The Shadow
The 11th Annual Uniquely Alleghany! Calendar Photo Contest is underway with entries due at the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism offices by 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Locals, visitors, amateurs, and professionals are being invited to capture the images that make the Highlands Uniquely Alleghany.
Suggested themes this year are (1) Unique Alleghany Highlands outdoor recreation, (2) Unique Alleghany Highland’s icons and landmarks, (3) Unique Alleghany Highlands festivals, and events, and (4) seasonal – spring, summer, fall and winter.
Photographers can choose their favorite landmarks, icons, places, and things that best illustrate the Alleghany Highlands. For the third year – photographers are allowed to enter a total of seven photos.
The contest is free to enter and is open to amateurs and professionals of any age. Macie Rice, an intern for the chamber, said, “The contest has produced some amazing images of the Alleghany Highlands the past 10 years and we are very excited to see what this year will bring. We invite all photographers to enter the contest and hope that our local middle school and high school students will participate as well.”
The best overall photo will be featured on the cover of the 2021 Uniquely Alleghany! Calendar. An additional 12 images will be selected for each month of the year inside the calendar.
One winning entry will be featured on the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Christmas card. The image must have been taken in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia, featuring the Alleghany Highlands in its subject matter and must have been taken within the last three years.
Digital enhancement, correction and cleanup are allowed, but alteration of the subject will not be allowed. Borders, frames, special filters, text and signatures are not allowed. The photo cannot be a composite image featuring more than one photo. The photo must be original and not have been previously published in any promotional material or website. Images may be color or black and white.
Images must be on a CD and must be high-resolution files in JPG (jpeg) format. Printed photos will not be accepted. The image should be 8 x10 (horizontal format), 300 dpi. File names should include the number of the entries, the first initial and last name of the photographer, and the title of the image, e.g.: 1-JSmith_Winter Wonderland.jpg; 2-JSmith_Falling Spring.jpg. If the image contains distinguishable faces of people, the entry must include a model release signed by each person. If the image contains privately owned structures or buildings, the entry must include a property release signed by the owner.
Mail the CD to Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, 110 Mall Road, Covington, Va. 24426 – mark “Uniquely Alleghany Photo Contest” on the package. Submissions can also be dropped off at chamber offices during regular business hours. Entries must include an entry form and a photo release form.
Forms, rules, and guidelines are available at the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism or by calling the Chamber at 540-962-2178. Forms are also available on the Uniquely Alleghany Photo Contest Facebook event page. Model release forms and property release Forms may also be obtained in the same ways.
“We are very excited to offer this contest to the public. The Alleghany Highlands offers incredible photo opportunities and we look forward to seeing images that will showcase our area,” said Teresa Hammond, executive director of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.
All photos submitted as entries to the contest will become the property of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. Entrants give rights thereof to the chamber. The chamber reserves the right to use the entries and publish the images and reserves the right to refuse to display any image on its website for aesthetic or other reasons. Entry indicates participants agree to be bound by the terms of the photo contest.
Entries will be judged on overall photographic and artistic quality, promotional appeal, reproducibility and best expression of categories. Contest winners will be notified in October. Entry deadline: Sept. 25 at 3 p.m. For further information, contact the chamber at (540) 962-2178, info@ahchamber.com
