Photo by Randy Streufert

The Friends of Mason Neck State Park are holding a photo contest to highlight ways visitors can enjoy all that the park offers, specifically its nature, aquatic recreation, and natural beauty.  We want to see what you see in your photographs that capture the magic of the park. We’ll publish winning photos and some other submissions in our newsletter and on our website and social media.    

 

Eligibility

 

Anyone other than Mason Neck State Park staff, Board members of the Friends and contest judges, as well as their immediate family (spouses, partners, siblings, and children) and household members is eligible to enter.

 

Entry Period

 

The "Picture the Magic" Photo Contest ends September 30, 2022.  Late entries will not be considered. We will notify the prize winners by October 15, 2022.

 

What Subjects to Enter

 

You can enter digital photographs taken in Mason Neck State Park anytime in 2022 of: 

• Park Landscape – e.g., forests, meadows, marshes, sunsets, bay views.
• Wildlife and plants – animals (mammals, reptiles/amphibians, birds, insects) or plants living in the park.  Dogs, cats and other pets/animals not native to the park do not qualify.
• Aquatic activities – Visitors enjoying Belmont Bay or Kane’s Creek in canoes, kayaks, or other non-powered vessels.
• Park Staff in Action – images of uniformed park staff assisting visitors, performing maintenance, or giving a program.

How to Enter

 

You may submit up to five images. Complete an entry form for each image submitted.  Here is a downloadable ENTRY FORM.docx. 

Download it, fill it in, and save it as a .doc document or a pdf. Save your photo as a .jpg or .jpeg image. 

Send an email to friendsofmasonneckstatepark@gmail.com with the subject matter line “Photo Contest Entry” and attach your image and the completed entry form. Incomplete entry forms will not be accepted. 

 

Judging Criteria

 

Photos will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact, artistic merit and relevance to the four categories noted in the What Subjects to Enter section above.

 

 The Panel will evaluate all valid entries and pick winners in the following categories:

 

• Grand Prize (1 winner): Best overall image by an adult or young (under 18) photographer: $300.
• First Place – Adult Photographer (1 winner): $200.
• First Place - Young Photographer (1 winner): $200.

Judging will be conducted by a panel of Friends members and/or Park employees/officials.

 

Contest Rules, Guidelines and Restrictions

 

By submitting a photograph, you (the entrant or the entrant’s parent/legal guardian if the entrant is under 18) warrant that the photograph submitted is the entrant’s original creation; was taken in Mason Neck State Park between January 1, 2022 and September 30, 2022; and does not infringe any other person’s or entity’s rights, including being taken anywhere in the park not permitted by park rules.

 

The entrant must be the sole owner of the copyright of the photograph submitted.

 

Entries may originate in any format, including to digital files, digital prints, color transparencies, color prints, or black and white prints.  But they must be submitted electronically in a .JPEG or .jpg form. Multiple exposures that have been combined to produce a single "High Dynamic Range" image are acceptable.

 

Please attempt to limit each image file to a size of no less than 3 MB and not greater than 15 MB. 

 

All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization (red eye removal, removal of dust, cropping, reasonable adjustments to exposure, color and contrast, etc.) will be disqualified. 

 

Previously-published material for which you granted non-exclusive rights may be entered, provided that you still maintain the right to grant us a license (see "Your Rights" below). You must be able to disclose to the FoMNSP when and where the photo appeared previously upon request.

 

You may submit images that include pictures of uniformed park staff. However, if other people are included in your image, they must not be identifiable – for example, they must be too distant or out of focus, or their faces must be turned away from the camera.

 

The following submissions are ineligible:

 

• ·         Images of captive animals.
• ·         Photos that violate or infringe upon another person's rights, including but not limited to copyright.
• ·         Photos that contain sexually explicit, nude, obscene, violent, or other objectionable or inappropriate content.
• ·         Images that involve the willful harassment of wildlife, or damage to the environment by the photographer or photo subjects.
• ·         Images that involve putting any individual or animal in danger.
• ·         Images taken earlier than January 1, 2022.
•  

The judging panel has sole discretion in determining each entry’s eligibility and compliance with the contest rules, guidelines and restrictions. All judging decisions are final. Please do not contact FoMNSP about the status of entries or judging.

 

Rights of the Entrant and the Friends of Mason Neck State Park 

By entering a photograph for this contest, you (or the entrant’s parent or legal guardian if the entrant is under 18) grant the FoMNSP a royalty-free, nonexclusive right in perpetuity without compensation to:

 

• Display the photograph on the FoMNSP website and Facebook page and on the MNSP website and viewing screen behind the Visitor Center reception desk.        Allow third-parties to share the photograph on social media platforms.
•  Use the photograph on the Internet and in social media in support of our mission.
• Use the photograph in the FoMNSP’s internal and external communications materials including but not limited to newsletters, emails, websites and web publications, fact sheets, fund raising publications, advertising, multimedia, presentation, reports, and documents.
• Provide the photograph to other individuals and organizations for FoMNSP-related use in news stories, newsletters, reports, slide shows, displays, web pages, videos, and the like.
• Use, in connection with the Photo Contest, your name, city, and state of residence in promotions and other publications.
• Retain a digital copy of your photograph that will be archived in the FoMNSP photo library. The FoMNSP will endeavor to credit all photographs with the entrant’s name. 

Questions: Please contact the Friends at FriendsofMasonNeckStatePark@gmail.com