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Contributors

Contributors

FiNS Magazine is dedicated to showcasing the best of the recreational diving world to our consumer, professional and commercial readers worldwide. Our content primarily focuses upon topics of relevance to the Asia-Pacific area, though we also welcome relevant stories of interest from outside this region.

Recreational diving is a sport and hobby of passion. We are constantly seeking enthusiastic contributors who share our love of the oceans and our wholehearted commitment to sharing this passion with others. Within this context, we accept contributions from both established photojournalists and first-time contributors eager to share experiences and photographs.

Please note that we receive a considerable volume of inquiries and unsolicited materials, and we are not always able to reply. As such, we strongly suggest that prior to sending stories and other materials, potential contributors should submit story proposals and concepts to the editors in the form of a one paragraph summary via email to editor@finsonline.com, with low resolution graphics (72 dpi jpg format, less than 150 kb) attached if appropriate.

Suitable contributions for our established regular features include:

Destination Stories: Stories about diving locations should be a maximum of 1500 words, preferably split into main text of up to 1000 words, with the balance in the form of sidebars. Stories exceeding 1500 words in total will generally not be considered.

We are looking for creative stories, ones that adopt a unique angle, relate personal experiences, describe marine life encounters, examine current event issues, explore environmental issues and so forth. We're less interested in the typical "I went here; I saw this; You should visit" unimaginative narrative.

Please incorporate relevant subheadings to denote section breaks, and at least one sidebar with an interesting side-story on Local Colour - culture, tradition, history, resort staff, food, special events etc.

For all destination stories, please provide a Checklist of standard information, including:

Critter Stories: Narratives about marine life should be no longer than 1000 words, with an ideal length of 750 words. These stories should be about a specific organism or group of organisms that would be of interest to the diving community.

Stories may be framed as interesting personal encounters, general descriptive text, or any other imaginative angle that conveys useful information. Critter stories should be well researched, with relevant fauna and flora properly identified with Genus and species names where possible. Members of our panel of Consultants will review Critter stories for accuracy.

Again, we strongly prefer a section of main text, accompanied by sidebars for readability.

Environment Stories: Protection and preservation of the marine environment and resources is a topic that concerns us all. Stories relating to such issues should be a maximum of 1000 words, written in a non-jargonistic, non-extremist, non-judgmental tone and style.

The tone of environmental stories should be constructive. The purpose of environmental stories is to educate readers about facts, provide a range of views, suggest sources for additional reading, and provide options for taking action where relevant.

Once again, we strongly prefer a section of main text, accompanied by sidebars for readability.

Logbook: We all know someone who takes time to create meticulous and fascinating entries in their logbooks. If you or someone you know does this, send us a scan of your favourite page to share with the rest of the community, along with up to 500 words of text describing the dive experience that inspired the logbook entry.

Lenscape: In this column, we feature a series of photographs related by a common theme. Submissions for Lenscape should include a series of high quality photographs with a common theme or subject, along with a maximum of 350 words describing the theme of the images, the photographer's experiences taking the images, the message intended by the photographs, etc.

Please also include relevant photographic data (Camera, lens, depth, aperture, shutter speed, film or ISO setting, strobes).

Final Frame: In this column, we feature one underwater photograph with an interesting story at the end of each issue. Submissions for Final Frame should include a single photograph of particular interest (subject, angle, experience, composition, technique, etc) along with a maximum of 100 words describing the unique experience or topic related to the photograph.

Please also include relevant photographic data (Camera, lens, depth, aperture, shutter speed, film or ISO setting, strobes).

Other Stories: There's no limit to other potential ideas. If you've got a good idea, or you've got something you really want to share with the diving and marine conservation communities, send us a summary proposal.

Submission Guidelines

Submission Method: Text for approved stories should be sent by email, either within the body of the email, or attached as a text file or MS Word document. Email submissions should take into consideration bandwidth and server storage constraints. Do not send high-resolution files unless we specifically request.

Style: Our house style is standard UK English. Limit use of passive voice sentence structures and perform a spell check prior to submission. For longer submissions, break text up into subsections, and provide relevant subheadings. Sidebars are a must; we don't like to see continuous text of 1500 words. Be creative, incorporate humour where appropriate, and don't take yourself too seriously. All photographs must have clear, meaningful captions.

Photographs/Illustrations: All photographs and illustrations should be of acceptable quality. Photographic transparencies should be either original or first generation duplicates. Digital and scanned images must be provided in Adobe RGB colour space, preferably in 16-bit format, as RAW, TIFF or high quality JPEG files on CD-Rom.

Digital and scanned images should be manipulated as little as possible, limited to cropping, spotting, levels adjustment and the like. Excessive manipulation or distortion of images will reduce the likelihood of publication. Substandard images will not be published, and we reserve the right to use images from other sources and/ or hold stories until such time that suitable images become available.

All images should be properly captioned (including Genus and species names where applicable) and credited. Submissions for destination stories should include a range of underwater and topside images.

Rates: Rates for commissioned stories vary and will be agreed prior to approval of story concept. Contributors will receive a complimentary copy of the issue in which their articles appear.

Copyright: All submissions shall automatically constitute an expressed warranty by the Contributor that all materials are original and in no way an infringement upon any rights of others. We normally require one-time print and electronic usage rights, including the right to publish selected articles and photographs on our website and via selected online partners.

Submission, Usage and Return: Contributors must state their full name, mailing address and email address. Anonymous submissions will not be considered. Please state if the contribution is complimentary.

We will contact Contributors whose submissions we accept. We reserve the right to revise, amend, edit and modify all materials as necessary in our sole discretion.

We will return all materials after publication if a self-addressed envelope and an international reply coupon (or with a stamp if sender resides in Singapore) has been provided. Materials we do not accept will be returned in due course if a self-addressed envelope and an international reply coupon (or with a stamp if sender resides in Singapore) has been provided.

We will take all reasonable care in returning materials. We shall not, however, assume responsibility once materials have been posted.

Unsolicited Materials: We receive a substantial volume of materials. As such, unsolicited materials shall be reviewed in due course. Please note, however, that commissioned stories shall receive priority.

Further inquiries: Please direct further inquiries and story proposals to the editor.