The Mirror Newspapers Reflecting Life Along The Maumee River
BY KRISTI FISH | MIRROR REPORTER — The 34th annual photo contest from the Photo Arts Club of Toledo is now accepting entries.
Amateur photographers – those who make less than 51 percent of their income from photography – are allowed to enter. Entries will be accepted now through Wednesday, March 16.
All entries must be mounted and measure at least 8 inches by 11 inches, excluding matting, but no bigger than 20 inches by 24 inches, including matting.
“There’s an entry fee and a limit of 15 photos per photographer,” said Photo Arts Club member Laurie Dietrich.
For each photo, the cost to enter is $6.00. The fee can be paid using PayPal, with the link on the club’s website, photoartsclubof toledo.com, or by including a check with the registration form.
The form can also be found on the website. All information must be included on the form and placed in an envelope. No name, title, date or text is permitted to be included on the front of the photo.
On the form, entrants must select to which category the photo applies. There are seven categories: people, plants, animals, places, monochrome, open and the Christine Holliday Youth Division.
The open category is for photographs that do not fit into one of the other categories and the youth category is open to those 17 and under. Further explanation of each category is included on the registration form and brochure.
“I really like the kids’ part of it. Kids have a different eye for things,” Dietrich said. “Everybody sees things differently and I like to see the way people see things through their eyes.”
Completed registration forms and mounted photos can be turned in to one of three places. Kohne Camera in Perrysburg will accept entries Monday through Saturday from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Metroparks Toledo Administration Office at the Manor House at Wildwood Metropark accepts entries from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Entries can also be dropped off at the Photo Arts Club of Toledo Clubhouse at the Toledo Botanical Garden on Saturdays only: February 19, February 26, March 5 and March 12 from noon to 4:00 p.m.
When entries close, they will be judged and winners from each category will be chosen.
The three winners in each category will be announced during the opening reception. The reception will be on Friday, March 25 at 6:00 p.m. and will be available to view online via Zoom. Further details on how to join the online event will be posted on the club’s website, Dietrich said.
“There will be cash prizes for first, second and third place,” Dietrich said. “The Best of Show gets a $599 certificate to La-Z-Boy toward any furniture purchase. That’s a really great prize.”
Ribbons will be awarded to Honorable Mentions. One person will also receive the President’s Award.
All entries will be on display at the Secor Center at Secor Metropark, 10001 Central Ave., Berkey, from noon to 4:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday from March 26 through May 14, except Palm Sunday, April 10 and Easter weekend, April 16 and 17.
“Unfortunately, because of COVID we weren’t able to have this, so here we are finally after two years,” Dietrich said. “This is a fun thing to do in Toledo.”
