J-TSOON General Cosplay Photography Competition Rules

The J-TSOON Cosplay Photography Competition is held twice a year during both the spring J-TSOON and the autumn J-TSOON: Burning Pumpkin Fest. Both models and photographers are welcome to participate with their works. Photographs that make it to the finals will be showcased at the corresponding edition of J-TSOON, and the winners will be announced during the Award Ceremony on Sunday.

1. Registration:

• To participate in the competition, mandatory presence at the event is required to be eligible for prizes.
• Participants must complete the official registration form available on the J-TSOON website.
• In the form upload a high-quality photograph with the following specifications:
  • Image dimensions: Approximately 3508 x 4960 pixels, 1:1.41 for optimal A3 printing.
  • File format: JPEG or PNG.
• File size: Each photograph’s file size should not exceed 10MB.
• The image should be named according to the following instructions: name-of-the-participant_photocontest.
• The festival takes responsibility for printing the finalists’ works from the competition.
• The participant must be 13 years or older to participate.

2. Application Submission:

• Each participant, whether a model or a photographer, can submit a maximum of 3 different photographs in total under their name. Limit counts all submissions in which their name appears, whether as a photographer or model for more clarity. They can feature the same subject or different ones. Duplicate submissions of the same photo are not allowed. 
• Models are allowed to participate as a group, but with a maximum of two people.
• Participants must ensure the submitted photograph has not been entered in previous competitions.
• Each competing photograph must be submitted with an unedited version of the same photograph in order to see before and after comparison to evaluate post-processing changes.
• The photograph must have been taken within the last two years prior to the competition. Any photographs older than two years from the current competition year will not be accepted.
• The person submitting the photograph must be the photographer or model. Collaborative works are accepted, but all contributors must be credited and agreed to use the photo.
• Submitted photographs will undergo a preliminary review to ensure they meet the competition requirements.
• After the submission deadline, participants will receive a follow-up email informing them if they have secured a place in the competition or not.
• The approved works (finalists) will be showcased in a gallery at J-TSOON on the days of the event.

3. Photography Rules:

• Photographs can capture subjects from any genre or theme, only cosplay photography is allowed.
• There are no restrictions on the type of equipment used; both professional cameras and mobile devices are welcome.
• Post-processing is allowed, including photo-collaging and retouching, as long as it does not obscure the main features of the original costume or character design. However, please note that the use of AI-generated elements is not permitted, as we do not support AI in this context.
• Photography must adhere to a standard of respect and decency. The use of obscenities, profanities, gestures encouraging violence, and pornography is strictly prohibited. 
• Entries that go against cultural and/or social norms will not be permitted. Every participant must ensure that their photography is ethical and maintains an aesthetic and respectful tone.
• Watermarks or any other distinguishing marks on the photo are not allowed.

4. Nomination Categories:

• Top 3 Overall: Awarded to the three highest-scoring photographs based on the combined jury criteria, including composition, technical execution, creativity, character portrayal, and overall impression.
• Best Digital Art: Recognizes the most skillfully crafted digitally enhanced or fully digital photograph. This category highlights excellence in digital illustration, compositing, visual effects, and creative post-processing that elevates the original concept while maintaining strong artistic coherence.
• Best Spooky Vibe – Autumn Edition Only: Celebrating the post-Halloween spirit! This category recognizes the photograph that most effectively conveys a spooky, eerie, or horror-inspired atmosphere through mood, styling, and visual storytelling.
• The organizers of J-TSOON reserve the right to modify nomination categories should there be insufficient submissions. Participants may select two categories; the first choice will be considered primary unless category changes occur.

5. Judging Criteria:

The cosplay photography contest will be judged by a group of three professional juries who will evaluate the following criteria:

• Composition: Evaluation of the overall arrangement and visual elements within the photograph.
• Technical Excellence: Assessment of technical aspects, including focus, exposure, and sharpness.
• Creativity and Originality: Recognition of unique perspectives, creative approaches, and originality.
• Adherence to the source material: how well the atmosphere of the source material is conveyed, faithfulness to original design details, and overall representation of the essence of the character.

6. Organizational Matters Related to the Competition:

• Due to limited slots, priority will be given to ensuring a diverse representation of participants. After reviewing all the submissions, only 40 will be presented at the event.
• The participant holds the rights to their submitted photograph.
• Participants must attend J-TSOON to enter the Photography Competition.
• Participants must arrive at the designated registration time, which will be provided in the email after your application is accepted for the check-in.
• Festival staff may request an identification document from participants in case of any suspicion regarding the participant’s identity. This could be a passport, ID card, driver’s license, or student ID.
• By submitting a photograph, participants agree to allow J-TSOON to display their work during the event. (in both digital and non digital way)
• By participating in the competition, participants consent to the use of photos for J-TSOON promotional purposes, including proper attribution to the photographer/model(s).
• Winners will be officially announced at the Award Ceremony, and prizes will be distributed accordingly.

Note: The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the rules and regulations of the competition to ensure fair judging, maintain order, and ensure the safety of all participants.

By applying to the competition the competitors agree to adhere to the rules.

For any additional questions, please reach out to our email cosplay@j-tsoon.ee.