Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:
Do I have to be a professional to take photos for Sowar?
A: Absolutely not! We welcome all levels of photography. However, any
previous experience in photojournalism or documentary photography (like
working for a newspaper or magazine) would be a great advantage.
Q:
How high should the resolution of the images I send be?
A: The higher the better (we cannot stress this enough). As a general
guideline, submitting JPG images in the 3-4MB range is considered good.
Keep in mind that the magazine is picture intensive, and we usually
select pictures to appear as full double spreads. Small picture file
sizes become pixelized when enlarged.
Q:
Are there any sample photos and comments you can refer me to?
A: We have plenty of references that explain what we’re looking
for. The most obvious is a previous issue of Sowar Magazine
(you can have a look at the Sample Issue).
For more references, check out the photojournalism style of James Nachtwey
(http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/).
Other great references include the Photo Essays of TIME magazine (http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/)
and the Pictures of the Week of MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3842331/).
We strongly suggest you spend some time looking through them. Also read
through the types of comments on both these websites (this is what we’re
looking for). A good offline magazine reference would be National Geographic
magazine.
Q:
I take a lot of artistic shots, such as pattern or abstract photography,
is that what you're looking for?
A: Sowar Magazine is not about photography. It is about journalistic
and documentary photography. Photography is mainly about great-looking
pictures. Journalistic and documentary photography is about "telling
the reader a story through great-looking pictures." The pictures
you submit need to be a part of a photo essay, theme or portfolio that
have some informative accompanying text.
Q: What information do you need with regards to the comments?
A: It depends on the picture, but the more descriptive you can be, the
better. Information that is required includes:
•
Date (e.g. 12 June 2008)
• Location (e.g. Downtown Beirut)
• Name of person(s) in pictures [if available]
• Comments about the picture, including any stories behind the
shot
Q: Do I need to write the descriptions of the pictures in perfect English?
A: No. Our editors will do that. All you have to do is just send in
a couple of sentences describing the subject of your photo. If we need
more information about a specific picture, we will contact you.
Q:
Will I be paid for the photos?
A: We currently do not pay photographers for their pictures. Sowar is
a volunteer-based magazine. However, this might change in the future.
Q: Will my name be displayed on the photos?
A: Yes, your name will be posted next to the pictures that you take
and we choose to publish.
Q: Who owns the copyright to the pictures that I take?
A: You own the full rights to your photos. This means that you are free
to resell your pictures to any other entity, and you get to keep 100%
of the profits. However, we would appreciate it if you let us know ahead
of
time if your pictures are up for consideration to be published in another
magazine or newspaper.
Q: Do I have to get the permission of the people or their properties
I take pictures of?
A: This really depends on the situation. While it is legal to take photos
of individuals in public, it would be a kind gesture of you to take
verbal permission (either before or after the picture is taken) by politely
asking. If, for some reason, some individuals do not agree, please refrain
from sending us their pictures. We strongly advocate people’s
privacy, so please use your judgment when you’re taking shots
of people when they are in a position where they obviously do not want
their picture to be taken. If you feel that you might need to get their
written permission, please click here to download a
form that you could print out and use.
Q: Do
the pictures have to be taken only in Lebanon?
A: No, the focus of Sowar is on events, scenes and people within
Lebanon, the Middle East and the Gulf (basically, any Arabic-speaking
countries). We are also covering photodocumentaries about people from
those regions, but living abroad (USA, Canada, Australia, China, Latin
America, etc.)
Q: How do I learn more about any Sowar Magazine updates (such as distribution
dates)?
A: We have a "Sowar Magazine" Facebook
group and Facebook
page that you could add to your group list. We usually send updates
to your inbox so that you have the latest information.
Q: How do I contact Sowar Magazine?
A: Please email us at the following address for any questions or comments
about the magazine or submission guidelines:
submissions[at]sowarmag[dot]com
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