Colonial Photography Contest
Terms
The Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District’s (CSWCD) Second Annual Colonial Photography Contest is officially open for entries and will end on August 31, 2024, at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the contest rules, states that they are 18 years old or older, and certifies that they are the sole creator and copyright owner of the submitted photograph.
Who may enter
The contest is open to photographers who are 18 years old or older. Individuals affiliated with the Colonial District, including District staff and directors and their immediate families (children, parents, siblings, and spouses) and others living in their households, are not eligible to win. CSWCD will determine winners’ eligibility in its sole discretion. To be eligible for any category, a photograph must have been shot by the entrant within the Colonial District (Charles City, New Kent, James City, or York counties, or the city of Williamsburg) and the location where the photograph was taken must be submitted along with the photograph.
Photograph Categories
Plants and Fungi
Portrayals of any plant or fungus in its natural environment. Images should highlight their ecological roles and importance, unique features, or incredible beauty. Includes flowers, trees, shrubs, and vegetation in general, as well as lichen, and fungi such as mushrooms.
Wildlife: Birds
Portrayals of birds in their natural environments that capture their behaviors, habitats, or relationships with each other or other species. Images of domestic animals and captive animals photographed in zoos and commercial game farms are not permitted.
Wildlife: Invertebrates
Portrayals of any invertebrates (anything without a spine) in their natural environment that capture their behaviors, habitats, or relationships with each other or other species. Includes, but not limited to insects (bees, butterflies, beetles, etc.), arachnids (spider, mites, etc.), worms, mollusks (snails, clams, oysters, scallops, etc.), crustaceans, etc. Images of domestic animals and captive animals photographed in zoos and commercial game farms are not permitted.
Macro
Images capturing our world from much smaller point of view. Photographs can feature fungi, plants, or animals. Select subjects and features that are likely to be surprising to most people once seen up close, like butterfly wings or horsefly eyes.
Freshwater
Images capturing freshwater bodies and systems. Images should feature lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, or the lives they support. Could be a landscape or portray wildlife such as freshwater plants, animals, or their interactions within their environment.
Urban Wildlife
Images of wildlife in your backyard that capture their behaviors, habitats, or relationships with each other or other species. Images of domestic animals and captive animals are not permitted.
Wildlife: Mammals
Portrayals of mammals in their natural environments that capture their behaviors, habitats, or relationships with each other or other species. Images of domestic animals and captive animals photographed in zoos and commercial game farms are not permitted.
Wildlife: Reptiles and Amphibians
Portrayals of reptiles and amphibians in their natural environments that capture their behaviors, habitats, or relationships with each other or other species. Includes, but not limited to, snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises, and crocodilians, as well as frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. Images of domestic animals and captive animals photographed in zoos are not permitted.
Underwater Life
Portrayals of aquatic life in their natural environments that capture their behaviors, habitats, or relationships with each other or other species and highlight the ecological importance of aquatic ecosystems. Images can include aquatic animals or plants, as well as interactions in larger ecosystems.
Lands
Images capturing hills, fields, or forests. Images could include wildlife, but the primary focus should be the land.
On the Farm
Images that capture the beauty that exists on the farms in the district, whether it be fields, livestock, or wildlife. Just remember it should be nature photography, so make sure your focus is on the natural world on the farm.
Shorelines
Images capturing the beauty of the extensive shorelines in our district. Includes images above the water’s surface, such as waves, or below, capturing a larger view of river/bay life. Your image can include wildlife, but the primary focus should be on the shoreline.
Cropped photos are eligible in all categories. Minor adjustments, including the removal of sensor dust or scratches on scans of negatives, dodging and burning, sharpening, contrast, toning, slight color adjustment and conversion to grayscale are acceptable for all categories. The addition and subtraction of objects is not permitted. Images generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not permitted.
For a photo in which a person is recognizable, you must be prepared to provide a model release from the subject or, in the case of a minor, the subject’s parent or guardian, to the Smithsonian upon request.
Ethics
Entrants must disclose the circumstances under which an image was captured as well as any instructions given to a subject. The welfare of a subject and its environment must be placed ahead of the desire to capture a photograph. Upon entering the contest, entrants certify that subjects were treated with respect and dignity, and that no people, wildlife or the environment were harmed in creating a photograph.
If baiting was used to attract wildlife, or special equipment such as camera traps and drones used to capture the photograph, this must be disclosed. Live baiting of wildlife is not permitted.
How to Enter
Please submit photographs and requested information online through our website here. You may submit up to three photographs in total and they can be for the same category or different ones. In order to be displayed in our online gallery without being stretched or distorted, photographs must be submitted in .jpeg, .jpg or .gif format, edited for web in sRGB color space, at least 2,000 pixels wide and no larger than 10 MB. You must complete a separate form for each photo submitted. We do not accept photographs submitted through the mail and do not accept more than one contestant per e-mail address. The CSWCD may collect a photograph’s metadata upon entry.
You retain your rights to your photograph; however, by entering the contest, you grant the CSWCD (and those authorized by the CSWCD) a royalty-free, world-wide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to publicly display, distribute, reproduce and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or later developed, for any purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion of the magazine and its website, exhibition, and commercial products. The CSWCD will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such uses.
Use of your personal data
Participation in the contest requires the collection of your name and email address. By entering this contest, you are consenting to the use of your name and email address for further communications regarding this contest.
Entry deadline
All entries must be received through our website here by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on August 31, 2024.
Judging
Photograph entries will be judged based on creativity, quality, originality, and overall impact. There will be one winner for each category. CSWCD will notify winners via the contact information provided at the time of entry; CSWCD may disqualify anyone who fails to respond to the notification within five business days.
Prizes
Winners will receive a 2025 calendar that includes their photograph(s).
