12 x 12 – The Vancouver Photo Marathon

For more information visit our website at www.vancouverphotomarathon.com

Please read our rules and terms & conditions found here before signing up. If you are under the age of 18 you need consent from a parent or legal guardian to participate. Download and print the consent form from our site and bring it to the event.

The 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon is a fun and challenging contest designed to test skill, creativity and quick thinking in photographers. The true-to-life setting of minimal time, few exposures and a creative carte-blanche is an exciting challenge for any photographer – from the upstart amateur to the avid pro – and gives the participants a chance to test themselves on a variety of different themes and techniques against photographers from all walks of life.

The Challenge

12 x 12 is a 12 hour photo contest where each contestant is handed a 12 exposures film and 12 themes that have to be photographed in order in 12 hours. All contestants must have their own 35mm camera. The 12 themes are made public at the top of every new hour starting with the first hour so that the photographers have to check in every hour to receive their next theme. It is left to the photographer to decide when, where and how he/she wants to make the exposures and how to interpret the themes. All contestants have to hand in their films before the end of the 12th hour and only those with a full 12 exposures will qualify for the judging.

The strict use of 12 exposures film rather than digital photos to be uploaded at a certain time is done to level the playing field; without the luxury of taking several exposures of the same subject and subjecting these exposures to post-processing before submission the participants are forced to think before they shoot and be discerning in how they approach each subject. Furthermore it levels the playing field by removing any non-photographic skill advantages. After all this is a photo contest, not a Photoshop contest!

Event info

The marathon begins Saturday December 12, 2009 at 8am at Blenz Coffee Yaletown (338 Helmcken Street). We recommend you be there an hour before to be registered and get your 12 exposure film. Other than that all you need to bring is a 35mm film photo camera. Any camera will do - from an old cheap point-and-shoot to a top-of-the-line SLR.

You will only be given one roll of film and there will be 12 themes so choose your subject and your shot wisely!

What happens to the film?

At the end of the event we will collect all the films to develop them. All the images will be published to our Flickr account in high quality and will also be printed for the showcase. If you want your film back after it has been developed, please bring a regular self-addressed and stamped envelope on the event day and we will return it to you.

Who owns the rights to the photos after the marathon is over?

The photographer retains ownership of the photos but 12x12 Vancouver Photo Marathon retains the right to display the photos on the web, in print in a showcase and use them for promotional purposes. See our rules and terms & conditions for further details.

Good luck!