VIRGINIA BEACH — Let’s face it: Around here there’s no shortage of amazing scenes begging to be captured and beautiful photographs just waiting to be taken.
Whether it involves the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay, the grandeur of the Atlantic Ocean, or the awesome wild and natural setting of Back Bay, from north to south Virginia Beach has an unlimited canvas of amazing scenery for photo-buffs to shoot.
In an effort to document some of the city’s natural beauty and to share it with the rest of the world, Lynnhaven River NOW is sponsoring a photography contest.
“Virginia Beach is varied and wonderful and we want to capture the natural beauty of this great place where we live,” said Karen Forget, executive director of Lynnhaven River NOW. “The goal is to celebrate the beauty of Virginia Beach and to give people who enjoy taking photos a way to share their photos and to be recognized for the excellence of their images.”
She said they also hope to capture images that highlight the wonderful diversity of Virginia Beach.
The “Discover Virginia Beach” contest began June 21 and submissions will be taken through Sept. 21. This isn’t the first time they’ve sponsored such a contest, Forget said, but it is the first since 2009.
Anyone can enter, whether they’re a professional photographer or an amateur shooter. There will be both a youth (17 and younger) and an adult category (18 and older).
Contest details
There will be four categories: Wildlife, landscape, recreation, and overall, and two winning photos will be selected in each.
Photos can be in color or black-and-white. However, digitally or otherwise enhanced or altered photos will not be accepted. LRN Development and Communications Coordinator Emily Hatfield said that means “adding or removing content from an image, including adding, rearranging, distorting, reversing or removing people and/or objects from an image.”
Minor adjustments to the photos, such as contrast, color, and sharpening are allowed.
Photos should be taken with a camera that is eight megapixels or higher.
Those entering the contest can submit up to three photos, which must have been taken in Virginia Beach by the entrant.
LRN employees and select professional advisers will pick the winners, with the photos being judged on subject matter, composition, focus, lighting, uniqueness, and impact.
Forget said the winning photos will appear on the LRN website and in their annual report, and they could be used in other LRN publications and presentations.
“We hope people have fun with this and maybe look at our city with increased appreciation,” she added.
