Our Back Yard:  SMLC Nature Preserves
 
Photography Competition
 
  Invitation to Submit  

The Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy Photography Competition is one of our ways of encouraging you to visit our nature preserves.  It is intended to showcase the beauty of the preserves, and recognize your photographic talents.  Winning photographs will be exhibited at several local venues.

ELIGIBILITY         
- Participation is open to all members and non-members of Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy.
- SMLC Staff, Board Members, Photo Committee Members and SLC Councilors may not submit photographs for consideration. 
- Any photograph taken after January 1, 2007 may be submitted. 
- All photographs must have been taken at one of the SMLC Nature Preserves. 

LOCATION OF SMLC PRESERVES
A map showing the location and directions to SMLC preserves can be found by clicking here

INITIAL ENTRY PROCEDURE
An initial review of the photographs submitted will be made by a jury of professional photographers and representatives of SMLC.  A photographer may submit up to two entries per category.  Categories are:

• Wildlife
• Plants and Wildflowers
• People
• Landscapes
• Agriculture

Initial submissions must be delivered to SMLC no later than July 15, 2008. 
Photographs must be submitted electronically, by email or on a disk.  Email files to photocontest@SMLCland.org OR gophergreen@gmail.com
(both e-mail addresses will get photos to the judges)

If you prefer, you may mail disks to SMLC, 8383 Vreeland Rd., Superior Twp., MI 48198.  (disks will not be returned)
Format File Names in this manner:

Category_Last Name_A
Category_Last Name_B
Etc.

Please keep files submitted for review to a maximum of 3MB, and no more than 300 dpi.
Include a reference sheet with the following:

• Your name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email address

Also include a thumbnail image of the picture with the following information next to it:

• File name
• Title of work
• Print dimensions
• Date and location photograph was taken
• Any comments you wish to include
• How you learned about the contest

Photographers will be notified of initial jury results by July 30, 2008.

FINAL JUDGING AND AWARDS
If your photograph is selected for final judging, a print of your photograph must then be submitted for final judging.    The print must be sized between 16” x 16” and 16” x 20”.

Prints of entries accepted for final jury must be delivered to SMLC by August 15, 2008.
SMLC will mat and frame all entries accepted for the final judging. 

Final judging will be by a jury of local professional photographers, and representatives of SMLC.  Awards will be announced at the SMLC 20th Anniversary Celebration, to be held September 2008 (exact date to be announced) at the Conservancy Farm in Superior Twp..  

All accepted entries will be posted on the SMLC web site, and our members will be invited to vote on their favorite photograph at the Anniversary Celebration in September.  Awards will be made for first, second and third place in each category. 

LOGISTICS AND AGREEMENT
The SMLC may retain possession of the winning works for up to one year, and may show them in a traveling display to educate the public about the beauty of our preserves. All displays will include the photographer’s name, and the title of the work.  The SMLC will accept responsibility for the photographs while they are in our possession, but will not be responsible for any works delivered in damaged condition.  Condition reports will be made for each work upon arrival.  Please make sure each work is identified with the photographer’s name, title, which direction is up and photographer contact information.

All framed and matted photographs will be returned to the photographer after one year, unless the photographer chooses to donate the work to SMLC.

Submission of a work to SMLC constitutes an agreement to comply with all of the conditions set forth in this prospectus.  The jury panel reserves the right to a final selection of accepted works and award winners.  The decisions of the jury are final.

All photographers will be notified of the panel’s decisions.  Copies of all works accepted for display or award may be submitted to any other show, or displayed in any other manner by the photographer, without restriction.

RIGHTS AND REPRODUCTIONS
SMLC reserves the right to reproduce in color, or black and white, all entries accepted for the exhibition regardless of copyright.  Reproductions may be used for publicity or educational purposes only.