Photo Contest 2020!

The Photo Contest 2020, presented by Wild Ones – Tennessee Valley Chapter, is intended to encourage members of the chapter to get outdoors and to explore and learn about native plant gardens and other natural spaces. The chapter also wants to document in photography the beauty of native flora and fauna in the Tennessee Valley area and to showcase the photography skills of the chapter members.

All photos submitted must include plant(s) and wildlife(s) native to the Tennessee Valley region. Recognition prizes will be provided in six categories:

  • Native plants and flowers: Portraits highlighting a selected species of native plants and/or its blooms
  • Native wildlife and native plants: Portraits of native wildlife interacting with native plants
  • Insects, butterflies, moths and other pollinators interacting with native plants
  • Natural landscapes: Scenic views of wild places
  • Home or commercial landscape and garden designs featuring native plants: Scenic views of gardens and landscapes that feature native plants, including designed groupings of native plants or other views of designed gardens
  • Native plant, wildlife and landscape photography by youth, ages 16 and under

The entry deadline is September 30, 2020.

 

By entering this competition, you agree to these terms and conditions:

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

  • Each individual submitting photographs MUST be a member of the Wild Ones, Tennessee Valley Chapter (TVWO). Please note that a Wild Ones membership entitles all individuals living in the same household to membership benefits. Individuals living in the same member household may enter separately. To join: https://wildones.org/membership/
  • Each photograph must have been taken by the person entering the contest.
  • Amateurs only! No professional photographers. You are considered a professional photographer if more than half of your income is derived from photography.

HOW TO ENTER

  • All photos (see technical requirements below) must be submitted by September 30, 2020 using the online entry form at TNValleyWildOnes.org/photo-contest
  • A maximum of four (4) photographs may be submitted by each entrant.  Submit each entry separately, using the online entry form.
  • Each entry MUST be accompanied by your name, email address, telephone number.
  • Each entry MUST designate which one of the six categories (listed above) in which to be judged.
  • Each entry MUST include the species name AND Latin name of at least one featured native plant that is included in the photograph.
  • Each entry MUST include a brief description of and an interesting fact about the subject matter of the photograph. Remember, the better naturalist you are, the better plant and wildlife photographer you will become!
  • If possible, indicate the approximate date (month and year) that the photograph was taken.
  • Each photograph may be submitted in only one category, as selected by the entrant.

CONTEST ENTRY PERIOD

  • All entries must be submitted by 11:59pm North American Eastern Standard Time (EST) on September 30, 2020.
  • TVWO anticipates notifying winners by late October 2020.
  • Winners will be announced publicly at the Chapter’s Annual Meeting on November 7, 2020, and any photographs entered in the contest may appear on the TVWO website and social media.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Entries must be submitted as digital files in jpeg format.
  • Each photo must be a minimum file size of 1.5MB.
  • It is recommended that photos be at least 1600 pixels wide (if a horizontal image) or 1,600 pixels tall (if a vertical image).
  • Larger images are acceptable and may improve your photo’s quality.
  • All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization will be disqualified. Acceptable changes include adjustments to color, contrast, brightness and sharpness; removal of dust and scratches; cropping; black-and-white conversions; and use of HDR (High Dynamic Range), where multiple exposures of the same scene are combined for a greater tonal range, and similar processes for extended depth of field. Such modifications must be disclosed. Changes that are not acceptable include photo composites (combination of two or more photos, not of the same scene); the addition, duplication, deletion or moving of objects in the photos; or the use of artistic digital filters and effects. Examples of artistic filters and effects are watercolor, neon glow, posterizing, stained glass, and others which do not show the scene as it occurred in nature.

WHAT PHOTOS TO ENTER

  • We are looking for striking color and black-and-white images of native plants, wildlife, gardens and landscapes from the Tennessee Valley area only. Do not include photographs of pets, domestic animals, birds or other animals at feeders or bird baths, captive animals at game farms or roadside zoos, or animals from such facilities photographed elsewhere with handler’s control. Photos including human faces, minors or children are not eligible. Such images will be disqualified.
  • Previously published photos may be entered; however, please include information on when and where the photos appeared. Winning photos from other competitions may also be entered, but include the name of the contests and the years they won. Such information is informative only and will not influence the judge’s decisions.

ETHICS

  • We seek images obtained under natural conditions and in an ethical manner that places the welfare of the plants and animals above the photographer’s desire to obtain an image. Photographers should make every effort to avoid any action that might interfere with natural processes.
  • No photos considered offensive in nature will be allowed. The photo and description should be free of any discriminatory language or images, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to racist, sexist, religious, or ethnic language or images.
  • The Tennessee Valley Chapter of Wild Ones reserves the right not to display photos submitted that are considered offensive or inappropriate in nature.

JUDGING

  • Photographs will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit.
  • All entries will be judged without the name of the photographer associated with the photograph.
  • All decisions by the judge will be final and binding.

PRIZES

  • First, Second and Third Place recognition will be awarded in each of the six categories, as the judge deems appropriate.
  • Honorable Mentions may also be recognized if appropriate.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Entrants retain ownership and rights to future use of the photographs they enter except for the following: Your entry to the contest constitutes your agreement to allow your entered photographs – and your name and photo information – to be shown on the TVWO website, Facebook page, Instagram account, YouTube account, and/or other TVWO social media; and you grant TVWO non-exclusive license to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of the entry (along with name credit) in connection with the promotion of TVWO, its photo contest or its educational programs and events.