CGAP logo Subscription

HOME »
PhotoCredit:Michael Foley, World Bank

2008 CGAP Microfinance Photo Contest: Innovators and entrepreneurs

June 1, 2008    

Entries for the 2008 CGAP Microfinance Photography Contest are currently closed. The 2009 CGAP Microfinance Photography Contest will open for entries in May 2009.

Microfinance around the world is a varied and rapidly developing field. For the 2008 CGAP Microfinance Photography Contest we added some special categories to reflect our overall theme of innovation.

How are people using finance in nontraditional ways? What innovations are financial service providers using to serve people who would not otherwise be reached? We asked you to use your imagination in capturing the diversity, dynamism, and impact of our work. And you did.

By sharing your striking images of financial services through the CGAP Microfinance Photography Contest, you reach countless others with the message of microfinance.

For the 2008 Contest the judges selected one grand prize winner, one second place winner, and one third prize winner. They awarded two special prizes, and 20 other winners.

The winning images are published by CGAP and displayed online at www.cgap.org. They are included in a slideshow that will be shared with the industry for use at conferences. Winning images may be printed for exhibition in partnership with the World Bank and Citi. Winning photographers may receive the prizes listed below.

WHO: The CGAP Microfinance Photo Contest is open to all photographers at least 18 years of age, except the operational team of CGAP and their immediate families.

WHAT: We are looking for original, striking images of microfinance around the world that capture what microfinance means to you. These images may reflect the wide variety of microfinance and microenterprise development around the world, representing a range of products, institutions, and methodologies, and may touch on a broad range of social, economic, developmental, and technological issues. We encourage entries from all regions, in both rural and urban settings. We expect to receive images that represent technology, institutions, money, microfinance transactions and impact, policy/regulation, human capacity, and people and their environment. Photo submissions must be accompanied by a brief description of the photo, including the place and country where it was taken, and how it reflects advancing financial access to people through microfinance.

Entries must be:

  • The original work of the entrant
  • Noninfringing of the rights of others
  • Respectful of the rights, sensitivities, and culture of persons depicted
  • An accurate reflection of the subject matter and scene as it appeared, without alteration (other than standard optimization, including removal of dust, cropping, adjustments to color and contrast, etc.)
  • A depiction of microfinance and/or microenterprise development in one or more of the following categories:

General

  • Innovation in delivery, whether through new technologies, institutions, or infrastructure
  • Innovative approaches to regulating and applying laws that relate to access to finance
  • Innovation in funding and supporting microfinance
  • Impact

Entries will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit. The story behind the photo, submitted as a paragraph or brief essay, may influence the judges’ decisions. Decisions made by the judges are final.

New this year: At the judges’ discretion, a special award for $200 in photography equipment will be awarded for up to two photographs that depict issues in microfinance.

JUDGES: Judges for 2008 were Bob Annibale, Citigroup’s Global Director of Microfinance, Deborah Burand, Reuters photo editor Gary Cameron, photojournalist Jez Coulson, National Geographic’s Senior Photo Editor Gail Fischer, and producer Oxana Holtmann.

WHEN: All entries, whether submitted electronically or mailed or shipped, must be received by CGAP before noon EST September 15, 2008. CGAP will not be held responsible for mail that was not received. Receipt of packages cannot be acknowledged. Entries will not be returned.

WINNING ENTRIES: Prizes will be awarded as described below. A selection of winning photos may be featured on CGAP’s Web sites, cgap.org and microfinancegateway.org, and in exhibitions at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., and other prestigious venues. Winning images also may be used to decorate CGAP offices and in a slideshow for use at conferences and workshops.

All entries may be used by CGAP in printed publications, on Web sites, in a slideshow and screensaver, or in any other media, and may be copied and displayed in any country, provided that all uses are accompanied by appropriate attribution to the photographer. Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to future use of their photographs. CGAP shall have the right to verify, in its sole judgment, winner eligibility.

LEGAL CONDITIONS: To enter the contest, entrants must agree to certain legal conditions (see section “Legal Conditions”). Entry of photographs into the contest implies acceptance of contest rules, regardless of whether entrants sign a statement confirming acceptance.

PRIZES: CGAP intends to award the following prizes:

One Grand Prize winning package
Microfinance Training Scholarship to the Boulder Program in Turin, Italy, (including economy airfare) or another development training opportunity agreed with CGAP up to a maximum value of $5000
Or
A $2000 gift certificate for photography equipment and accessories
Winner's certificate

One Second Prize winner
$500 gift certificate for photography equipment
Winners' certificate

One Third Prize winner
$250 gift certificate for photography equipment
Winner’s certificate

Two Special awards for images that represent innovation in delivery, oversight, or funding of financial services (number to be determined solely at judges’ discretion)
$200 in photography equipment
Winners' certificate

Twenty (20) Winners from across the categories
Twenty (20) Winners from across the categories
$50 gift certificate for photography equipment + Winners certificate

Any federal, state, and local taxes, fees, and surcharges on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize winners.

HOW: A total of up to 20 photographs may be submitted per person. We prefer to receive digital entries by e-mail, but entries may be digital files, digital prints, color prints, or black-and-white prints.

Digital entries: Camera-made digital images or scans of prints should be e-mailed as high-resolution jpegs or tif files. Each entrant also must submit a completed Application Form (an electronic form is available at www.photocontest.cgap.org.) Original negatives must be available for scanned photographs. Original files of camera-made digital photos must be three (3) megapixels or larger.

Mailed or shipped entries: Each photograph must bear the photographer’s name, address, phone number, e-mail address, if applicable, entry number (1–20), and a brief description of the photo and how it reflects advancing financial access to people through microfinance. All images must be sent together in one package. Repeat this information one time on a separate, single sheet of paper; include your occupation/microfinance affiliation; a description of the type of film and photography equipment used for each photo; and a brief description of where, when, and how the photograph was taken. Please do not send a cover letter. Negatives must be available for all prints, but please do not send them until contacted.

Prints may be mounted, but print and/or mount size must be no larger than 11 inches by 14 inches. Sandwich sheets or prints between cardboard, wrap with a rubber band, and enclose in a mailing envelope. Do not use tape. Entries will not be returned. CGAP cannot be responsible for lost, damaged, late or misdirected entries, or for faulty uploading connections, garbled transmissions, unauthorized intervention, or technical malfunctions.

Winners will be notified by e-mail or telephone, according to information provided on the entry form. If any winner fails to claim his or her prize within 60 days of being notified, that winner may forfeit his or her prize.

WHERE: Send mailed or shipped entries to
CGAP Microfinance Photography Contest
900 19th Street, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: +1 202 473 9594

Inquiries and entries can also be sent by e-mail

 

Related Content - Multimedia

Video: CGAP Microfinance Photo Contest - Picturing Microfinance
Slideshow: 2008 CGAP Photo Contest - Innovators and entrepreneurs
Slideshow: 2007 CGAP Microfinance Photo Contest
Slideshow: 2006 CGAP Microfinance Photo Contest

Related Content - Language Versions

Concours 2008 de Photographie de la Microfinance: innovateurs et entrepreneurs
Concurso 2008 de fotografía sobre microfinanzas: innovadores y emprendedores
© 2010 CGAP: Consultative Group to Assist the Poor. All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Site Map