Annual photo contest opens

OXFORD COUNTY — The Oxford County Soil & Water District is looking for your best conservation photo to grace the cover of the 2012 Annual Report. The photo must fall under the category of Conservation, but may be any one of the following: Agriculture, Forestry or Soil & Water. One winner will be selected. First prize will be an agricultural package of great items provided by Aubuchon Hardware, Paris Farmers Union and Rosebeck Farm. Three Honorable Mention winners will also be selected, but will not receive prizes. All winning photos will receive media publicity, will be framed, and will be displayed at the Annual Meeting held in April of 2013.

Entry instructions

1. Photos must be submitted in electronic format (jpeg) to jean.federico@me.nacdnet.net. No printed photos will be accepted. Each photo must be named and e-mailed according to photo file name guidelines below.

2. Photo File Names - Photo file names must be the name you wish to title your photo: ie: Smith-Grazing Cows Tip: to rename or label your photo, right click the photo and choose Re-name.

3. Photo e-mail guidelines -  For each photo submission, the subject line of the e-mail must be the same as the photo file name, ie: Smith-Grazing Cows. Please do not add anything else in the subject line.

4. Print the photo release form (and model release form, if needed) from the website, www.oxfordswcd.net; sign and either drop-off or mail to (do not e-mail): Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District, 17 Olson Road, Suite 17, South Paris ME 04281 c/o Jean E. Federico.

5. Digital Enhancement  - Minor digital enhancements for cropping, red-eye removal, filters and corrective functions are permitted, but images that have been judged to be altered in any significant manner will be disqualified. Contestants are not permitted to place borders, frames or backgrounds around their images or to place watermarks, dates, signatures or copyright images onto photos.

6. Previously published photos - Do not send reproductions from a printed publication. Previously published photos are not eligible for the OCSWCD contest.

7. Photo Rights - All entries become the property of OCSWCD and OCSWCD reserves the non-exclusive right to use all photographs in publications for promotional purposes.

Required Forms

1. Entry Form - You may enter more than one photo. You must complete an entry form and photo release for each entry. Any photo without an entry form and signed release will not be considered for the contest.

2. Model/Portrait Release -  Photographs that include recognizable people must include a signed Model Release Form before the photograph will be accepted into the photo contest and displayed. A parent or guardian must consent for people under 18 years old. The Model Release form must be attached to the Photo Entry form that you send through the mail. The Model/Portrait release form is included in the Entry Form information.

Judging Standards

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.

All ages are encouraged to submit photos. Deadline for submitting photos is January 31, 2013.