olive magazine ‘Cook the cover’ challenge T&Cs

Want to sharpen up your photography skills? Gillian McNeill, olive’s art director, shares her top tips.

1. Choose your angle. Show off the food’s most interesting features. While a salmon dish looks lovely from overhead, something else, like a burger, will look stronger from the side.
2. Lighting. Bright and sunny? Moody and dark? Make sure your light source matches the mood. Daylight is great, but if you have to shoot indoors, consider using an out-of-shot table lamp.
3. Props. Keep it simple – go for pale woods and neutral ceramics.

Terms and conditions

The Promoter is Immediate Media Company London Ltd. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.

The promotion is open to all residents of the UK, including the Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older (entrants under 18 must have parent/guardian’s permission) except the Promoter’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members.

The closing date for each challenge is 23.59 on the final sale date of the month of that issue. For example, the July issue challenge will close on the 15 July. The next challenge shall open for entries as soon as that issue goes on sale.

Closing dates are as follows:

15 July (July issue close date); 12 August (August issue); 9 September (September issue); 7 October (October issue); 28 October (November issue); 2 December (Xmas issue); 30 December (December issue).

Entries must meet the following criteria: the dish in the photo must correspond to the current magazine cover recipe. Photos must closely match the style of the dish as best possible.

The winning photo will be chosen by an independent judge. The judging criteria is creativity, presentation and resemblance to the original.

By entering the promotion, the participants agree:

(a) to be bound by these terms and conditions;

(b) that their surname and county of residence may be released if they win a prize; and

(c) that should they win the promotion, their name and likeness may be used by the Promoter for pre-arranged promotional purposes.

Entrants should enter by sharing their photos on Instagram using the hashtag #olivecookcover or email oliveweb@immediate.co.uk with the subject line ‘Cook the cover’. Entries received after the closing date of the promotion will not be considered.

Entrants must supply to Immediate Media Company Limited their full name, email address and daytime telephone number. The Promoter will use entrants’ personal details in accordance with the Immediate Privacy Policy (www.immediatemedia.co.uk/privacy-policy). These details are being collected and used by the Promoter, not by Instagram.

Only one entry will be permitted per person, regardless of method of entry. Bulk entries made by third parties will not be permitted.

The prize will be a Le Creuset product worth £100, as detailed in that month’s issue.

The winning entrants will be the entry selected by the independent judge based on the judging criteria after the closing date. The Promoter’s decision as to the winner is final and no correspondence relating to the promotion will be entered into. The Promoter may share the details of the winners with the prize provider for the purposes of fulfilling/delivering the prizes.

The winner will be notified within 30 days of the close of the promotion email or direct message on Instagram. If the winner cannot be contacted, or fails to respond within 28 days of such notification being sent, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to a runner up, or to re-offer the prize in any future promotion.

There is no cash alternative and the prize will not be transferable. Prizes must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize with one of the same or greater value.

The surname and county of residence of the winners will be available upon request by sending an SAE to olive Cook the Cover competition, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, W6 7BT within two months of the closing date of the promotion. The Promoter will contact the winner[s] before releasing this information and provide the winners the opportunity to object or limit the amount of information shared.

The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel, alter or amend the promotion at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control.

The Promoter does not accept any responsibility for lost, delayed or fraudulent entries.

The Promoter excludes liability to the full extent permitted by law for any loss, damage or injury occurring to the participant arising from his or her entry into the promotion or occurring to the winners arising from his or her acceptance of a prize.

By entering this promotion you agree to release Instagram of any liability howsoever caused in respect of this promotion.

The promotion is subject to the laws of England.