2008-2009 Dickinson County Nature Photo Contest

Thank you to all who participated in the 2007 photo contest. There were many excellent photographs taken. Congratulations to the winners of 2007. Their photos were published in a 2007 Dickinson County "All Natural" Calendar.

2008-2009 Dickinson County Nature Photo Contest Forms available here.

Following are the rules and instructions for the 2008-2009 Contest. Note there are a few changes from last year.

Sponsors: Dickinson Conservation District, others to be announced

The Conservation District thanks the following sponsors of the 2008 Nature of Dickinson County Calendar: Dickinson Area Partnership; Verso Paper; Roger Hamilton Accounting; Dickinson County Healthcare System; Champion, Inc.; M.J. Electric; The Drug Store; Kingsford Broach & Tool; First National Bank & Trust; Lofholm's Building Center; Northern RV; City of Norway; City of Kingsford; and the City of Iron Mountain.

Divisions:

• YOUTH: through 18 years old
• ADULT: 19 years and older

Categories:

• Waterbodies: Photos that feature lakes, streams, rivers, ponds in or bordering Dickinson County.
• Wildlife: Birds, Mammals, Insects, Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians found in the wild in Dickinson County. No domestic animals like cats, dog, cows, or horses.
• Landscapes: Dickinson County scenery shots that don't feature water.
• Plant Close-Ups: Includes close-up photos of flowers or ferns that grow in the wild (not garden flowers like petunia, marigolds, geraniums), fungi (mushrooms), individual trees or shrubs (leaf/flowers/bark).
• Agriculture: Farm animals, farming practices, 4-H projects, farm equipment at work, barns currently in use.

All photos should be taken in Dickinson County (or water bodies bordering Dickinson County)

Entry Deadline:

Photos must be submitted by August 1, 2008.

Entries may be brought or mailed to the following location:

Dickinson Conservation District 102 N. Hooper Street Kingsford, MI 49802 (906) 774-8441 Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F

Winners: First, second, third and honorable mention will be awarded in each of the Adult Categories. Awards for Youth entries will be at the discretion of the judges. Notification of winners will take place by September 15, 2008.

Awards: Adult Categories: $25 Prize for first place Adult Categories and publication in the 2009 "The Nature of Dickinson County" Calendar, generally to include top two places. Judges reserve the right to select calendar photos to balance season, topic, and reproduction quality. Youth Categories: Awards based on entries.

Return of Photos: All entries become the property of the Dickinson Conservation District, and the Dickinson Conservation District reserves the non-exclusive rights to use all photographs in publications or for promotional purposes. Entrants should keep negatives or extra prints of their photographs. Entered photos will not be returned.

Submissions:

• All photos should be submitted as 8" x 10" Color Prints. Photos should not be framed or matted. We gladly accept digital format, in addition to the hard copies, as winning photos are sent to the calendar printer in digital format.
• The contest is open to amateur photographers (those who make less than 50 percent of their income from photography.)
• Photographers may enter a maximum of one photo per category.
• A completed entry form must accompany each photograph submitted. Forms available here.
• You must be the sole author and owner of all photos entered.
• If your photo contains people, you must have a signed release statement from them with permission to publish their photo through the 2009 Dickinson County Nature Photo Contest.
• Digitally altered photos may be submitted, but natural scenes and subjects are preferred. Digital alteration will be considered during judging.
• Please print these forms and enclose one with each of your photos.

Judging Standards: Photos will be judged on:

1. Technical Merit (Framing of subject to exclude irrelevant or distracting items; Exposure; Sharpness of focus);
2. Composition (Easily recognizable subject, follow rule of thirds);
3. Creativity and Representation of Dickinson County (We're looking for images that will be appropriate for a calendar and depict the uniqueness of Dickinson County.)

Entries may be submitted any time before August 1, 2008.
Have fun and enjoy the Nature of Dickinson County!