I Love Trees photo competition

Want to see your photo at the State Fair? The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking tree-related landscape photographs for a photo-banner to be printed and displayed at the 2013 Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair.  

Guidelines

• All images must have been taken within Minnesota.
• All images must be a scene that includes trees, but does not include recognizable people.
• All images must be in landscape (horizontal) format.
• All images must be the entrant’s own original creation.
• All digital images must be of publication quality (see the Digital Images requirements below).

The banner will hang in the Climate Change exhibit that is featuring trees and their importance for the environment. It will hang behind a tree swing and be used as a backdrop for a photo opportunity. The winner will receive two tickets to the 2013 Minnesota State Fair and a Wood From the Hood picture frame! Although only one person will see their photo at the Fair, we will be tweeting some of the other pictures from the @MnPCA account with #ILoveMNTrees. We will also be showcasing the photos on the MNPCA Facebook page.

• I Love Trees Photo Contest Official Rules (p-ev1-08)

Digital image requirements

• Digital photographs should be a minimum file size of 5 megabytes (MB) in a common file format such as .tif or .jpg. File sizes of 12 MB and larger will produce the best images.
• To achieve this resolution on most digital cameras, image quality must be set to “fine,” “high quality” (HQ) or “super high quality” (SHQ or .tif) at the time the photo is taken.
• Digital photographs may not be altered beyond adjustment of brightness, contrast and sharpness. High-dynamic range imaging (HDRI) is acceptable. Creating digital art through the addition or deletion of elements from a photograph, or otherwise manipulating or altering the original subject matter is not permissible. Digital creations will not be considered for judging

Eligibility

• Entrants must be at least 18 years old.
• All employees of the State of Minnesota are welcome to enter the contest but are not eligible for the prizes.
• Each entrant may submit up to three photos in separate entry emails.

Judging

Submissions will be accepted from June 10 through June 17 for judging.
Photos will be judged according to:

• Eligibility and digital requirements
• Prominence of trees in the photograph
• Composition and lighting

The judges have an extensive background in graphic arts and design. Decisions of the judges are final. The winner will be contacted after judging is complete. One winning image will be featured as the exhibit backdrop in the Eco Experience Building at the Minnesota State Fair. Others may be used on MPCA social media channels, including Twitter and Facebook, or in other materials.

Submission and deadline

All contest entries must be emailed to socialmedia.pca@state.mn.us by June 17, 2013.
Include all of the following information in the body of the email:

Name:
Phone number:
Email address:
Mailing address:
Title of photograph:
Location where photo was taken:
Other information about the photo that you would like to share:

Release information and use of photos

By entering this contest, the contestant warrants that the image submitted is his or her original work and that he or she is the owner of the image. While contestants retain all rights to their images, contestant must grant permission for unrestricted use of the image to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to utilize the image in future publications, exhibits and on its Internet site to promote the functions and values of the MPCA.

DISCLAIMER: NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT, OR CONTRIBUTION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Void where prohibited by law. One (1) winner will have their photograph printed on a banner that will hang in the tree exhibit at the 2013 Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair. The winner will receive two (2) tickets to the Minnesota State Fair and a Wood From the Hood picture frame (approx. retail value $67.00). Winner chosen by Judges based on Judging Criteria, as described in the Official Rules. Odds of winning depend on number and quality of eligible entries received. All prizes will be awarded. Any winner who fails to claim a prize after second attempted notification will forfeit the prize and another winner will be selected. All decisions of Sponsor are final. Promotion open only to U.S. citizens, or lawful permanent U.S. residents who are legal residents of Minnesota and 18 or older (or of majority under applicable law). CONTEST SUBJECT TO OFFICIAL RULES and additional restrictions on eligibility, available at http://www.ecoexperience.org/. Sponsor is the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road N, St. Paul, MN 55155.