"TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT" PHOTO CONTEST RULES

California Waterfowl invites hunters and non-hunters to team up for the second annual “Take Your Best Shot” photo contest, highlighting the beauty of the state’s migratory bird population and the role of hunting in a balanced and healthy ecosystem. The contest will highlight photos of hunters, dogs, decoys, waterfowl and wetland wildlife, and food and family in two categories:  amateur and NEW this year professional.  Great prizes for non-hunters and hunters who win as a team will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category.

Download these Rules and the Entry Form in a Printable PDF

CONTEST RULES

Who can enter: Photographers who have hunted no more than once since October 1, 2004, partner with any licensed California hunter for a waterfowl hunting experience.  Men, women and youth are encouraged to participate.  You must be a California resident to be eligible to win.  Employees of California Waterfowl and their immediate family members are not eligible to win.

How it works: Non-hunter photographers will go into the field with hunters to photograph waterfowl and wetland hunting scenes in California during the 2009-10 waterfowl season, including junior hunts and more, beginning September 26, 2009.  Entries must be submitted by March 15, 2010.

Entrants: Non-hunters photographers and hunters alike – must obey all California laws and regulations, as well as the rules of any particular public or private hunting venue, in the process of obtaining photos for this contest.

Entries:  California Waterfowl is looking for striking photos* that illustrate the beauty and drama of waterfowl, wetlands, and waterfowl hunting, as well as the food and family scenes before and after the hunt.  Photos of particular interest are ones that highlight the drama of the moment, the beauty from the blind, and the relationship of the hunter with his dog, the environment, friends, and family. 

Images will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition and overall impact.  Judges decisions will be final.

*Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard color and contrast, etc. will be disqualified.  This includes the digital addition or deletion of objects in the photos.  Photos will not be returned to the participants. 

Categories: There are two categories:
1.) Amateur – a photographer who has not received income from photography, not including contest prize money
2.) Professional  – a photographer who has received income from photography, beyond contest prize money

Entry Fee: The fee for entry is $15 per photo for amateur and $30 per photo for professional. Proceeds will go toward prizes and the development of future California Waterfowl programs. 

Submissions: Entrants can submit their work one of two ways.  Either upload your photos online of submit your entry by regular mail. 

To submit online, go to MyHuntingRoom.com and complete the entry form and download your high-resolution photo file. 

To submit by mail, send an 8x10, 8x12 or 11x14 glossy prints and a CD or DVD with high-resolution copies of the photos in TIFF or JPEG format.  Entrants should print their name, age category and photo category on the back of prints and on the label side of CDs or DVDs.  Ensure that the image titles on the printed photograph, entry form and cd/dvd match.

Entries should be mailed to:

“Take Your Best Shot” Photo Contest
California Waterfowl
4630 Northgate Blvd., Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834

Deadline: Entries must be received by California Waterfowl by March 15, 2010. Mailed entries should be sent in reinforced or padded envelopes that protect prints and disks. Multiple entries may be sent in a single envelope with one check covering the total entry fee; however, entrants should take care to keep materials for each separate entry – photo print, disks and entry forms – together, either with paper clips or in separate envelopes.

Winners: Only California residents are eligible to win.  Winners will be announced at a coming California Waterfowl event in spring 2010, location to be announced.  Prizes will go to both the winning photographers and the hunters who accompanied them.  Participants need not be present to win.

Prizes: Prizes worth hundreds of dollars will be awarded to both Hunters and Non-hunters who win as a team.  Entries may also be printed in California Waterfowl’s magazine, website or in other California Waterfowl publications.

Questions:  Direct any questions about the “Take Your Best Shot” Photo Contest to Sarah Swenty, Public Relations Coordinator (916) 648-1406 ext. 139

Download Complete Contest Rules and Entry Form
To download these rules and the entry form in pdf format, click here>>

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