CANDELA' 26

CANDELA '26 – All-Island Photography Competition

Guidelines & Regulations | Organized by Nalanda College Science Society

Open exclusively to Grade 12 & Grade 13 students.
All submissions must be individual work (group submissions are not permitted).
Each participant may submit only one (1) entry.
Any number of individual students from invited schools may participate.

Theme: "The Pattern of the Myth"
Definition: "A myth is a traditional story from the past that attempts to explain the mysteries of the world, natural events, human nature, or ancient legends involving gods and heroes. More than just imaginative tales, myths carry deep cultural values, beliefs, and symbolic meanings passed down through generations. Simply put, a myth is a timeless story that connects human imagination with the hidden secrets of the universe."
Description: Photographers are challenged to interpret 'myth' not merely as ancient folklore, but as repeating structural patterns, archetypal portraits, surreal atmospheres, or symbolic interactions between humanity, nature, and divinity.

Format: Must be exported as a high-resolution .jpeg, .jpg, or .png file.
Resolution: Minimum 3000px on the longest edge; 300 DPI minimum.
Color Profile: sRGB or Adobe RGB 1998.
Maximum File Size: The total size of the image file must not exceed 25 MB.
Naming Format: Image file must follow this exact naming structure:
Candela_[Participant Name]_[Grade]_[School Name].jpg
Example: Candela_PasinduPerera_Grade12_Nalanda College.jpg

Submissions must be uploaded via the official form provided by the organizing committee.
Deadline: 25th of October (Late entries will be automatically rejected).
Winners will be recognized and awarded at the Annual Science Day of Nalanda College.

Originality: Entries must be original creations produced specifically for CANDELA and must not have been entered into any previous competition. Inclusion of third-party assets, stock images, elements from other artists, or heavily modified external assets will lead to disqualification.
Strict Anti-AI Rule: Generative AI tools (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT image features, Canva AI generators) are strictly forbidden. Any entry found containing AI-generated elements will be immediately disqualified.
Post-Processing Allowed: Digital retouching, color grading, dodging, burning, contrast adjustments, and composite photography are permitted, provided all composite elements were shot by the entrant.
EXIF & Metadata: Original EXIF data must remain intact in all submitted image files for verification purposes. RAW files may be requested by the jury during shortlisting.
Watermarks: Images containing visible watermarks, signatures, logos, or borders will be automatically disqualified to preserve anonymous judging.

Submissions will be evaluated by an expert panel to select the Most Creative Design (no public voting or popular categories) based on:

Relevance: How powerfully the photograph interprets 'The Pattern of the Myth', evoking symbolic, allegorical, or storytelling elements.
Originality: Uniqueness of vision, innovative perspective, and distinctive artistic voice.
Technical Execution: Excellence in exposure, focus, composition, lighting, contrast, and color management.
Visual Impact: Overall visual resonance, atmospheric depth, and lasting impression on the viewer.

Participants grant Nalanda College Science Society the right to display, publish, and showcase their submissions for promotional, exhibition, and event-related purposes.
Decisions made by the Panel of Judges and the Executive Committee of the Nalanda College Science Society shall be final, absolute, and binding.