2016 Texas Native Plant Youth Photo Contest

We are going DIGITAL for our 2016 Texas Native Plant Youth Photo Contest. The contest is now open for entry! The contest was first launched last year, as a way to challenge amateur photographers of all skill levels to use their cameras as a tool to learn more about native plants and pollinators of the Texas Hill Country.

The contest is sponsored by the Native Plant Society of Texas Boerne Chapter, Cibolo Nature Center & Farm and Patrick Heath Public Library.

There will be scheduled workshops to help students with plant identification and nature photography. Native plant guides and photography assistants will be available at the workshops to provide assistance to the students. Workshop participation is not required to enter the contest.

Divisions

Participants will be grouped into the following three divisions:

 Division I – Ages 6 – 9

 Division II – Ages 10 – 13

 Division III – Ages 14 – 18

Categories

One Photograph can be submitted in each of the three (3) categories:

 Close-up of native plant

 Pollinator with a native plant

 Scenic view with native plants

PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES

 The contest is open to amateur photographers who are between 6 and 18 years of age as of June 1, 2016.

 Photographer must comply with one or more of the following:

1) Attend school in the Boerne Independent School District

2) Reside in the Boerne Independent School District

3) Have a parent or guardian that is a member of the Boerne Chapter of the Native Plant Society.

4) Attend a NPSOT sponsored youth workshop on Native plants of the Texas Hill Country.

The purpose of this contest is to expose youth to native plants and photography by encouraging exploration of the outdoors. While it is expected that adults may accompany youth in their photography pursuits, it is CRITICAL that youth photographers and their adults supervisors behave ethically and all photographs be taken by the registered youth participant. The youth photographer must be the one that operates the camera and takes the original image to be submitted.

PHOTO GUIDELINES

 SUBJECT MATTER: All images must be taken outdoors. The photographer’s goal is to showcase the native plants of the Texas Hill Country. • SUGGESTED LOCATIONS: Cibolo Nature Center & Farm, Patrick Heath Public Library, Joshua Springs Park & Preserve, Kruetzberg Canyon Natural Area, James Kiel River Bend Park, Guadalupe River State park.

 Photos not taken of Texas Hill Country Native plants will be disqualified.

CONTEST PERIOD

• The photo contest begins Monday March 7th and ends Sunday May 22nd

• There is no one registration date, it is a ROLLING ENTRY.

• Youth may enter their photos anytime between March 7th and May 22nd.

• Images uploaded after the deadline of 5:00PM on May 22, 2016, will not be accepted.

• The Winner Announcements will be on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at 6:30pm at Cibolo Nature Center Auditorium.

• All entrants and their families are invited to attend.

PHOTO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• FORMAT of PHOTOGRAPH: Entries must be submitted as digital photos in a JPG format and uploaded [email protected]. Include parent name, contact information, and school attending or home schooled.

• Nothing can be added or taken out of the photograph and no colors can be changed. Minor cropping is allowed. Image optimization (enrichment or enhancement) is allowed.

• Entries will be posted on www.boerne.smugmug.com.

LABELING/PHOTO DESCRIPTION

Each photograph will need to be clearly labeled with the division, category, plant(s) name, pollinator name, last name, and first name. File names should look as followed.

Example: John Smith, age 11, Bluebonnet, Bee

Close up of a native plant category would label file as: Division 2_Category A_Bluebonnet_Bee_Smith_John.jpg

JUDGING

 Judging will consist of a panel comprised of professional nature photographers and community members.

 Judges will determine the placing based on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic

merit.

 Judges decision on all entries is final.

 All photo submissions must be in compliance with contest rules and meet submission requirements.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS

 The announcement of contest winners will take place at Cibolo Nature Center Auditorium, June 7, 2016 at 6:30p.m.

 There will be one winner in each category in each division (9 winners).  There will be “Honorable Mention Certificates” awarded as determined by the judges.

 One “People’s Choice Award” will be awarded. Voting will be on June 7th between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM. Category winners and entries receiving an “Honorable Mention Certificate” are eligible to win the “People’s Choice Award.”

 Available sponsor prizes will be awarded to category winners and honorable mention recipients.

 All entrants, their families, guest, and NPSOT members are invited to vote for the “People’s Choice Award” and attend the announcements.

OWNERSHIP & USE OF IMAGES

 Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to use of the photographs.

 In addition, your entry to the contest constitutes your agreement to your entered photographs to be used for promotion by the Native Plant Society Of Texas and the Cibolo Nature Center & Farm, for their purposes, including, but not limited to, production of brochures, promotion of future contests, public relations, advertising, education, books, and other media, without compensation.

Contact Information: Rheda Boardman [email protected]