Photo Contest: Nature's Best Magazine
Website: Nature's Best
Open for Submissions: Jan 9th, 2006- April 29th, 2006
Categories: ANIMAL ANTICS: Wildlife in humorous or surprising situations.
ART IN NATURE: Naturally occurring artistic compositions in nature.
BACKYARD HABITAT: Native wild animals or plants photographed in backyard settings.
CAMERA CLUB: A selection of up to 20 photographs may be submitted as a group entry by a camera club with 10 or more members. Note, however, that each individual member can contribute no more than three (3) images to the group submission. Each individual image in a camera club submission must fit within the contest categories, without exception. The entry will be judged as a portfolio and selected on the overall excellence of the entire group of submitted images. Participating club members are permitted to submit a personal entry (up to 20 images) separate from the Camera Club entry, and may include the same images in both submissions.
CREATIVE DIGITAL: Any nature-related image or combination of images that is created and/or manipulated using digital/electronic technology (Adobe Photoshop, etc). Let your imagination go wild! Please provide details on all techniques used.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: Plants or animals that are listed as endangered species by the IUCN. Please visit www.redlist.org to confirm the endangered status of a species before submitting to this category.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Images that document current environmental issues.
LANDSCAPE: Dramatic scenes and unusual perspectives of land providing expansive views.
OCEANS: The fascinating world of the sea. Coral reefs, marine life, etc. Photos above the surface are welcome.
PEOPLE IN NATURE: People enjoying the outdoors; backpackers, kayakers, divers, hikers, etc. in scenic locales.
PLANT LIFE: Flowers, trees, and other flora in their natural habitat.
WILDLIFE: Wild animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, etc.) photographed in their natural habitat (no captive animals).
YOUTH: An entry of up to 20 photographs submitted by a photographer 18 years old or younger. Each individual image in a youth submission must fit within the contest categories, without exception.
ZOOS & AQUARIUMS: Images may include animal portraits, behavior, zoo-keepers working with animals, visitors (may require model release), special events, etc. All photographs must have been taken at American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA) member zoos and aquariums. (See the complete AZA member list at www.aza.org).
Number of Entries: 20 max
Cost: US $20
Eligibility: Open to all, amateur and professional
Prizes: OVer $10000 cash prizes, over $2500 for Grand Prize
Submissions: Entries must be color transparencies (slides) 35mm or larger, high-resolution scans of color transparencies, or digitally captured images taken with a 5+ megapixel digital camera set at the camera's highest resolution (RAW) capture setting. Each submission is limited to a total of no more than 20 images. Prints will not be accepted. Entries will be judged on technical quality, composition, originality, and artistic merit.
Submit all entries in a single package, with all transparencies in protective plastic sheets (PrintFile, etc.) and with all digital images burned onto a single CD. If you are submitting digital files, please include on your CD (for each digital image you are submitting) a copy of your RAW or other original file as it came out of the camera or film scanner, your processed digital file (in TIFF format sized to 20 inches on the longest side at 400dpi resolution), and a JPEG version of your image (sized to 1,000 pixels on the longest side at 72dpi resolution).
For preliminary judging, high quality duplicate transparencies will also be accepted. However, if an image is selected for final round judging, the original transparency will be required prior to finalizing contest results. Each transparency mount or file name must bear the photographer’s name, phone number, and state or country of residence.
Entrants must not infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person or submit images that involve the willful harassment of wildlife or damage to the environment by the photographer. With the exception of entries in the Creative Digital category (in which anything goes!), all photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared in the viewfinder. Nothing should be added to an image, and, aside from minor dust spots, nothing should be taken away. Cropping and minor adjustments to color and contrast are acceptable.
Please include with each submission the following typewritten information: Your complete contact information, including your email address, street address, and phone number, as well as a brief description of each image and where it was taken (including all of the camera equipment you used to capture the image, such as camera body, lens, film, flash, filters, tripod, etc. and any recorded shutter speed and aperture settings).
SEND ENTRIES TO:
Via US Postal Service:
Nature's Best Photography Awards
P.O. Box 10070
McLean, Virginia 22102
Via Courier Service (FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.):
Nature's Best Photography Awards
11411-C Sunset Hills Road
Reston, Virginia 20190
Phone: 703-467-9783
Questions? Call us at 703- 467-9783 or e-mail: awards@naturesbestmagazine.com
Winners Notified: Fall Collectors Edition of Nature's Best Magazine
