The fall harvest is underway, farmer’s markets are bustling, tractors are running into the wee hours, and the sunsets take your breath away all in this beautiful western slope region in which we are all so proud to live. Why not take a moment to snap a few shots of all of this surrounding beauty and “Capture the Spirit”? Celebrate our agricultural community and enter these photos into the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts (CACD) Conservation and/or the Colorado Department of Agriculture Photo Contests?
The Delta Conservation District is currently accepting entries to the CACD Photo Contest from all aspiring amateur photographers! Participants can enter as many as five photos total per category each year. Each photo has to fit in one of the four natural resource conservation photo categories: Conservation Practices, Close-Up Conservation, Conservation in Action, and Agriculture and Conservation across America. The Delta Conservation District Website, www.DeltaCD.net, contains the required entry instructions that provide a complete description of how to submit photographs, accepted photo formats, judging, use of the photos and prizes.
All photo entries will be taken to the CACD’s Annual Conference in November. At the conference in November, one winner will be selected for each category and age division. CACD photo contest winners in each category will receive $25. Winning photos will be sent to the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) contest. The NACD winner will then be displayed at NACD’s Annual Meeting, which will be held in February in Las Vegas, NV.
Photos will be judged on technical merit and composition. For technical merit, judges may check to see if the photo is well-framed, properly exposed and sharp and clear. For composition, judges determine if the photo features a recognizable center of interest, action and imagination and creativity.Minor digital enhancements for cropping, red-eye removal, filters and corrective functions are permitted, but images may not be altered graphically in any significant manner or they may be disqualified. Contestants are not permitted to place borders, frames or backgrounds directly onto their images or place watermarks, dates, signatures or copyright images onto actual photos. Entries along with photo release forms are due to The Delta Conservation District by November 1, 2011 located at 690 Industrial Blvd, Delta.
Simultaneously occurring is this year’s Colorado Department of Agriculture’s 14th annual photography contest, “Colorado…it’s AgriCultural”, open to BOTH amateur and professional photographers. According to Commissioner of Agriculture John Salazar, “The contest celebrates the diversity of Colorado agriculture as well as its importance to the state’s economy. It is exciting to see how photographers capture the spirit of agriculture in the state.” Entries for this contest must be submitted to The Delta Conservation District by November 1. Contestants submitting CACD photo entries may also submit those same photos to this contest. Photos must be taken in the 2011 calendar year and relate to Colorado agriculture in some way. Prizes will be awarded in five subject areas: agritourism, crops, livestock, people, and open professional. Both amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to enter. However, professionals may only enter agriculture-related photographs in the “open professional” category.
Judging in the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s photo contest will be based on theme, creativity and technical quality. The photographer whose picture best depicts the “spirit” of Colorado agriculture will receive a $150 gift card, and category winners will receive a “Colorado…it’s AgriCultural” prize pack. All winning photographs will be displayed in the Beede-Hamil Agriculture Building at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo.
Entries due by November 1, 2011 5pm to Delta Conservation District office
Entry form and photo release form (s) must accompany photo to be eligible for judging.
1) Fill out this form. One form for each entry.
2) Fill out photo release form (s) and sign.
3) Electronic version of photo must accompany picture when submitted. (The District has scanner available, if needed.)
Downloadable Contest Rules and Entry Forms
CACD Photo Contest Rules
CACD Photo Entry Form
Department of Agriculture Contest Rules and Entry Form
