Webster Groves Nature Study Society Natural History Photo Contest
 
Rules
  1. The photo contest is free and open to all members of WGNSS, in good standing.  Non-members wishing to submit photos must pay an entry fee of $15 (the price of membership). Each entrant may submit up to two photos per category in up to three categories for a maximum of six photo entries.  In addition, each entrant may submit one photo essay submission.  All photos must be the entrants own work.
  2. Photos from previous WGNSS photo contests may not be entered in the 2017 contest. 
  3. Categories for the 2017 Photo Contest are as follows:
    1. Vertebrates
    2. Invertebrates
    3. Vascular and non-vascular plants, lichens, and fungi
    4. Habitats and landscapes
    5. Photo Essay/Blog Entry
  4. Photos must be taken in natural settings.  Do not include photos of pets, captive animals or gardens.  If a person is in the photo, the photographer is responsible for getting permission from that person to use the photo.  Entrants must not submit images that depict harassment of wildlife, habitat destruction, or endangerment of any kind. 
  5. Photos should realistically portray the subject and scene as it appeared.  Photos may not be altered beyond slight cropping and reasonable adjustments to sharpness, exposure, color and contrast. 
  6. Photos should not include a ‘watermark’, signature or any other marking that could link the work to the photographer. 
  7. Submitted photos must be at least 2MB and not more than 5MB in size.  If a photo wins, the photographer will be asked to provide the highest resolution of that photo available for printing. 
  8. Photo captions must accompany all submissions and should, at a minimum, include:
    1. Name of the plant, animal or subject
    2. Location where the image was taken
    3. Photographer’s name
    4. Category the photo is being entered     
  9. Photos (including photo essays) must have been taken in Missouri or a contiguous state.
  10. Photo essays must be original writing of the photographer and meet the following criteria:
    1. Essays must be related to the accompanying photographic subjects.  Writing can be fictional/prose or natural history/non-fiction (please include works cited). 
    2. Essays must contain a minimum of 500 and a maximum of 2000 words and must be accompanied by a minimum of three and a maximum of six photographs. 
  11. The photographer/author retains property rights to their work.  However, by submitting the photo/essay, the photographer gives permission to WGNSS to use the photo on its website, in its newsletter, or for other non-commercial purposes. 
  12. Photos and essay/blog entries may be submitted after January 1, and no later than March 1, 2017.  Submit photos and address all questions regarding the WGNSS 2017 Photo Contest to:  Bill Duncan (WGNSS Nature Photography Group Chairperson), at handsomeozarkbillyboy@gmail.com. 
Judging         
  1. Judging is based on two main elements:
    1. Artistic and technical qualities (e.g., composition, sharpness, etc.). 
    2. Illustrated natural history story.  More credit will be given to photos that capture the essence of a habitat, the interaction of a rare native species with its environment, etc. 
  2. Photo essay entries will be judged by the WGNSS Natural History Book Club prior to the April general meeting. 
  3. At the April General meeting, a panel of three judges (photography expert, category naturalist and board member) will select the top three photos from each photo category. 
  4. Attendees at the April 2017 WGNSS General Meeting will select the Grand Prize winner by secret ballot.  The photo with the most points will be acclaimed the Grand Prize winner. 
Awards
  1. There will be one Grand Prize (best natural history photograph – essays not eligible for grand prize) - $300
  2. Each category will have a 1st prize -$200, 2nd prize - $100, 3rd prize - $50, and Honorary Mention. 
  3. All award photos will be professionally printed and mounted for display at appropriate venue(s), e.g., Powder Valley Nature Center.  Winning photographers will be given their photos at the end of the display season.