Photographs that are not collected or returned at the request of the entrant will be retained by the Australian Museum for a minimum period of six months after the closure of the exhibition and may be destroyed after this time has elapsed.
The Australian Museum regrets that they cannot accept liability for any loss of or damage occurring to any photographs entered in the competition. All reasonable care will be taken to safeguard the photographs while in the custody of the Australian Museum. Any damage to photographs occasioned in transit is not the responsibility of the Australian Museum.
Personal details collected on this form will only be used for the purposes of this competition and related promotion. Your private information will not be given to any individual or organisation other than the Australian Museum.
The Australian Museum may use the photographs in all media for promotional purposes associated with this and any future Up Close & Spineless competition. All images entered (except in the Professional category) may be used in Museum publications. Copyright and intellectual property of the images remains the property of the photographer.

How do I enter?

Photo: © Michael Richardson, Winner Primary School category 2007, Longhorn Beetle

Submit all photographs as a 20 x 25 cm (8 x 10 inch) print.
Think of a title for each photograph and write 50 words describing the subject and how the photo was taken.
Enclose the relevant fee for your category ($10 for School categories, $15 for Open and Professional). Fee includes all photos entered.
Fill in the registration form and send it with your photos (maximum three per entrant) by Friday 29 August 2008 to:

Ms Fara Pelarek – Competition Organiser
Australian Museum
6 College Street
Sydney NSW 2010

How will the photos be judged?

Judging criteria will be based upon:

interesting behaviour
aesthetics
composition
unusual or rare species
high technical standards such as sharpness and correct exposure

What are invertebrates?

Invertebrates are animals without a backbone. They include insects, crustaceans, spiders, coral, cockroaches, caterpillars. Inverterbrates are found in all aquatic and terrestrial environments and range in size from microscopic animals to giant squids.

If you have trouble identifying the animal(s) in your photos please contact the Australian Museum's search and discover section on 02 9320 6202 or by email.