7th annual Prime Hook Nature Photography contest is on...
The annual Prime Hook Photography Contest will soon feature some of the very best of nature photography in the region.
This is the seventh year that the annual contest and exhibit will be held at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers, including student photographers. Photographs must be of nature and the entries each year showcase the dramatic and beautiful landscapes and scenery of Delmarva.
Each year, hundreds of entries are submitted. A panel of professional photographers judges the entries and prizes are awarded to the best entries in the various categories. Last year's grand prize winner was Jack Foley's memorable photograph of a great blue heron.
Photographs may be submitted between September 1 and October 7. This year's contest will begin with an awards reception on October 17 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM. Photographs will then be on public display at the refuge auditorium from October 17 until November 30.
The Prime Hook Nature Photography Contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers in the following age categories: Junior Student (up to 12 years of age), Senior Student (13 to 17 years of age) and adult (18 or over).
Entries may be in any or all of four categories: Delmarva Scenery (landscapes or seascapes), Native Wildlife, Native Flowers and Plants, and The Beauty of Prime Hook. To qualify as Delmarva Scenery, a photograph should have been taken somewhere on the Delmarva Peninsula. The Native Wildlife category includes photographs of native animals, birds, fish, insects, and amphibians. The Native Flowers and Plants category is limited to Delmarva’s wild flora. The Beauty of Prime Hook encompasses only photographs taken within the boundaries of the Refuge. No photograph in any category may contain persons or man-made structures.
For the purposes of this contest, "native" should be taken to mean "not introduced by humans." Photographs of domestic animals are not permitted in the Native Wildlife category. With respect to flowers and plants, the matter can be confusing. Cultivated garden flowers and plants or those which have escaped from gardens and now grow in the wild are considered non-native. Photographs of them cannot be entered in the Native Flowers and Plants category. The Photographic Society of America’s definition of a nature photograph will be strictly adhered to: Eligible subjects include trees, wildflowers, weeds, grasses, fungi, ferns, mosses, animals or birds (except domesticated), reptiles, insects, fossils, weather, land/seascapes (without boats or other human evidence), geological formations, etc. Banding is acceptable on birds. Ineligible subjects include cultivated plants or flowers, domestic animals (dogs, cows, etc.), scenes which show human artifacts (fences, buildings, telephone wires, etc.), museum habitats or groups, or subjects that have since become extinct.
Only color prints no larger than 12" x 16" will be accepted. Each should be matted in white but unframed and should have the name, address and phone number of the entrant as well as the name of the photograph and the category in which it is to be entered placed on the reverse side of the matte. The total dimensions (i.e. the photograph plus the matte) cannot exceed 16" x 20". Digital photographs are acceptable in all categories.
Please use adequate adhesive. It is strongly suggested that all prints be mounted to the matte board (not inserted or taped). There is a mounting spray available in art or photographic supply stores. Proper mounting will preserve, protect, and better present your photograph. It will also prevent mattes and/or photographs from coming loose and falling during the exhibit, which has been a common problem during past contests.
To be entered in the contest, photographs must be mailed or hand-delivered to the Refuge Office on or before October 7, 2010. The Refuge address is 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton, DE 19968 (off Broadkill Road). Refuge hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are unable to pick up your entry after the exhibit closes on November 30, 2010, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your submission. Entries not picked up before January 1, 2011, will become the property of the Friends of Prime Hook. They may be used for promotional purposes or fundraising. The Friends of Prime Hook assume no liability for entries lost or damaged during the exhibit.
The entry fee is $5 per photograph or 6 for $25 and must be included with the submitted photographs. Student entries are free. Please make all checks payable to the Friends of Prime Hook N.W.R.
Three professional photographers will serve as judges. The Grand Prize, which is awarded to the person submitting the entry judged "Best in Show," is participation in the "Wild Delaware Photography Workshop" with renowned National Geographic photographer Kevin Fleming. The workshop features a four-hour, one-on-one session with Mr. Fleming out in the field and in the studio. A $100 prize will also be a part of the "Best in Show" award. Monetary awards will also be given to the first, second, and third place winners in each category and to the student winners. If you cannot be present at the reception, your award will be mailed to you.
For more information or details, please contact the Refuge at (302) 684-8419.
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