Indigenous Frames- PhotoStory

Theme: “Capturing Culture, Preserving Heritage”

Introduction

The Indigenous Frames: PhotoStory competition invites participants to document and celebrate indigenous cultures, traditions, identities, landscapes, and contemporary indigenous life through the art of photography and visual storytelling. Participants are encouraged to present authentic narratives that reflect the richness of indigenous communities while respecting their cultural values and traditions.

Objectives
The competition aims to:

• Promote awareness and appreciation of indigenous cultures and heritage.
• Encourage creative storytelling through photography.
• Document traditions, festivals, crafts, livelihoods, and everyday indigenous experiences.
• Inspire youth to engage with cultural preservation through digital media.
• Foster artistic expression while promoting ethical representation.

Eligibility

• Open to students participating in Pow-Wow Lore 2026: Youth Quill & Canvas.
• Individual participation only.
• Each participant may submit only one PhotoStory entry.

Competition Format
Participants must submit:

• A series of 1-3 original photographs.
• A title for the PhotoStory.
• A short narrative or caption (150–300 words) connecting the images into a coherent story.

The photographs should collectively tell a meaningful story rather than function as unrelated individual images.

Suggested Themes
Participants may explore:

• Indigenous festivals and celebrations.
• Traditional attire and ornaments.
• Handicrafts and weaving traditions.
• Indigenous food and culinary practices
• Music, dance, and performing arts.
• Traditional occupations and livelihoods.
• Oral traditions and storytelling.
• Sacred places and cultural landscapes.
• Indigenous architecture.
• Environmental stewardship and traditional ecological knowledge.
• Intergenerational learning and family traditions.
• Contemporary indigenous identity and innovation.

Participants may also interpret the broader theme creatively.

Technical Specifications

Photographs:

• JPEG or PNG format.
• Minimum resolution: 1920 × 1080 pixels.
• Basic editing allowed for brightness, contrast, cropping, and colour correction.
• AI-generated or heavily manipulated images are not permitted.
• Composite images and digital photomontages are prohibited.

Narrative:

• 150- 300 words.
• English
• Must explain the story behind the photographs.
• Should complement rather than merely describe the images.

Submission Guidelines
Participants should submit:

• Title of the PhotoStory
• Participant's Name
• Name of the Institution
• Contact Details
• 1-3 photographs
• Narrative (150–300 words)

Files should be submitted online before the deadline in the prescribed format.

Ethical Considerations
Participants must:

• Submit only their own original work.
• Obtain consent when photographing identifiable individuals.
• Respect indigenous customs, sacred spaces, and community protocols.
• Avoid exploitative or stereotypical portrayals.
• Ensure that photographs do not violate privacy or cultural sensitivities.

Any form of plagiarism or misrepresentation will result in disqualification.

Judging Criteria

• Relevance to Theme - 20 Marks
• Storytelling and Narrative Impact - 15 Marks
• Creativity and Originality - 30 Marks
• Technical Quality of Photographs - 15 Marks
• Cultural Sensitivity and Authenticity - 10 Marks
• Overall Presentation - 10 Marks

General Rules

• Only original photographs taken by the participant are eligible.
• Previously awarded entries are not permitted.
• Images should not contain offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate content.
• Watermarks, logos, and promotional text on images are not allowed.
• Minor editing is acceptable, but significant digital alterations are prohibited.
• The organising committee reserves the right to disqualify entries that violate the rules.
• Submission of an entry grants the organisers permission to display the work for educational, promotional, and non-commercial purposes, with appropriate credit to the participant.
• The judges' decision shall be final and binding.

Participant Details:

• Participant’s Name
• Name of the Institution
• Course/Programme and Year of Study
• Contact Number
• Email ID

Faculty Incharge:

• Limajungla Walling (limajungla@tetsocollege.edu.in )

For Enquiries:

7005047554/8730081195/6909246089