#DiscoverWithAlpha

Discover, Learn, and Create with Sony Alpha

The subject doesn’t matter, as long as it portrays the excitement of discovery and learning from your perspective during this uncertain time. It could be indoor photography, inspiration from small walks around your home or in the forest, simple things that make you happy, a family portrait, pet portrait, macrophotography or anything else that inspired you.

Post your photos on Instagram during the campaign period with the following hashtags:
*Please post a new post with hashtag during the campaign period.

1. #DiscoverWithAlpha
2. #country name_ILC (using one of the country hashtags listed below)
3. #Sony Alpha model name (e.g. #a7RM3, #a6400, #a9)
4. #Lens model name (e.g. #SEL24105G, SEL85F14GM) *all lenses including non-Sony lenses are accepted

List of valid country hashtags:

Germany:	#DE_ILC
UK:	#UK_ILC
France:	#FR_ILC
Italy:	#IT_ILC
Spain:	#ES_ILC
Netherlands:	#NL_ILC
Switzerland:	#CH_ILC
Poland:	#PL_ILC
Norway:	#NO_ILC
Austria:	#AT_ILC
Sweden:	#SE_ILC
Belgium:	#BE_ILC
Denmark:	#DK_ILC
Finland:	#FI_ILC
Greece	#GR_ILC
Romania	#RO_ILC
Estonia:	#EE_ILC
Lithuania:	#LT_ILC
Latvia:	#LV_ILC
Hungary:	#HU_ILC
Portugal:	#PT_ILC
Bulgaria	#BG_ILC
Ireland:	#IE_ILC
Luxembourg:	#LUX_ILC
Czech Republic:	#CZ_ILC
Slovakia	#SK_ILC
Turkey:	#TR_ILC

(For example, #DiscoverWithAlpha #UK_ILC #a6400#SEL24105G)

Contest Period

22^nd July 2020
to
midnight (CET) 31^st August 2020

Contest Procedures

Step 1 Participation in the Contest

You must read all terms & conditions before entering the contest – by entering the contest you will be deemed to have agreed to the terms & conditions. Follow the steps under Contest Entry to take part by midnight (CET) on 31st August 2020.

Step 2 Contact of Shortlisted Participants

Shortlisted participants will be contacted via Instagram Direct from "＠alphauniversebysony.eu" Instagram account by the end of September 2020 and will be required to send in their photos with EXIF data intact within the designated period.
*If no response is received within 3 days of being contacted, the participant is deemed to have withdrawn from the contest.
**Please be informed that only shortlisted participants will be contacted.

Step 3 Announcement of European Winners

Winners in Europe will be announced by the end of September 2020 through Sony Europe E-mail. Winning photos from Europe may also be shared via "＠alphauniversebysony.eu" Instagram account and other Sony Group Social Media accounts.

Step 4 Announcement of Global Winners

Global winners will be selected among winning entries from each region, and announced by the middle of October 2020 on "@Sony.Alpha_photocontest" Instagram accounts, and also on Sony group Social Media accounts and websites.

Step 5 Dispatch of Prizes

Both regional winners and global winners will be notified via Instagram Direct from the "@alphauniversebysony.eu" Instagram account and will be requested to provide their contact details including address to facilitate the dispatch of prizes.

Awards and Prizes

Prizes for European Winners: 3 Persons

Winners will be awarded with following prizes;

1st Place (1 Person)
Interchangeable Lens Camera Alpha 7 III K kit	ILCE-7M3K (approx. value of €2200/£2000)

2nd Place (1 Person)
Interchangeable Lens Camera Alpha 6600 M kit	ILCE-6600M (approx. value of €1900/£1400)

3rd Place (1 Person)
Interchangeable Lens Camera Alpha 6100 L kit	ILCE-6100L approx. value of €850/£750)

Prizes for Global Winners: 5 Persons

5 global winners will each be awarded with an Interchangeable Lens Camera Alpha 7R IV as well as a Sony G Master Series lens of their choice from the list below.

Interchangeable Lens Camera Alpha 7R IV	ILCE-7RM4
Winner’s choice of a lens from the Sony G Master Series lenses listed below;
FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM	SEL1635GM
FE 24mm F1.4 GM	SEL24F14GM
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM	SEL2470GM
FE 85mm F1.4 GM	SEL85F14GM
FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS	SEL70200GM
FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS	SEL100F28GM
FE 135mm F1.8 GM	SEL135F18GM

Terms and Conditions:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

1. The promoter of the Sony Alpha Instagram Discover with Alpha Photo Contest ("Contest") is Sony Europe B.V., The Heights, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0XW, United Kingdom ("Sony"). The Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. Instagram is hereby completely released of all liability by each participant in this Contest.
2. The Contest is open to individuals aged over 18 who have a personal Instagram account and are resident in Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Norway, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Romania, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Portugal, Bulgaria, Ireland, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Turkey. ("Qualifying Countries"). Employees of Sony group companies and their family members are not eligible to enter.
3. The Contest will start on 22nd July 2020 and will end at midnight on 31st August 2020 ("Contest Period")
4. To enter the Contest you must complete the following steps:
   
   Step 1: follow the '@Sony.Alpha_photocontest' Instagram account;
   
   Step 2: upload to your Instagram account a photograph taken by you personally using a Sony Alpha series camera and add the following hashtags:
   
   '#DiscoverWithAlpha'
   '#country_ILC'(to be completed with your country of residence using the list below)
   '# Sony Alpha model name '(e.g. #a7RM3, #a6400, #a9)
   #Lens model name (e.g. #SEL24105G, SEL85F14GM) * all lenses including non-Sony lenses are accepted
   
   
   ＊Please post a new post with hashtag during the campaign period.
   
   List of valid country hashtags:

   Germany:	#DE_ILC
   UK:	#UK_ILC
   France:	#FR_ILC
   Italy:	#IT_ILC
   Spain:	#ES_ILC
   Netherlands:	#NL_ILC
   Switzerland:	#CH_ILC
   Poland:	#PL_ILC
   Norway:	#NO_ILC
   Austria:	#AT_ILC
   Sweden:	#SE_ILC
   Belgium:	#BE_ILC
   Denmark:	#DK_ILC
   Finland:	#FI_ILC
   Greece	#GR_ILC
   Romania	#RO_ILC
   Estonia:	#EE_ILC
   Lithuania:	#LT_ILC
   Latvia:	#LV_ILC
   Hungary:	#HU_ILC
   Portugal:	#PT_ILC
   Bulgaria	#BG_ILC
   Ireland:	#IE_ILC
   Luxembourg:	#LUX_ILC
   Czech Republic:	#CZ_ILC
   Slovakia	#SK_ILC
   Turkey:	#TR_ILC

   (e.g. #DiscoverWithAlpha#UK_ILC #a6400#SEL24105G)
5. Submitted photos must have been taken using a Sony Alpha series camera. Your Instagram account must be set to public in order to participate in the competition. Once posted, your photos must remain on your Instagram account until the end of the Contest Period set out at section 3 above, otherwise your entry may not be acknowledged.
6. By submitting photos in accordance with section 4 above and entering the Contest, participants will be deemed to have accepted and to be bound by the Contest rules and these terms and conditions. Any further entry instructions given by Sony and posted on this webpage or @Sony.Alpha_photocontest Instagram account will form part of the Contest rules.
7. Photo(s) should be linked to the theme described on the promotion page and should take advantage of the features of your Sony Alpha series camera. There is no limit on the number of photos that you can upload to participate, but each photo must be unique and comply with these terms and conditions.
8. Photo(s) that are modified with any image editing software or equivalent programs are accepted. Participant guarantees that photo enhancement was made via use of legally acquired software.
9. Participants are prohibited from tagging or entering any defamatory, libellous, obscene, pornographic, profane, threatening, or unlawful material (both in respect of photos and any associated comments/tags) or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense or give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law or Instagram’s terms of use. Participants may not submit photos that include watermarks, photo credits or any third party brands.
10. Sony will review all eligible entries submitted through Instagram during the Contest Period and the photos will be judged, at Sony’s sole discretion, on the basis of the level of creativity, originality and visual/emotional impact of the image. A shortlist of entries will be selected by Sony on the basis of the preceding criteria and the final decision on winning entries will be made by an independent judge whose decisions will be final and binding.
11. Participants who have submitted potentially winning entries will be contacted using Instagram Direct from the ＠alphauniversebysony.eu Instagram account and will be required to submit the EXIF data relating to the selected photo to demonstrate compliance with the entry requirements. Sony will subsequently follow up with potential winners via email with instructions on how to claim the prize. If a potential winner does not respond and comply with the instructions in the initial Instagram Direct message within three (3) days, or if the data reveals that the photo does not comply with these terms and conditions, the participant will not be eligible to receive the prize and an alternative winner will be selected. A maximum of three (3) alternate winners will be contacted.
12. 3 winning entries will be selected with the first one receiving the following prize : (1 Person): Interchangeable Lens Camera Alpha 7 III K kit (ILCE-7M3K) (approx. value of €2200/£2000), 2nd Place (1 Person Interchangeable Lens Camera Alpha 6600 M kit (ILCE-6600M) (approx. value of €1900/£1400), 3rd Place (1 Person): Interchangeable Lens Camera Alpha 6100 L kit (ILCE-6100L) (approx. value of €850/£750).
13. No cash or credit alternative is available. Prize is not exchangeable or transferable. Should the prize(s) become unavailable for any reason, Sony reserves the right to provide a substitute prize of equivalent value.
14. Winners shall be fully and solely responsible for any individual tax liability relating to receipt of the prize(s) and, by accepting their prize, winners agree to release Sony from any such liability.
15. European Winners will be contacted on the ＠alphauniversebysony.eu Instagram account by the end of September 2020 and prizes will be sent out to winners by early October 2020, at no cost to the winner. Prizes will only be delivered to addresses in the Qualifying Countries listed in section 2 above.
16. All winning entries will automatically be entered into a further global prize contest ("Global Contest") alongside winners from contests in other regions, with a chance to win the following additional prizes:
    5 winning entries will be selected in the Global Contest with each winner receiving the following:
    One Interchangeable Lens Camera Alpha 7R IV (ILCE-7RM4) (approx. value of €4000/£3400)
    Plus: Winner’s choice of one lens from the Sony G Master Series lenses listed below;
    - FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM (SEL1635GM) (approx. value of €2300/£2000)
    - FE 24mm F1.4 GM (SEL24F14GM) (approx. value of €1500/£1350)
    - FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM(SEL2470GM) (approx. value of €1950/£1800)
    - FE 85mm F1.4 GM (SEL85F14GM) (approx. value of €1680/£1500)
    - FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS (SEL70200GM) (approx. value of €2470/£2300)
    - FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS (SEL100F28GM) (approx. value of €1440/£1100)
    - FE 135mm F1.8 GM (SEL135F18GM) (approx. value of €1700/£1600)
17. The Global Contest will be judged by a panel of judges set up by Sony Imaging Products & Solutions Inc. in Japan including at least one independent judge and winning entries will be selected based on the overall composition and creativity/originality of the photo. Other than notification of winners, no inquiries will be accepted regarding entries and selection of winners.
18. Global Contest winners will be contacted using Instagram Direct from the ＠alphauniversebysony.eu Instagram account and winning entries will be announced on the @Sony.Alpha_photocontest Instagram account by the middle of October 2020, with prizes sent out by the end of October 2020.
19. By entering photos into the Contest, the participant warrants that: (1) the photos comply fully with the contest rules and these terms and conditions; (2) the photos are original photos taken by the participant using a Sony Alpha series camera; (3) the participant owns all rights (including copyright) in the photo(s); and (4) the photos do not infringe the rights of any third party (including the right of publicity, privacy or any other equivalent rights of a person) and that permission has been obtained to use the image of any person included in any of the submitted photos. The participant acknowledges that the submission of images from third party sources (including, for example, other websites or blogs) is prohibited and use of such photos without permission may constitute infringement of copyright.
20. Entries may be excluded or prizes rescinded if Sony reasonably determines that there has been an infringement of the entry requirements, these terms and conditions or public order and morality.
21. The participant grants Sony an irrevocable, non-exclusive, free of charge licence to copy, modify, edit, adapt, publish, reproduce, display, distribute or otherwise use the submitted photos in any online media in Europe for the period following entry in the Contest until 31th August 2022 (including a right to sub-license to other Sony group companies). In particular, the participant acknowledges and agrees that submitted photos may be published on Sony Group websites and social media accounts and that Sony may edit or alter the photos (e.g. cropping or addition of image, music or sound effects). Any other use of the photos will be subject agreement with the participant. The participant warrants that it has the rights necessary to grant the licence set out in this clause. The participant agrees to waive all moral rights in the use of the submitted photos.
22. Sony accepts no liability in respect of the use of publication of submitted photos and the participant shall be solely responsible for resolving any disputes with third parties relating to the photos they have submitted, at their own cost. The participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Sony, its affiliate companies, directors, employees and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, costs or expenses of any kind howsoever arising in connection with his/her participation in this Contest, including the use by Sony of submitted photos and the participant’s acceptance or use of the prizes.
23. Sony makes no representations or warranties whether express or implied, regarding this Contest or the prizes, other than as expressly set out in these terms and conditions. Sony shall not be liable for any technical errors or errors on the Instagram platform that may prevent a participant from entering the Contest or from receiving or sending direct messages. Sony does not seek to exclude liability for death or personal injury arising from its own negligence.
24. Sony may, without advance notice cancel, suspend or postpone or change duration of the contest at any time.
25. Participants' personal information will be processed in accordance with Sony’s privacy policy and will only be used for the purpose of the administration and publicity of the Contest, including for communications relating to the Contest, management of entries, dispatch of prizes, display of winning entries, and for purposes incidental to these activities.
26. All personal information provided by participants will be destroyed or deleted after the Contest is finished, except in the case of prize winners and participants whose photos will be used.
27. Failure by Sony to enforce any of these rules or terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
28. Unless local law in the participant’s country of residence provides otherwise, the Contest, including the entry requirements and these terms and conditions are governed by English law any dispute will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.