FAQs

Here are some answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

Why can't I enter with a digital camera?

The Photomarathon concept is based on shooting on film. The competition is a test of your creative ideas as much as your photographic skills. Shooting on film requires a certain discipline, and the Photomarathon concepts tests this discipline.

Why aren't all the topics released in one batch at the beginning of the day?

The aim of the Photomarathon is to keep you thinking throughout the day, and releasing the topics in batches is therefore part of the Photomarthon challenge. Photomarathon is also a social occasion, and the topic release times are an opportunity for everyone to get back together and discuss their progress to date. Don’t worry, if you’ve got a great idea – you can also keep it to yourself!

Why aren't the topics released online?

Because we like to see you face to face. And again, it's part of the competition. Them's the rules!

Who owns the copyright in the images taken?

The copyright in the images taken remains with the photographer. In entereing the competition Photomarthon is granted the right to use the images to promote Photomarathon, but cannot (and will not) pass on or sell any images to any third party.

Is there a special event for children?

No. However, children are welcome to enter the main event and a prize will be awarded for the best set of photos for entrants aged 16 and under.

Will children's work be judged separately?

No, children's work will be judged as part of the main event. However, all work by entrants under the age of 16 will be marked with a sticker noting the work as that of a junior entrant.

How does the judging work?

Judges are required to judge two separate categories - overall portfolio winner and individual topic winners. The judging panel, using a system of shortlisting, will choose an overall winner, 2nd and 3rd for Cardiff and Glasgow as well as individual topics winners at each location.

What happens to the negatives and prints?

All negatives are available for return to entrants after the exhibition. The printed entries are kept by Photomarathon.

Can I sign up for next year?

The date of Photomarathon 2009 has now been confirmed as Saturday June 20th. If you want to be kept in touch with Photomarathon please drop us an e-mail and we'll add you to our mailing list.

How is the work displayed?

A single 15" x 12" sheet of all 12 images is produced and displayed at the Photomarathon exhibition. All images are displayed in landscape format.

Can I use a modified Holga camera?

Holgas are not 35mm cameras. Although they can be modified to take a 35mm film, the big problem is that they don't produce a conventional size 35mm frame. The frame tends to be a completely different proportion. As a result this makes producing prints from it very difficult (and complex). As we have to develop, scan and print almost 400 films in a short period, and to a standard size, we cannot manually manipulate a single film. Furthermore, as the images are displayed as 12 separate frames on a 15" x 12" sheet would mean that even if we could accommodate the developing and scanning, they would appear as very small images on the contact sheet. You can find more information about this here

Can I get a copy of my entry?

Duplicate copies of your printed entries can be purchased from Davies Colour after the opening of the exhibition. Further details will be supplied at a later date.

Payment FAQ

What is Paypal?

PayPal is an account-based system that lets anyone with an email address securely send and receive online payments using their credit card or bank account. Most importantly, PayPal is secure.

All PayPal transactions are protected with strong encryption that makes it impossible for anyone to intercept your credit card information. (Even Photomarathon never sees your credit card information.)

Since PayPal has over 20 million registered users, it means that PayPal transactions are quickly processed and authorized.

Do I need a paypal account to pay this way?

No. Anyone can make a credit/debit card payment via PayPal. When you are taken to the first payment screen, select the 'Continue' button in the lower left hand section of the screen where it asks 'Don't have a PayPal account?'. It will then ask you for your credit card and address details. Photomarathon will never see your credit card details – the entire payment process is handled securely by PayPal, who then inform us when the payment has been made.