This year the 2010 MWV Ice Fest is holding an amateur photo contest!
Add your best images of ice climbing, mountaineering, and even lifestyle! All images must have been taken in 2009 (i.e. last year) or January of 2010!

ANYONE can enter! You just cannot make a living or your main source of income from photography since this an "amateur" contest!

Please read Contest Rules below before submitting images to get all the details!


SPONSORS:

The American Alpine Club and Rock & Ice Magazine


PRIZE INFORMATION:

1. There will be one Grand Prize winner selected for entire contest and two Honorable Mentions.

2. The Grand Prize winner and honorable mentions will be published online at Rock & Ice Magazine, and possibly in print.

3. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a grand prize from a 2010 Ice Fest Sponsor.

4. The Honorable Mentions will receive assorted prizes from 2010 Ice Fest Sponsors.

(Prizes are subject to change, but will change most likely for the better!)


CONTEST RULES:

1. Amateur — Beginning or amateur photographers at least 18 years of age, and experienced photographers who do not receive a major part of their income from photography.

2. Participants may submit up to 15 photos (taken from January 1st, 2009 to January 31st, 2010) of Ice Climbing, Alpine Climbing, Mountaineering, Lifestyle, or Mountain Environment all from New England and Quebec Province. Judges are looking for images that draw attention to the "essence" of climbing in the winter and being in the mountains.

3. A panel of selected judges will evaluate photos based on originality, artistic composition, photographic technique, and technical execution. Minor digital enhancement is permitted, but significantly modified or unnatural looking images will be disqualified.

2010 Judges Include:

Rick Wilcox: IME owner, World Renown Mountaineer and Photographer

Jim Surette: World Renown Climber, Professional Videographer and Photographer

Eric McCallister: Professional Photographer

Brian Post: Professional Photographer

4. R&I/AAC/IMCS get "non exclusive license to use the winning photos in print and web for the purpose of promoting/announcing 2010 Ice Fest Amateur Photo Contest. Regardless, all entrants retain ownership and copyright of their images and are not restricted in their future use.

5. DEADLINE: February 1st, 2010. Any photos submitted after this date will not be entered into the contest.

6. Please include photographers name, date, place, climb, and climber with each photo.

7.By submitting any images you acknowledge that you have received permission of the individual depicted in the photograph for possible publication of this image.


DISCLAIMER:
By entering this contest, you agree to these entry rules and the following legal conditions:

In consideration of the services of International Mountain Climbing School, Inc., their agents, owners, officers, volunteers, participants, employees, and all other persons or entities acting in any capacity on their behalf (hereinafter collectively referred to as “IMCS”), I hereby agree to release, indemnify, and discharge IMCS, on behalf of myself, my children, my parents, my heirs, assigns, personal representative and estate as follows:

1. I acknowledge that photography, rock climbing, ice climbing, and alpine mountaineering entails known and unanticipated risks which could result in physical or emotional injury, paralysis, death, or damage to myself, to property, or to third parties. I understand that such risks simply cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the activity.

The risks include, among other things: the hazards of walking on uneven terrain and slips and falls; being struck by rockfall, icefall, or other objects dislodged or thrown from above; the risk of injuries caused by other climbers; the use of climbing ropes and equipment; the forces of nature, including lightening, weather changes, and avalanche; the risks of falling off the rock, mountain, or into a crevasse; the risks of exposure to insect bites; the risk of altitude and cold including hypothermia, frostbite, acute mountain sickness, cerebral and pulmonary edema; my own physical condition, and the physical exertion associated with this activity.

Furthermore, IMCS employees have difficult jobs to perform. They seek safety, but they are not infallible.

They might be unaware of a participant’s fitness or abilities. They might misjudge the weather or other environmental conditions. They may give incomplete warnings or instructions, and the equipment being used might malfunction.

2. I expressly agree and promise to accept and assume all of the risk existing in this activity. My participation in this activity is purely voluntary, and I elect to participate in spite of the risks.

3. I hereby voluntarily release, forever discharge, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless IMCS from any and all claims, demands, or causes of actions, which are in any way connected with my participation in this activity or my use of IMCS’s equipment or facilities, including any such claims which allege negligent acts of omissions of IMCS.

4. Should IMCS or anyone acting on their behalf, be required to incur attorney’s fees and costs to enforce this agreement, I agree to indemnify and hold them harmless for all such fees and costs.

5. I certify that I have adequate insurance to cover any injury or damage I may cause or suffer while participating, or else I agree to bear the costs of such injury or damage myself. I further certify that I am willing to assume the risk of any medical or physical condition I may have.

6. In the event that I file a lawsuit against IMCS, I agree to do so solely in the state of New Hampshire, and I further agree that the substantive law of New Hampshire shall apply in that action without regard to the conflict of law rules of that state. I agree that if any portion of this agreement is found to be void or unenforceable, the remaining document shall remain in full force and effect.

By entering the 2010 Ice Fest Amateur Photo Contest, I acknowledge that if anyone is hurt or property is damaged during my participation in this activity, I may be found by a court of law to have waived my right to maintain a lawsuit against IMCS on the basis of any claim from which I have released them herein.

I have had sufficient opportunity to read this entire document. I have read and understood it, and I agree to be bound by its terms.