FAQ’s
Q: Can anyone enter?
A: Yes! Anyone of any age can enter. Children will need help from a grown up to submit their entries.
Q: Do I have to live in Luton to enter?
A: No! You don’t have to live in Luton, but you do have to visit the River Lea in Luton to take a photograph.
Q: Where is the River Lea in Luton?
A: This PDF outlines different sections of the river as it runs through Luton https://www.luton.gov.uk/Transport_and_streets/Lists/LutonDocuments/PDF/Engineering%20and%20Transportation/Cycling/Walking/lea%20valley%20walk.pdf
Q. I don’t have a professional camera, can I still send a photo?
A: Yes! You don’t need a fancy camera, all images of the River Lea will be accepted, including photos taken on a phone.
Q. How many photos can I submit?
A: Only one photo per person.
Q. What will the winner receive?
A. The winner will receive a cash prize of £100
Q. Will there be runners up?
A. Two runners up will be selected and awarded a special commendation certificate at the Guildford Street Billboard opening celebration.
Q. Will my entry be used in any other River Lea projects?
A. Your entry will not be used for any other purposes other than what is outlined in the terms and conditions below.
If you have any other questions, please email abispendlove@hotmail.com
Terms and Conditions
About the Competition
The competition is run by Abi Spendlove in conjunction with Luton Council and is free to enter. The aim of the competition is to inspire everyone to share their passions of photography and the River Lea in Luton.
Dates
The deadline for entries is 23.59 Friday 7th March 2025. Any submissions received after this date will not be viewed.
How to enter.
- Visit the River Lea in Luton and take a photograph.
- Save your photograph as a JPEG, no larger than 2MB, and title it with your name.
- Email your photo to riverleaphotocomp@gmail.com by 23.59 on Friday 7th March 2025. In the email please include your name, age, postcode and the location that the photo was taken in.
Conditions of Entry
- All photographs must include the River Lea in Luton (please include details of location in the submission.)
- Under 18 entries must be submitted with the permission of the child’s parent/guardian.
- Please respect people and the environment when taking photos.
- Please do not include people in your photograph (unless they are far away/unidentifiable)
- It is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that all necessary permissions are obtained from any person/property featured in a photograph.
By submitting images to the River Lea Photography Competition, each entrant confirms and warrants that:
- they are the sole author of each entry and that it is their original work
- they own the copyright and any other intellectual property rights of their image
- Abi Spendlove and Luton Council have permission to use the imagery provided across their marketing channels as long as full credit is given to the image owner
- If you are a winner you will take part in and cooperate fully with reasonable publicity and to the use of your name and photograph in such publicity, for example, the publication of photograph(s) with your name in local press.
Judging
A panel of Judges will select images based upon technical skill, diversity, originality and creativity of composition. Judging will be made up of selected photography professionals. Judges will assess entries and collectively agree on the overall competition winner.
To remove potential bias an anonymous selection process will be applied, names and other identifying information will be removed from entries before they are judged.
Digital adjustments are acceptable; however, the way in which any digital enhancement or editing has been used will be taken into account when judging the entry. Cropping is allowed.
The decision of the organisers is final and no correspondence will be entered into concerning the competition’s judging and organisation.
Announcement of winners and creation of slideshow
The overall winner will be announced in late March 2025. All eligible submitted images will be displayed in an online slideshow on Luton’s River Lea and Chalk Hills YouTube channel. The winning image will be the featured image for the video. Each image will be presented with the name of the person who submitted it.
The Prize
The winner will be awarded a single cash prize of £100.
If the prize winner is under 18 a parent or guardian will need to arrange the collection of the prize.
Once the prize has been awarded no further money or compensation will be exchanged. If the prize winning entry has a copyright claim bought against them the judges reserve the right to withdraw the prize.
Copyright and Usage
- Entrants remain the copyright holder to any images submitted by themselves.
- Entrants agree to allow Abi Spendlove to include their photograph in a slideshow of images of the River Lea on Luton’s River Lea and Chalk Hills YouTube channel.
- Entrants agree for their image to be reproduced and published and for any purpose related to the competition in any medium, including print and digital for use in the press and on websites.
- The entrant is responsible for any claim made by a third party against the submission.
Disclaimer
The information given in these Terms & Conditions is correct, but Abi Spendlove and Luton Council reserve the right to change any of it without prior notice. By entering the competition, entrants will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. Any breach by an entrant will void their entry and may require the return of any prize awarded.
Sustainability and Social justice
Sustainability and inclusion are at the heart of my practice. I’m actively involved in environmental and social justice both in my practice and community. I seek to understand how I can use my art and platform to amplify the voices of those who are underrepresented in the visual arts.
Data Protection
- By entering this competition, you agree to Abi Spendlove and Luton Council to use your details to process your application and analyse engagement.
- Your data will be kept securely in line with GDPR regulations.