Rules

To help the challenge run smoothly and make it fair for everyone, we've put together some rules.

1. Community

All educational content and interactive components (including the discussion area and submission system) are found here inside the community.

There are some guidelines for posting your images to ask for feedback in the community discussion area:

1. Limit your posts to 1-5 images.
   The point of posting multiple images should not be to simply ask other challengers which one you should submit, or which one meets the brief best. Because ultimately, that should be your call. Ultimately, we encourage you to self-assess your work based on it’s own merits.

2. Behind the scenes images and videos are welcome.
   We encourage you to post behind the scenes images and videos of your challenge shooting experiences and share stories and self-evaluations of your shoots, which can be very helpful for your growth as a photographer and for other challengers as well.

3. Asking for feedback.
   You'll have a better chance of getting valuable feedback if you are specific about the feedback that you need when you post an image.

   Posts asking for general feedback usually only result in general feedback! Which can range from “I love this!” to “this is really pretty” to “the expression is great” - which is nice to receive, but not very constructive.

   To increase your chances of getting valuable, constructive feedback from the group, when you post your image, try to include in the caption:

   • What you feel works

   • What you feel doesn’t work

   • Aspects of the image/edit you are unsure of or need help with

   Take responsibility for asking the right questions. Try to be specific with your feedback requests, and you'll find you receive more useful feedback from other members.

4. Giving Feedback.
   You're encouraged to participate in the group and give feedback (when asked for) on your fellow challenger's images. Be kind, considerate and constructive when providing feedback.

   Give the kind of feedback that you would want to receive. Honest feedback is greatly encouraged, but be kind and try to provide helpful advice on how to address any issues mentioned, rather than just stating the problem.

   If you feel the best way to show your editing feedback is to edit the person's photo, make sure you ask first. Please do not edit people's images unless it's okay with them.

5. Don't leave it until the last minute to ask for feedback.
   Give people time to see your post and reply, and give yourself time to action the feedback. Posting an image a couple of hours before the deadline won't give you much time to consolidate and submit.

6. Instructors will not give feedback before the challenge deadline.
   To ensure fairness for all challengers, instructors will not be providing feedback on your potential submissions. You are still welcome to tag them to ask for help with specific issues relating to shooting for the challenge, or for clarification on the brief or instructions.

2. Image Capture

All images submitted must be captured in the two weeks of the challenge. If the image is a composite, all elements of the composite must be captured during the challenge.

 Images must be of a domestic animal (pets and farm animals). No wild animals.

Images featuring unsafe (or potentially unsafe) practices or scenes are not permitted. This includes but is not limited to, dogs on railway lines and holi/powder images. 

3. Image Editing

Composites may be entered. All source images for composites must have been taken by the photographer, during the time frame of the course. All RAW files used for the composite must be provided if requested.

AI-based image editing technology, including but not limited to Adobe's Generative Fill, may be used for removal and reconstruction of existing elements and objects only.

You may not use AI to create or add new image elements that did not exist in some form in the original RAW file. You also may not substantially change the appearance of existing objects or elements.

You may use Generative Fill for leash/collar/harness removal, person removal and object removal. You may also use Generative Fill for background extensions that are visually consistent with the original image and do not extend the image by more than 20% of the width or height. 

If we suspect that the Generative Fill (or any other AI image-generating software or tools) use has breached these rules, we will request the RAW file or files used to create the image, which must be provided within 48 hours or the image will be disqualified.

We will assess the final image and RAW files, and employ a 'fair and reasonable use' approach. Our decision on what constitutes that is final.

4. Image Submission

Images may be submitted at any time during the challenge. New submissions overwrite older submissions. The challenge image that appears on Submit page is always the latest submission.

Submitted images must be in sRGB jpeg file format, sized to 4000 pixels on the long side, with all metadata intact, and discretely watermarked if preferred.

The image must have been taken after the start date of the challenge.

Images will be checked automatically when selected for upload. If they don’t meet the criteria above, they will not be submitted.

5. Submission Deadline

To be eligible for feedback and Top 10/20 judging, images must be submitted by the deadline. 

No extensions will be offered.

6. Feedback and Judging

Feedback and judging is divided into two tiers - Newcomer and Veteran.

Newcomer is defined as someone who has not yet participated in an Unleashed Challenges course. This includes those who have already enrolled in Embark 2025 as their first challenge course.

Veteran is defined as someone who has previously been enrolled in and participated in an Unleashed Challenges course.

For each tier, the Top 20 images will be selected privately by Charlotte and Craig, then feedback and Top 10 judging will be recorded and posted in the community.

7. Prizes

Images that receive Top 10/20 placings will be shared on social media and the Top 10 will be shared on the Unleashed Education blog. 

When an image is awarded, it will appear in the table at the bottom of the Submit page, along with a PNG file format badge. The badge can be shared separately, but we recommend placing the badge on your image in one corner when sharing on social media or your website.

Participants who submit Top 10 images will receive prizes, depending on the tier.

Newcomer – the participant will receive either a $100 USD cash back on their Embark 2025 enrolment, or a $100 USD discount on Embark 2025 enrolment. Discounts cannot be deferred to future years.

Veteran – the participant will receive a $50 USD gift voucher to spend in the Unleashed Education Merch Store. Shipping is not included in the prize.

8. Sharing of Challenge Results

We encourage you to share your challenge results with your followers. When sharing, you may refer to the challenge title.

You are not permitted to share the following:

• Screen captures (stills) or recording (video) of the feedback video
• The challenge brief
• The challenge instructional video or written content

If you wish to share the feedback received, please feel free to either directly quote or accurately summarise what we say in the video.

9. Image Resubmission

Resubmission is allowed at any time, both prior to and after judging/feedback, up until the final deadline. The submission page will always show the latest image submitted.

10. Challenge Completion

To complete the challenge, the challenge image needs to be submitted by the final deadline.

If the challenge image has been submitted by the deadline, the student will be issued with a Completion Certificate and badge.

11. After the Course

A replay of the Feedback Video will be added to the community.

Submissions will be closed after the course ends, however submitted images and any Top 10/20 badges earned will still be visible.

Pages relating to the running of the course will be removed from the community, with the exception of the discussion board and feedback archive page.