1.1  Agreement 

(a)  The GEAR Photography Contest 2026 (the “Contest”) is organised by The GEAR by Kajima (“the Organiser”). By registering for the Contest and/or submitting an entry, you agree to be bound by these Rules & Regulations. 

(b)  The Organiser reserves the right to modify these Rules & Regulations at any time and at its sole discretion. Any changes will be communicated to registered participants by email. 

1.2  Eligibility 

(a)  The contest is open to applicants of all nationalities, ethnicities, and genders who are currently enrolled as full-time students in a tertiary institute (i.e. ITE, polytechnic, university) in Singapore at the time of submission. Proof of Enrollment may be required. 

(b)  Each participant may submit one (1) entry only, comprising three (3) to five (5) photographs. Each photo must be accompanied by a short creative statement (max 50 words) describing the participant’s creative intent. Team entries are not accepted. Submissions must be the sole work of the individual participant. 

(c)  Employees of Kajima Corporation, its subsidiaries, and their immediate family members are not eligible. 

1.3  Selection Process 

(a)  All eligible entries will first be reviewed by The GEAR team to create a longlist. The longlisted entries will then be further evaluated by the jury panel to determine the finalists. 

(b)  Finalists must attend the Exhibition & Final Judging event on Friday, 24 July 2026, held as part of FutureSCAPE at The GEAR. Each finalist is required to prepare and deliver a short pitch (2 minutes) presenting their creative inspiration, interpretation of the theme, and approach to their submitted photographs. Failure to attend or to deliver the pitch will result in forfeiture of finalist status. 

(c)  The Gold, Silver, Bronze, Audience Favorite, and 3 Runner-Up Awards will only be decided and presented on 24 July 2026, following the finalist pitches and the jury panel’s deliberation. 

(d)  The Organizer’s decisions regarding the selection process, the awarding of prizes, and all situations not expressly covered by these Rules & Regulations shall be final and binding on all participants. No queries, appeals, or disputes concerning the Organiser’s decisions will be entertained. 

1.4  Submission & Authenticity 

(a)  Photographs submitted must have been taken by the participant at The GEAR building during the designated photo-taking period (22 June – 5 July 2026). Interior photographs (Zones B–E) must be taken during the scheduled tour sessions and within the corresponding tour route. Exterior photographs (Zone A) may be taken either during a tour session or independently by the participant, subject to clause (b) below. 

(b)  Participants intending to take exterior photographs outside the scheduled tour sessions must notify the organising team by email at least 24 hours in advance, providing their name, student identification, and planned date and time of visit. On-site security will be informed in advance to allow photography on premises. Photographs taken without prior notification may be disqualified at the Organiser’s discretion. 

(c)  Submitted images must not have been previously used for commercial purposes, published, or awarded prizes in other competitions — locally or abroad. 

(d)  Digital enhancements — including colour grading, sharpening, contrast adjustment, exposure correction, cropping, and conversion to black-and-white — are permitted, provided that the authentic representation of the subject matter is retained. 

(e)  The use of generative artificial intelligence (including but not limited to generative fill, AI image generation, augmented reality compositing, and content-aware manipulation) is strictly prohibited and will result in automatic disqualification. 

(f)  Photographs may be taken using any camera — DSLR, mirrorless, film, instant film, or smartphone. All camera types are accepted. 

(g)  Files must be submitted in JPEG format. No watermarks, signatures, or other identifying marks are permitted on submitted images, to ensure anonymity during judging. 

(h)  Participants may be required to submit RAW files, unedited originals, and/or files with full EXIF metadata for verification of authenticity. Failure to provide these upon request will result in disqualification. 

1.5  On-Site Conduct 

(a)  Participants must comply with all on-site safety and access guidelines issued by The GEAR staff at all times. 

(b)  Photography is restricted to the approved Photography Zones only. Participants must not access restricted areas or interfere with the operations of tenants and occupants within The GEAR. 

(c)  The use of drones and any other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is strictly prohibited at all times, due to The GEAR’s location within the restricted airspace surrounding Singapore Changi International Airport. Any participant found using a drone will be immediately disqualified and reported to the relevant authorities. 

(d)  Tripods and professional lighting equipment may be used in designated areas only, subject to confirmation by on-site staff. 

(e)  Participants are solely responsible for their own equipment, personal belongings, and safety while on site. The Organiser shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or injury sustained during the photo-taking period. 

1.6  Copyright & Intellectual Property 

(a)  The images submitted must be the original creation of the participant. 

(b)  By submitting your entry, you declare that you are the sole owner of the copyright and any other intellectual property rights in the submitted images, and you agree to indemnify the Organiser against any losses, claims, or damages arising from any third-party claims relating to your submission. 

(c)  You warrant that the submitted images do not infringe the rights of any third party. The Organiser is not responsible for any intellectual property infringement that may arise from your submission. 

(d)  You warrant that any identifiable individuals appearing in your photographs have consented to their image being used for the purposes of this Contest. The Organiser reserves the right to request evidence of such consent. 

(e)  Participants retain copyright of their submitted photographs. 

(f)  By submitting your entry, you grant the Organiser and Kajima Corporation a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual licence to publish, reproduce, adapt, distribute, display, and translate the submitted images in any manner and media — including printed and electronic media — for the following purposes: 

• Operating, administering, and promoting this Contest and future editions thereof;
• Displaying the images on the Organizer’s websites, social media accounts, and future digital channels, as well as those of Kajima Corporation;
• Issuing media releases, press pitches, and publications relating to The GEAR;
• Fringe activities, roadshows, exhibitions, and corporate publications (both printed and online), including the photo archive of The GEAR.
• This licence applies to all submitted photographs, not only winning entries.
• The Organiser may, at its discretion, credit the photographer (“Photo by [Name]”) on reproductions of submitted images, but is not obliged to do so in all instances. The Organizer will not reproduce the work in any manner intended to cause damage to the photographer’s reputation.
• Participants who wish to withdraw their consent for image use must do so in writing before the submission deadline. Withdrawal after submission will result in disqualification. 

1.7  Disqualification 

Entries may be disqualified at the sole discretion of the Organizer for any of the following reasons: 

• Incomplete submission or failure to meet technical requirements 

• Photographs taken outside the designated period or location 

• Evidence of AI generation or prohibited image manipulation 

• Inability to produce RAW files or metadata upon request 

• Use of drones or any unmanned aerial vehicles 

• Plagiarism or infringement of a third party’s intellectual property 

• Misrepresentation of eligibility status 

• Failure to comply with on-site conduct guidelines 

• Submission containing profanity, demeaning content, or direct attacks on individuals or organizations. 

• Withdrawal of consent for image use after submission 

1.8  General & Indemnity 

(a)  The participant agrees to release, indemnify, and hold harmless the Organizer, Kajima Corporation, its affiliates, subsidiaries, employees, directors, agents, and representatives from any and all claims, demands, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with the participant’s entry, participation in the Contest, or the use of the participant’s submitted photographs by the Organiser in accordance with these Rules & Regulations. 

(b)  Participation in the Contest is voluntary. The Organiser shall not be held liable for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the participant’s participation, or from the acceptance or use of any prize awarded. 

(c)  The Organiser reserves the right to modify or cancel the Contest, or any of its arrangements, schedules, plans, or related items, at any time and for any reason deemed necessary. 

(d)  The Organiser reserves the right to replace any prize with an item of similar value without prior notice. Prizes are non-transferable and non-exchangeable for cash. 

(e)  The Organiser will not be liable for technical, hardware, or software failures, or for lost or unavailable network connections that may limit a participant’s ability to submit an entry. 

(f)  By registering for the Contest, you agree to receive email updates and communications from the Organiser relating to the Contest. You may unsubscribe at any time after the Contest concludes. 

(g)  By providing your personal data, you consent to its collection, use, and disclosure by the Organiser for the purposes of administering and promoting the Contest, in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (Singapore). 

(h)  In the event of any dispute regarding these Rules & Regulations, the Organiser shall have the right to make the final interpretation and decision. 

(i)  These Rules & Regulations shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Singapore. 

1.9  Enquiries 

For general enquiries regarding these Rules & Regulations or technical difficulties with the submission process, please contact: thegear.innovation@kajima.com.sg.