© Luis De Los Santos

The Valley Land Fund is proud to announce the 2010 Southern Exposures youth photo contest Finalists!

CONTEST RULES
Southern Exposures is designed to get kids outside and learning about nature this summer! The contest will feature views of valley nature through the eyes of children. The Southern Exposures Youth Nature Photo Contest is sponsored by the Valley Land Fund through the generous support provided by the Robert L. Townsend Endowment Fund.

1. PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES

• Participation is FREE and open to amateur photographers who are between the ages 6 to 18 years old as of the contest period.
  
  
• Participants will be grouped into the following three divisions:
  
  • Division I Ages 6 - 9
  • Division II Ages 10 - 13
  • Division III Ages 14 - 18
    
    
• The purpose of this contest is to expose youth to nature and photography by encouraging exploration of the outdoors. While it is expected that adults may accompany youth in their photography pursuits, it is CRITICAL that youth photographers and their adult supervisors behave ethically and all photographs be taken by the registered youth participant. The youth photographer must be the one that operates the camera and takes the original image to be submitted.
  
  
• The parent or guardian for each participant must sign a Registration Form granting permission for the child to enter and acknowledge acceptance of all contest rules.

2. PHOTO GUIDELINES

• SUBJECT MATTER: All images must be taken outdoors in the Rio Grande Valley. The photographer's goal is to showcase native plants and wildlife in South Texas.
  
  
• LOCATION: Photos may be taken anywhere legally permitted located within the eight (8) counties of South Texas: Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Starr, Willacy and Zapata. Photos not taken within the designated counties will be disqualified.
  
  
• CONTEST CATEGORIES: Images can be submitted in any or all the eight (8) categories.
  • Mammals (Portraits & Behavior)
  • Birds (Portraits & Behavior)
  • Other Wildlife (Reptiles, Amphibians, Insects, Spiders & More)
  • Connecting People to Nature (Outdoor Recreation, Ranching, Farming, etc.)
  • Landscapes and Plant Life ( Scenic Views & Plants in the Wild)
  • Water Features for Wildlife (Beaches, Rivers, Resacas, Backyard Bird Baths, ponds and more)
  • Humor (Funny, Amazing, & Weird Animals or Plants)
  • Digital Art (We encourage creativity and allow one to combine various images to create a new unique image. Artistic Images may be created with Photo Editing Software, Photoshop, or other program of your choice).
• ANIMALS: Captive animals' native to the Rio Grande Valley photographed in zoos, nature centers, and wildlife research or rehabilitation facilities are acceptable. Images must be clearly labeled as "Wild" or "Captive" in the entry photo description. Reminder: Animals must be native (or found in the wilderness) to South Texas.
  
  
• NO PETS: Photos of family pets (dogs, cats, etc.) or domestic animals are not eligible and will be disqualified.
  
  
• PEOPLE: Persons who can be identified in any entry will need to sign a Model Release Form.
  
  
• Participants must not infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person or submit images that involve the willful harassment of wildlife or damage to the environment by the photographer.

3. CONTEST PERIOD

• The photo contest begins Tuesday, June 1st and ends Friday, July 30th.
  • NOTE: There is no one "registration date", it is a "rolling entry". Youth may enter their photos anytime during June 1st and July 30th.
• All images and forms must be submitted no later than July 30th at noon. Visit this page, or www.quintamazatlan.com or other participating sites for forms.
• The Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday, August 19th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen. All entrants and their families are invited as guests.

4. PHOTO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• FORMAT: Entries must be submitted as digital photos in a .jpeg format [xxxx.jpg] on a CD or DVD. Files must be submitted on a CD/DVD that is readable by PC?based applications and clearly labeled with the participant's first and last name and age. Photo prints, negatives, film, slides, etc. will not be accepted. CD/DVDs will not be returned.
  
  
• LIMIT: Participants are allowed to submit up to eight (8) photos in total on ONE CD/DVD. Participants are allowed to submit more than one photo in any category. CD/DVDs must contain no more than eight photos. Your submission will be disqualified if there are more than eight photos.
  
  
• Participants may not submit duplicate images to both this contest and the 2010 VLF Summer Pro/Ranch Level Contest operated by Photo Bound Tours.
  
  
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Participants are required to complete a Photo Description Form for each photo entry and must indicate the following information:
  • Photographer's name (as it appears on CD/DVD)
  • File Name or image number on CD/DVD
  • Photo Entry Category (8 categories to choose from)
  • Name of the plant or animal
    (example: Honey Mesquite Tree or Northern Mockingbird)
  • Location where the photo was taken
    (Example: "Archer Park, McAllen, Texas" OR "My Backyard in Roma, Texas")
  • Indicate if the animal was "Wild" or "Captive"
  • Brief paragraph of "Why this photograph is special to me"
    
    
• DEADLINE: All submissions (including photos and forms) are required to be submitted on or before Friday, July 30th by 12:00 p.m. Early submittals are welcome!

5. CAPTURE & RESTRAINT OF ANIMALS

• Valley Land Fund requires all participants to use extreme caution to protect the survival of the subject being photographed. Entries including images of small mammals, insects, arachnids, reptiles, and amphibians, that have been carefully restrained for purposes of taking the photograph are permitted, provided said animals are released unharmed where they were found.
  
  
• Photographers in the Valley Land Fund Youth Photo Contest are not to capture or restrain any animals that are dangerous to humans. If images of such subject matter are desired the photographer must have the help of a knowledgeable adult. If the subject is dangerous to humans, it may be released where the risk to humans is minimized.
  
  
• Birds may not be trapped or restrained.
  
  
• Restrained mammals species are limited to very small ones such as rats, mice and shrews. No other mammals may be restrained in any manner.
  
  
• An image with a subject that appears to be stressed shall be disqualified at the agreement and discretion of the judges.

6. JUDGES & JUDGING

• Judging will consist of a panel comprised of Valley Land Fund representatives, Local professional nature photographers and community leaders.
  
  
• Photographs will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit.
  
  
• All photo submissions must be in compliance with contest rules and meet submission requirements.

7. AWARDS & PRIZES

• Each participant will receive a free Southern Exposures Contest T-shirt. T-shirts will be distributed at the Awards Ceremony at Quinta Mazatlan on August 19th, 2010.
  
  
• A total of 72 photos will be awarded cash prizes in the contest, for a total of $4,200.00.
  
  
• There will be a total of 24 photos awarded in each of the three age group Divisions.

• The Awards Ceremony will take place at Quinta Mazatlan on Thursday, August 19th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The ceremony will include a multi-media show featuring the contest images on a large outdoor movie screen under the stars.

8. OWNERSHIP & USE OF IMAGES

Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to use of the photographs. In addition, your entry to the contest constitutes your agreement to all your entered photographs to be used for promotion by the Valley Land Fund for their purposes, including, but not limited to, production of brochures, promotion of future contests, public relations, advertising, education, books and a traveling photo gallery.

9. DISQUALIFICATION

Violation of any of these rules or federal, state or local laws by any photographer will result in disqualification and forfeiture of all prize money.

10. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

JUNE 1	Contest BEGINS! Start taking your pictures!
JUNE 12	Photo Contest Orientation Workshop at Quinta Mazatlan (Optional)
	10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.         6 to 13 years 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 14 to 18 years
JUNE 26	Photography Workshop for Kids 6 to 13 years of age (Optional)
	10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.         Division I & II: 6 to 13 years
JUNE 26	Photography Workshop for Teens 14 to 18 years of age (Optional)
	3:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.         Division III: 14 to 18 years
JULY 10	Nature Photography Camp by TexNEP (Optional) (Take pictures at Quinta Mazatlan, download photos to disc, and submit entry form…all during the camp) Advanced Registration Required 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
JULY 17	Nature Photography Camp by TexNEP (Optional) (Take pictures at Quinta Mazatlan, download photos to disc, and submit entry form…all during the camp) Advanced Registration Required 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
JULY 24	Digital Art Workshop by Paul Denman (Optional) (Prepare your submissions for the Digital Art Category by learning about a simple and free photo editing program) Advanced Registration Required 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
JULY 30	All submissions are due no later than noon, 12:00 pm, at participating sites. Sites include the Valley Land Fund, Quinta Mazatlan and other participating World Birding Centers.
AUG 2	Judging Week
AUG 9	Winners Notified by mail and posted on the this website.
AUG 19	Awards Ceremony 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the McAllen Wing of the World Birding Center, Quinta Mazatlan, www.quintamazatlan.com

Click here for printable copy of
Youth Contest Information, Forms & Rules

Adult contest information here

The Valley Land Fund would like to thank the following Sponsors of the 2010 Summer Wildlife Photography Contests: