20 Years of Stories:
The IBEW's 2018 Photo Contest   

For two decades, IBEW members across the U.S. and Canada have been sending us the images that tell the stories of who we are and the work we do. We've been proud to share those pictures with you, and this year we're celebrating a milestone - the IBEW's 20th Annual Photo Contest.

A few of the rules have changed, but your task is the same: Show us what it means to be a member of the greatest union in the world, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Photo Contest Rules

1. The contest is open to active or retired IBEW members only. The person submitting the photo must be the person who took the photograph. Members may enter up to five photos each.
   
   
2. International officers and staff are not eligible.
   
   
3. Photos can be submitted as digital files of at least 300 dpi, measuring 1,200 by 1,800 pixels at minimum, in color or black and white. Larger files of at least 2,200 pixels are encouraged.
   
   
4. All submissions become property of the IBEW Media Department.
   
   
5. Photo entries must have an IBEW theme of some sort, with IBEW members at work, engaged in a union-related activity or featuring subjects conveying images of the electrical industry or the union.
   
   
6. If members are featured in the photo, they should be identified. If large groups are pictured, the name of the group or the purpose of the gathering (e.g., a safety committee, a linemen’s rodeo, a union meeting) can be submitted in place of individual names.
   
   
7. Photos previously published in IBEW publications or on the website are not eligible for submission.
   
   
8. Starting this year, entries must be submitted electronically via the Photo Contest App. Please contact the Media Department at media@ibew.org or 202-728-6102 with additional questions.
   
   
9. Up to 15 finalists will be selected and posted on ibew.org for final judging by the public. The winners will be featured in a future issue of the Electrical Worker.

Photo Guidelines

Here are some guidelines that will help ensure that the photos you send in for the contest look as good to the rest of the world as they do to you:

1. Pay close attention to pixel width and resolution. Generally, photos should not be less than 2,200 pixels wide at 300 dpi. Most computer programs have a "Properties" tab you can use to check pixel width and file size.
   
   
2. Another good indication of image quality is file size. Typically, the file size should be listed in megabytes (MB). A file size listed in kilobytes (kb) is too small.
   
   
3. Always err on the side of uploading a larger photo.
   
   
4. Cameras also have adjustable settings for photo resolution. For print quality, camera settings should be set to an image size of 5 M (megapixels) or higher. If you're unsure about the settings, a good rule of thumb is to set the camera to the highest quality setting it allows.
   
   
5. Cellphone photos may be acceptable, depending on the phone model. Newer model smartphones (iPhone, Android and Windows) usually produce files that are high enough in quality as long as the original file is selected when sending. Older smartphone photographs are generally lower in quality.