​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 the membership fee of $15. A maximum of 6 photos may be submitted in the 4 base categories, with no more than 2 photos submitted per category. Up to 2 additional photos may be submitted to the bonus category. All photos must be the entrants own work.
2. Photos submitted to previous WGNSS photo contests may not be entered in the 2021 contest.
3. Categories for the 2021 Photo Contest are as follows:
   1. Vertebrates
   2. Invertebrates
   3. Vascular and non-vascular plants, lichens, and fungi
   4. Habitats and landscapes
   5. Bonus – Missouri’s Species of Conservation Concern
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 cropping and reasonable adjustments to exposure and color.
6. Photos should not include a ‘watermark’, signature or any other marking that could link the work to the photographer.

Submitted photos must be at least 2 MB and not more than 5 MB in size. If a photo ​​places, the photographer may be asked to provide the highest resolution of that photo available for printing purposes.

    8.  Photo captions are requested. At a minimum, all submitted  photos must include:
         a.  Name of the plant, animal, or subject
         b.  Location where the image was taken
         c.  Photographer’s name
         d.  Category the photo is being entered   
    9.  Bonus Category  
         a. All Contest rules listed here apply.
         b.  This category will not be eligible for the Grand Prize.
  10.  The photographer retains copyrights to their work. However, the photographer gives WGNSS permission to use any photo submitted for non-commercial purposes.
   11.  Photo entries may be submitted between January 1 and February 28, 2023.

Submit photos and address all questions regarding the WGNSS 2023 Photo Contest to: Miguel Acosta (WGNSS Nature Photography Group Chairperson), at  wgnssphotocontest@gmail.com.
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Judging         

1. Judging is based on two equally-weighted main elements:

          a.  Artistic and technical qualities (e.g., composition, sharpness, etc.).
          b.  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.  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.
     3.  Following, all WGNSS members in attendance will select the Grand Prize winner by secret ballot. The photo with the most points will be acclaimed the Grand Prize winner.
     4.  If Covid-19 restrictions are still in effect, the contest will be conducted entirely virtually.

​Awards

1. Each category will have a 1st prize -$200, 2nd prize - $100, 3rd prize - $50, and Honorary Mention.
2. There will be one Grand Prize (bonus category not eligible for grand prize) - $300
3. All award-winning photos will be professionally printed and mounted for display at appropriate venues. Winning photographers will be given their photos at the end of the display season.