2024 laurel highlands photo friends Contest

Exhibit: May 9-30, 2024

What: The Laurel Highlands Photo Friends (LHPF) Contest.
Who: Everyone with an interest in photography. All ages and abilities are welcome to enter.
When/Where: Entries will be accepted on May 4 from 2 – 4 p.m.; May 6 from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.; and, on May 7 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at The Philip Dressler Center for the Arts/Laurel Arts, 214 S. Harrison Ave., Somerset, PA 15501.
Terms & Conditions: Entrants must sign an Exhibit/Display Release. Form available at time of registration.
Awards Reception: Ribbons and prizes will be awarded during a public reception at Laurel Arts on May 10, 2024, from 6 – 8 p.m. Winners need not be present at the reception to receive an award.
Prizes/Judging: Awards will include a ribbon and cash prize in each category: 1st Place: $40, 2nd $30; 3rd $20; Best of Show: $100. Judges are not affiliated with LHPF or Laurel Arts in any way.
Exhibition: Entries will be on display at the Dressler Center from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 10 – 2 p.m. on Saturday from May 9 – May 30. All entries must be picked up on June 1 between 10 – 2 p.m. at the Dressler Center. No photographs will be returned by mail. Neither Photo Friends nor Laurel Arts will be responsible for damaged, lost or stolen photographs. Photos not claimed by July 1, 2024, will be disposed of.

Categories:
1. Scenic: Landscapes or seascapes.
2. Floral: Flowers & plants.
3. Fauna & Birds: Animals, birds and insects.
4. People: Posed or candid.
5. General: Still life or abstract – if it doesn’t fit anywhere else, it goes here.
6. Digital Art & Alternative Processes: Artistic and creative photos enhanced beyond what can be done with a camera and traditional photographic processes, and photos only modified not wholly generated using AI (Artificial Intelligence). Any subject matter.
7. Black & White: Any subject converted to black & white. Absolutely no color accepted in this category.
8. Nighttime: Any photo taken after sunset.
Limit of 2 entries per category.

Editing Guidelines: (1) Photos may be edited/enhanced as long as a majority of the physical features in the photo are not changed. (2) No foreign or artificial elements may be added. (3) All photos must be photo-realistic and look like a photographic camera produced them. Entries in the Digital Art & Alternative Processes Category are exempt from the foregoing editing guidelines.

Submissions: Prepare two entry forms for each submission. Attach one form to the back of the framed photo; submit 2nd form with payment at registration. Indicate a Price or NFS (Not For Sale) on each form. If offering photos for sale, submit a W-9 form at time of registration; form provided at check-in. Laurel Arts will transact all sales and collect sales tax. It also will retain a 30% commission on gallery sales. Please price your photo(s) accordingly.

Rules:
• Non-refundable entry fee is $8 per photo. Students up to 12th grade may enter at $6 per entry. (Checks payable: Laurel Arts)
• Photo requirements: Must either be an 11” x 14” print or a smaller print matted to 11” x 14”. The preceding dimensions do not include the frame. In either case, the entry shall be framed and have a horizontal wire on the back for hanging. No sawtooth hangers. See example of correct wiring to the right. Please feel free to contact the Gallery Coordinator at Laurel Arts (814-443-2433) for further information or questions about properly wiring your photo(s).
• Outside dimensions of frame may not exceed 15” x 18”.
• Digital matting is acceptable.• Entries may not have been previously displayed in a Laurel Highlands Photo Club/Photo Friends contest during the past 3 years.
• No collages or montages.
• Entries must be the original work of the submitting photographer.
• All entries must be suitable for public viewing – no lewd or obscene material.
• No identification of photographer may be visible on front of print or mat.
• The LHPF reserves the right to (1) accept or reject any entry presented for judging as well as (2) place the entry in a category other than as entered.
• Entries not meeting contest requirements will be rejected.
• Due to space limitations, not all entries may be exhibited.
• Images consisting exclusively of AI fully-generated content using text prompts are prohibited. However, actual photos taken with a camera and altered with post-processing software that may use AI are permitted. If AI Generative Fill is used, the photo must be entered in Category 6 (Digital Art and Alternative Processes). The contest reserves the right to ask to see the original digital file if there is any doubt as to if or how AI was used.
• All submitted photos must remain in the exhibit until it closes on May 30.

Virtual Exhibit Guidelines: This exhibit also will be displayed on the Laurel Arts website: www.laurelarts.org. The photographer understands and agrees that Laurel Arts reserves the right to reproduce and distribute the images through print and/or electronic media for promotion of the exhibition. The photographer grants Laurel Arts the right to allow authorized agents to photograph and/or videotape the photos and to use or reproduce images of the photos for publicity and educational purposes. The photographer confirms there are no existing copyrights on the photos in this exhibition that interfere with these conditions and will retain all copyrights to his/her photography

Somerset County Town Planner Competition

• There is no fee for Town Planner (TP) entries.
• A total of 4 seasonally relevant photos may be entered per person. One photo per season (Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter).
• Photos must have been taken in Somerset County.
• Photos for this competition must be 8×10 prints matted to 11×14, be horizontally oriented, and framed with a horizontal wire on the back for hanging. Winning photos must be High Resolution of at least 300 dpi at 100%.
• First-place winner in this competition will be awarded a $100 cash prize and his/her photo will appear on the cover of the 2025 Somerset Co. Town Planner

Please contact us with any questions.

The Philip Dressler Center for the Arts
Alison Leer, Gallery Coordinator
214 S. Harrison Avenue, Somerset, PA 15501
814-443-2433 OR alison@laurelarts.org