Contest rules

The HuSoMe association (Humanity, Solidarity, Medicine), the organizer of this contest, works to support populations affected by humanitarian crises, armed conflicts, and disasters.

As part of its mission to raise awareness and advocate for change, HuSoMe is organizing an international documentary photography contest focused on the situation of children living in the Gaza Strip. Beyond the artistic quality of the entries, the contest aims to create a visual record rooted in authenticity, human dignity, and respect for humanitarian principles.

Selected photographs may be featured in international exhibitions, publications, or awareness-raising initiatives led by HuSoMe and its partners.

Participation in the contest implies full and complete acceptance of these rules.

The purpose of the contest is to award prizes to documentary photography series illustrating the theme: “Through children’s eyes: silent witnesses to conflict”.

The photographs must authentically, sensitively, and with documentary integrity, portray the daily lives of children living in Gaza.

The images should focus in particular on:

• daily life;
• family ties;
• learning environments;
• play;
• acts of solidarity;
• resilience.

The contest pursues exclusively documentary, cultural, and humanitarian objectives. Any use of the works for political, ideological, or propaganda purposes is prohibited.

The contest is open to any individual who is:

• at least eighteen (18) years of age by the submission closing date;
• a professional or amateur photographer, regardless of nationality;
• physically present in the Gaza Strip at the time the photographs are taken.

Participation is free of charge.

The following individuals are ineligible to participate:

• members of the jury;
• members of the organizing committee directly involved in the selection process;
• any person whose participation might create a conflict of interest.

Each participant may submit only one entry, consisting of a single photographic series. Collective entries or entries submitted under a team name are not permitted.

Each entry must consist of a series of four (4) to ten (10) photographs forming a coherent documentary body of work. Images must strictly adhere to the contest’s code of ethics. The organizer reserves the right to reject any work that conflicts with the humanitarian values upheld by HuSoMe.

Photographs must:

• have been taken by the participant (between 2024 and the present);
• be original;
• adhere to the contest theme;
• not have been generated or modified using artificial intelligence;
• exhibit authentic documentation characteristics;
• not contain a watermark or text of any kind overlaid on the image.

The following are specifically prohibited:

• adding elements;
• removing elements;
• moving elements within the image;
• AI-generated images (strictly prohibited);
• Generative Fill (prohibited).

Permitted retouching and post-processing

Permitted only if the image content remains unaltered:

• noise reduction;
• contrast adjustments;
• color adjustments.

Prohibited

• AI-based upscaling tools (e.g., Adobe Super Resolution, Topaz Photo AI).

Original files (RAW or equivalent) may be requested for verification.

Submissions must be submitted exclusively via the official platform provided by HuSoMe during the period specified in the call for submissions.

Each submission must include:

• a title for the photographic series;
• the photographs;
• captions for the photographs (in French, English, or Arabic);
• a statement of intent outlining the documentary approach;
• a short biography of the participant.

Photographs must be submitted in high-quality JPEG format in accordance with the following technical specifications:

• format: JPEG only;
• compression: high quality;
• resolution: native sensor size;
• cropping allowed, but no artificial resizing;
• color profile: must be embedded;
• recommended: sRGB or AdobeRGB;
• prohibited: CMYK/CMJN;
• recommended size: 20 to 60 MP;
• approximately 5,000 to 9,000 pixels on the long side.

If selected, the organizers may request:

• original RAW files;
• 16-bit TIFF files (maximum quality) for printing and exhibition.

Failure to submit these files within the allotted timeframe may result in disqualification from the contest.

By submitting an entry, the participant declares and warrants that:

• they are the sole author of the submitted photographs;
• they hold all necessary rights for their use within the scope of the contest;
• the photographs do not infringe upon any third-party rights, including copyright, image rights, privacy rights, or any other right protected by applicable law;
• information provided during the registration process is accurate.

The participant also warrants compliance with ethical standards applicable to documentary photography as well as legal provisions regarding the subjects of the photographs. They remain solely liable for any claims arising from the publication or display of their work.

In the event of fraud, false declaration, prohibited digital manipulation, or non-compliance with these rules, HuSoMe reserves the right to disqualify the participant at any stage of the process, without compensation or recourse.

Participants commit to upholding the fundamental principles of documentary photography and the humanitarian values championed by HuSoMe. Photographs must preserve the dignity, integrity, and respect of the individuals depicted.

The following are strictly prohibited:

• images that violate human dignity;
• photographs of a sensationalist or humiliating nature;
• any staging intended to alter reality;
• any use of images for propaganda, disinformation, or incitement to hatred.

Particular attention is paid to the depiction of children. The participant warrants that they have obtained the necessary authorizations where required by applicable law and have acted in accordance with international principles regarding the protection of minors. HuSoMe reserves the right to reject any photograph that might compromise the safety, privacy, or dignity of the individuals depicted, even if it meets the contest’s technical criteria.

The jury is composed of independent figures recognized for their expertise in the fields of photography, journalism, humanitarian work, and child protection. Jury members commit to performing their duties with complete impartiality and in strict confidence.

In the event of a conflict of interest, the member concerned shall refrain from participating in deliberations regarding the relevant entry. The jury’s artistic decisions are final. No individual justification regarding scores or rankings will be provided to participants.

The photographic series will be evaluated based on the following (non-exhaustive) list of criteria:

• relevance to the contest theme;
• documentary quality;
• authenticity of the testimony;
• technical quality;
• coherence of the series;
• originality of perspective;
• adherence to ethical principles;
• quality of captions and the artist’s statement.

Failure to comply with rules regarding the protection of individuals—particularly minors—constitutes grounds for immediate disqualification.

The competition offers the following prizes:

• First Prize: €3,500;
• Second Prize: €2,500;
• Third Prize: €1,000;
• Fourth Prizes: €400 (for the seven fourth-place winners).

The jury may also award special mentions.

Winning or selected works may be presented in:

• exhibitions organized by HuSoMe;
• print or digital publications;
• conferences;
• educational activities;
• cultural or humanitarian events.

The photographer’s name will be credited in every instance of use.

Selected photographs may be included in a traveling exhibition organized by HuSoMe in partnership with cultural, humanitarian, or academic institutions. This exhibition may be presented in France and abroad.

HuSoMe will ensure the integrity of the works is respected and that photo credits are displayed on all presentation materials.

Technical production specifications may be adapted to the constraints of the host venues without altering the content of the photographs.

Participants retain full ownership of their copyright. Participation in the contest does not entail any transfer of intellectual property rights. By participating, authors grant HuSoMe a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license, valid for a period of five (5) years, authorizing:

• the reproduction of the works;
• their public presentation;
• their dissemination via any HuSoMe communication medium;
• their inclusion in exhibitions, catalogs, and publications dedicated to the contest.

This license is intended exclusively for the promotion of the contest, as well as HuSoMe’s awareness-raising activities and humanitarian missions.

Any independent commercial use shall be subject to the photographer’s prior written consent.

Each participant remains solely responsible for the content of the submitted works. They indemnify HuSoMe against any claims, legal actions, or demands for compensation brought by third parties.

HuSoMe shall not be held liable for:

• any interruption on the submission platform;
• any loss of data beyond its control;
• any IT malfunction;
• any event of force majeure.

Information collected in connection with the competition is intended exclusively for its organization. It is processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and applicable French legislation. Participants have the right to access, rectify, and erase their data, as well as the right to restrict and object to its processing. Data is retained only for the time necessary to organize the competition and manage HuSoMe’s archives.

HuSoMe reserves the right, should circumstances require, to:

• modify the schedule;
• adjust the organizational arrangements;
• temporarily suspend the contest;
• cancel all or part of the event.

No compensation shall be payable to participants as a result of these decisions. Any substantial modification to the rules will be published on the official HuSoMe photo contest website.

Participation in the contest implies unreserved acceptance of these rules. Any failure to comply with the provisions herein may result in the participant’s exclusion, without prejudice to any action HuSoMe deems necessary. Should any provision of these rules be declared void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall retain their full validity.

These rules are governed by French law.

In the event of a dispute regarding their interpretation or performance, the parties shall endeavor to seek an amicable solution. Failing an amicable agreement, the dispute shall be brought before the courts with territorial jurisdiction in Metz (France), subject to applicable mandatory provisions.

Photographs must be submitted as follows:

• format: JPEG only;
• compression: high quality;
• resolution: native sensor size;
• cropping allowed, but no artificial resizing;
• color profile: must be embedded;
• recommended: sRGB or AdobeRGB;
• prohibited: CMYK/CMJN;
• recommended size: 20 to 60 MP;
• approximately 5,000 to 9,000 px on the longest side.

Original files (RAW or equivalent) must be retained until the end of the contest and provided to HuSoMe upon request.

Participants commit to:

• respecting documentary truth;
• not manipulating the content of images;
• preserving the dignity of the people depicted;
• protecting children and vulnerable individuals;
• acting with honesty, impartiality, and responsibility.

Any serious violation of this code may result in immediate exclusion from the contest.

The official schedule is published on the HuSoMe photo contest website.

It will include:

• the opening of the call for submissions;
• the submission deadline;
• the review of submissions;
• jury deliberations;
• the announcement of results;
• the prize-giving ceremony;
• the launch of the traveling exhibition.

HuSoMe reserves the right to adjust this schedule based on operational or humanitarian constraints.