§1 Definitions

The terms used in these Rules shall have the following meanings:

• a) "Competition" – a photography competition held under the name "RAW Photo Awards 2026" in accordance with the rules set forth herein.
• b) "Organizer" – the Competition is organized by Tom Milos Photography (tommilos.com), Tomasz Miłoś.
• c) "Participant" – a natural person who has submitted a valid entry to the Competition in accordance with the provisions of these Rules.
• d) "Entry" – a photograph or series of photographs submitted by a Participant to the Competition.
• e) "Prize" – vouchers or digital certificates awarded to Competition winners.
• f) "Grand Prix" – the main prize of the Competition awarded to the best Entry across all categories.
• g) "Jury" – the Competition Committee appointed by the Organizer to evaluate Entries.
• h) "Competition Website" – the website available at: rawphotoawards.com.

§2 General Provisions

1. The Competition is open nationally and internationally. Participation in the Competition is free of charge.
2. The Competition begins on January 15, 2026 at 00:01 and ends on January 31, 2026 at 23:59 (CET).
3. The purpose of the Competition is to promote photography related to obstacle course racing (OCR), to integrate the OCR photography community, and to raise the standards of sports photography in Poland.
4. The Competition is not subject to approval under the Polish Gambling Act of November 19, 2009 (Journal of Laws of 2009, No. 201, item 1540, as amended). The Organizer declares that the Competition is not a game of chance, lottery, mutual betting, or any other form provided for in the Gambling Act.
5. The Competition will be announced on the Competition Website and on the social media channels of the Organizer and Partners.
6. During the Competition, the Organizer may send Participants electronic communications related to the Competition.

§3 Participation in the Competition

1. The Competition is open to all natural persons – amateurs and professionals alike.
2. Minors may participate in the Competition with written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
3. There are no restrictions on photographic equipment – photographs taken with cameras, smartphones, drones, action cameras, and other devices are all accepted.
4. There are no geographical restrictions – participants from around the world may enter.
5. The following persons may not participate in the Competition:
   • - a) The Organizer and persons directly involved in organizing the Competition,
   • - b) Members of the Jury.
6. Participation in the Competition is voluntary and constitutes acceptance of these Rules.

§4 Entry Requirements

Subject Matter Requirements

1. Entries must be related to obstacle course racing (OCR) in any form and of any distance, including OCR100 and Ninja.
2. There are no time restrictions on when the photograph was taken – Entries may have been taken at any time before the submission deadline.
3. The Entry must be original – the submitting person must hold full copyright (both moral and economic rights).
4. The Entry must not infringe the rights of third parties, including the right to likeness of persons depicted in the photograph.

Technical Requirements

5. Entries must meet the following technical requirements:
   • - a) File format: JPEG/JPG,
   • - b) Color space: sRGB,
   • - c) Size: minimum 2000 pixels on the shorter side,
   • - d) Maximum file size: 10 MB,
   • - e) No watermarks, signatures, frames, or author logos,
   • - f) No borders.
6. Basic photo editing is permitted (exposure correction, contrast, color correction, cropping). Manipulations that alter the essence of the photographed scene (adding/removing elements, photomontages) are not permitted.
7. Prohibition on the use of artificial intelligence (AI):
   • - a) Submitting images generated in whole or in part by AI tools (e.g., Nano Banana, Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, Adobe Firefly, etc.) is not permitted.
   • - b) The use of generative fill functions (Generative Fill), frame expansion (Generative Expand), or AI-based removal or addition of elements is not permitted.
   • - c) The use of AI is permitted only for basic technical corrections (noise reduction, sharpening, scaling), provided they do not alter the content or essence of the photographed scene.
   • - d) In case of doubt, the Organizer may request the original RAW file and editing history.
   • - e) Detection of a violation of this prohibition will result in disqualification of the Participant and forfeiture of any prizes.
8. The Organizer reserves the right to verify the originality of Entries. Winners may be asked to provide the RAW file or original source file.

§5 Competition Categories

The Competition includes the following categories:

1. The Warrior – emotions, face, close-up. Pain, joy, determination, exhaustion at the finish line.
2. Pure Action – dynamics, frozen motion, battling water and obstacles. Photographs highlighting the dynamic nature of the discipline.
3. Art & Grit (Creative) – abstraction, detail, play of light, unusual perspective (including drone shots).
4. Helping Hand – cooperation and mutual support among athletes on the course and while overcoming obstacles. The spirit of teamwork and camaraderie.
5. Storytelling – a series of 3-6 photographs telling a coherent story of an athlete, competition, team, or event.

Detailed descriptions of categories with examples are published on the Competition Website.

§6 Submitting Entries

1. Entries may only be submitted online via the form available on the Competition Website.
2. Participation in the Competition is free of charge.
3. Each author may submit a maximum of 10 Entries, including a maximum of:
   • - a) 2 in each single-image category,
   • - b) 2 series (3-6 photographs each) in the Storytelling category.
   Detailed limits are published on the Competition Website.
4. The submission form requires: first and last name, email address, and assignment of each Entry to the appropriate category. Social media handles (Facebook, Instagram) may be provided voluntarily for tagging purposes in communications.
5. By submitting an Entry, the Participant declares that:
   • - a) they are the author of the submitted Entry and hold full copyright to it,
   • - b) the Entry does not infringe the rights of third parties,
   • - c) they have read and accept these Rules,
   • - d) they consent to the processing of personal data in accordance with §13 of these Rules.
6. Entries that do not meet the requirements set forth in these Rules will not be admitted for evaluation.
7. Entries must not contain vulgar, offensive content, content that violates personal rights, or content promoting violence.

§7 Competition Timeline

The Competition consists of the following stages:

1. Stage I – Submission period: January 15, 2026 to January 31, 2026.
2. Stage II – Jury evaluation and selection of finalists (Shortlist): February 2026.
3. Stage III – Public voting: February 2026. During voting, finalists' Entries are displayed anonymously without the author's name to ensure unbiased voting.
4. Stage IV – Finalists gallery publication: After voting ends, the anonymous gallery is closed and replaced with the official finalists gallery featuring full author credits (first and last name).
5. Stage V – Announcement of results: March 2026.

Exact dates for each stage are published on the Competition Website and may be changed for important organizational reasons.

§8 Jury and Evaluation of Entries

1. Entries are evaluated by an independent Jury appointed by the Organizer.
2. The composition of the Jury is published on the Competition Website.
3. Evaluation of Entries is anonymous – Jury members do not know the identity of the authors of the Entries being evaluated.
4. When evaluating Entries, the Jury considers:
   • - a) relevance to the category theme,
   • - b) artistic merit and composition,
   • - c) technical quality,
   • - d) emotion and message of the photograph,
   • - e) originality and creativity.
5. Jury decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

§9 Prizes

1. Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category.
2. Prizes consist of vouchers and digital certificates. A detailed list of prizes is published on the Competition Website.
3. The Jury may award a Grand Prix for the best Entry across all categories. The decision to award the Grand Prix is made during Jury deliberations.
4. A People's Choice Award is given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place based on online voting for Entries from the Shortlist.
5. Prizes may not be exchanged for cash equivalent, unless the Organizer decides otherwise.
6. A single Participant may receive prizes in more than one category.
7. Winning works will be included in a photo book (e-book and printed version) and a touring exhibition featuring the awarded Entries.

§10 Copyright

1. The author retains full copyright to their Entries.
2. By submitting an Entry, the author grants the Organizer a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:
   • - a) publish Entries in Competition and promotional materials,
   • - b) display at exhibitions related to the Competition,
   • - c) include in the post-competition photo book (including versions intended for sale),
   • - d) promote the Competition on social media and in press,
   • - e) archive on the Competition Website.
3. Works will always be published with the author's first and last name credited. Exception: during public voting (Stage III), finalists' Entries are temporarily displayed anonymously to ensure unbiased voting. After voting ends, the anonymous gallery is closed and replaced with the official finalists gallery featuring full author credits.
4. The license also includes the right to grant sublicenses to Competition Partners (Media Patron, Strategic Partners) for the purpose of promoting the Competition. Partners may not use Entries for commercial purposes (advertising, product sales) without separate consent from the author.
5. The Participant declares that they have obtained all necessary consents from persons depicted in the Entries for the use of their likeness.
6. The Participant shall indemnify the Organizer against any claims by third parties arising from the Participant's lack of copyright (moral or economic) to the submitted Entries, or from the Entries infringing the personal rights of others.

§11 Announcement of Results and Prize Distribution

1. Competition results will be announced on the Competition Website and on the Organizer's social media channels.
2. Winners will also be notified of their prize via email to the address provided in their submission.
3. Winners are required to confirm acceptance of the prize within 7 business days of being notified of the win.
4. If there is no response within the specified time, the Organizer may award the prize to another Participant.
5. Prizes (vouchers, certificates) will be sent electronically to the email address provided in the submission or presented during the Final Gala (if organized).
6. Participants are required to promptly notify the Organizer of any change to the email address provided in their submission.
7. Winners consent to the publication of Competition results including their first and last name.

§12 Complaints

1. Complaints related to the Competition should be submitted in writing to the Organizer's address or electronically to: hello@rawphotoawards.com.
2. Deadline for submitting complaints: during the Competition and up to 30 days from the date of announcement of results. Complaints submitted after this deadline will not be considered.
3. A complaint should include: first and last name, email address, detailed description and reason for the complaint.
4. Complaints will be processed within 14 days of receipt.
5. The Participant will be notified of the decision regarding the complaint via email.
6. Any questions regarding the Competition may be directed to: hello@rawphotoawards.com. Responses will be provided within 14 days.

§13 Personal Data Protection

1. The data controller for Participants' personal data is the Organizer: Tom Milos Photography (tommilos.com), Tomasz Miłoś.
2. Contact for personal data protection matters: hello@rawphotoawards.com.
3. Personal data is processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 27, 2016 (GDPR) and the Polish Act of May 10, 2018 on Personal Data Protection.
4. Personal data is processed for the purpose of:
   • - a) conducting and resolving the Competition,
   • - b) distributing prizes to winners,
   • - c) publishing Competition results,
   • - d) contacting Participants regarding Competition matters,
   • - e) processing complaints.
5. The legal basis for processing data is the Participant's consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) and the legitimate interest of the controller (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
6. Personal data will be stored for the period necessary to conduct the Competition and for the limitation period for claims.
7. Personal data may be transferred to entities cooperating with the Organizer in conducting the Competition (Partners) and to authorized bodies under applicable law.
8. The Participant has the right to:
   • - access their personal data,
   • - rectify their personal data,
   • - erase their personal data,
   • - restrict processing of their personal data,
   • - data portability,
   • - object to processing,
   • - withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing carried out before its withdrawal,
   • - lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office (Poland) or relevant supervisory authority.
9. Providing personal data is voluntary but necessary to participate in the Competition and receive a prize.

§14 Final Provisions

1. These Competition Rules are available on the Competition Website throughout the duration of the Competition and for 30 days after its conclusion.
2. Any information about the Competition contained in promotional and advertising materials is for informational purposes only. The provisions of these Rules are binding.
3. The Organizer reserves the right to amend these Rules for important organizational reasons, provided that such amendments do not infringe the acquired rights of Participants. Participants will be notified of any changes on the Competition Website.
4. Matters not regulated by these Rules shall be governed by Polish law, in particular the Civil Code and the Act on Copyright and Related Rights.
5. Participants and the Organizer shall endeavor to resolve any disputes arising from these Rules amicably through negotiation.
6. These Rules enter into force on the date of publication on the Competition Website.