AROUND 1,000 professional photographers and hobbyists are expected to document the Sinulog 2009 activities and make it part of history in a “tougher†photography competition.
Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros said they will be more strict in this year’s photo contest by not accepting photos that have major digital alterations.
Only photos in their raw format will be accepted as official entries to the Sinulog 2009 photo contest, he said.
Photographers will be asked to submit raw copies of their entries saved in a CD, along with printout copies.
Experts in digital editing have been tapped to screen the entries to make sure only raw copies make it to the competition.
Ballesteros said they will allow minor alterations with lighting, but cutting and pasting of images will not be allowed in the contest.
“In the previous competitions, most of the photos were edited and altered, some digitally-placed images on the photos and that caused quite a controversy so this time we will make sure that raw copies are submitted,†he told Sun.Star Cebu.
Every Sinulog, hundreds of photographers from other countries and other parts of the Philippines come to Cebu to join the competition.
As of yesterday, more than 600 photographers and some 20 videographers have already registered for the photo and short film contests.
“These photographers capture the real Sinulog and its history, and the images themselves become part of the Sinulog history that will be passed from generation to generation. It forms part of the records on the Sinulog, which is very educational because it shows everyone how the Sinulog started and how it evolved,†Ballesteros said.
With a registration fee of P500, the photo contest has become one of the income-generating activities for the organizers, but Ballesteros said the income earned is also spent on the prizes for the competition.
The photo contest covers the sidelights, contingents, floats and higante, Festival Queen and the religious and fluvial procession categories.
The winner in each category will vie for the grand prize. Cash prizes are at P30,000 for the first prize, P20,000 for second and P10,000 for first prize. (LCR/Sun.Star Cebu)
