Pictures entered in the photography competition launched by the National Council for Children should not have been exhibited before and must belong to the participating individual, according to NCC communications coordinator, Mr Jean-Claude Matombe.

"Slides and computer generated or enhanced images will not be accepted," he told Family Life on Friday January 24, adding that expenses of processing and delivery will be the sole responsibility of the entrants.

"The organisers will not be responsible for any claims or complaints from any person depicted in entered photographs, should these photographs be published or exhibited," he said, explaining that such responsibility would remain with the entrant.

Saying that application forms were available from the NCC office at Bel Eau, he stressed that the decision of the judges would be final and no correspondence could be entered into, noting that participants would be permitted to sell their work after it being displayed at an exhibition that will be part of the events to mark this year's Children's Day.

"However, no work may be removed until the closure of the exhibition," he said, noting further that all work would need to be collected within one week after the closing date of the exhibition.

"To enter, an entry form must be completed by the participant and submitted with each entry," he said, giving four as the maximum number of pictures a participant could submit.

Filled in forms should be sent with the photographs to NCC  in envelopes marked  "National Council for Children, Father’s Photograph Competition, Bel-Eau, Mahe, P.O. Box 377, Victoria."

The persons who will have taken the pictures will be required to sign a declaration stating:

"I am the photographer of this photo and I have read and agreed with the entry conditions. I also have the understanding and agreement of the persons in the photo or their guardians if they are under 18 years of age to enter this photograph and include any attached comments. I also understand that all entries are automatically entered into all relevant categories."

Participants will be expected to include any relevant information about the photographs they send, including the dates and the occasions on which the photographs were taken.

"You may also wish to provide some optional background information for publicity purposes or encouraging others," Mr Matombe said, advising that the entrants would "in fifty words or less identify the father and child in the photo and briefly describe in the given space the positive connection between them.

NCC has launched the competition requiring calling for pictures showing men during positive moments with children in a bid to show there are men who offer children quality time and care and to overcome the stereotyping of men as a gender that does not care about children in general.

The pictures should be A4 size measuring eight by ten inches and could be in colour or black and white.

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