By Marie Majarov & Michelle Prysby
"Getting Down and Dirty" by Capt. Debbie Ritter, VMN-Eastern Shore Chapter. First place winner in the 'Virginia Master Naturalists In Action' category, 2016. Photography is an important part of many Virginia Master Naturalist projects. Citizen science projects such as Wildlife Mapping, the recent City Nature Challenge, and RareQuest all require photos of observations in order for them to be research-quality. High quality images, whether mounted on a chapter's display at an Earth Day event or used in a public presentation, can enhance education and interpretive programs. And, simply documenting VMN projects through photos shared on our photo-sharing site is critical for us to be able to share and describe the work that our volunteers do with all our stakeholders.
Given this central role of photography in the Virginia Master Naturalist program, our annual volunteer photo contest has become a valued tradition. It started as an expansion of a chapter-wide contest that our Historic Rivers Chapter was doing. Now, each year, VMN chapters send their top photos to the VMN Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training, and local expert judges select the winners in several categories. While there's no monetary prize, winners receive ribbons and their photographs are recognized on our website and in our newsletter, as well as at the conference.
Since this statewide contest started in 2012, it has been in print format. Submissions had to be transported to the contest and displayed in standard-sized black frames. We are excited to announce that the 2017 Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Photography Contest will be conducted in a digital format! We hope this new format will encourage and make it easier for chapters to enter the contest and also offer an opportunity for a few digital lessons to be learned. We know it will have a much smaller ecological footprint than frames, mats, packing and printing!
Marie Majarov, 2017 VMN State Conference Photography Contest Coordinator, has prepared a download of useful information to help with image preparation and will be glad to talk with representatives from each chapter to answer questions. Full contest rules, the entry form, and a digital format guide are posted on the contest webpage.
All Virginia Master Naturalist Chapters are invited to enter photopraphs and may use any means that they wish in order to select photos to submit for representing their chapter at the statewide contest. Internal chapter contests are encouraged since photography is an important part of VMNs making and recording observations and a skill essential in communicating to the public as part of Education and Outreach.
Each VMN Chapter may enter one photograph in each of the following three categories, for a total of 3 entries per chapter:
The contest acknowledges the wonderful talent that exists in our membership, as well as the important role that photography can play in teaching and learning about natural resources. The entries will be judged by a qualified group of judges who will select First place, Second place, and Third place for all three categories. Honorable Mention(s) will be awarded as the judges see fit. All entered pictures will be exhibited via a slide show at the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center for the duration of the 2017 VMN Statewide Conference and Training.
If all goes well embracing a digital format this year, next year we can expand our categories and opportunities!
Check out the 2016 and 2014 contest winners for inspiration!
Given this central role of photography in the Virginia Master Naturalist program, our annual volunteer photo contest has become a valued tradition. It started as an expansion of a chapter-wide contest that our Historic Rivers Chapter was doing. Now, each year, VMN chapters send their top photos to the VMN Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training, and local expert judges select the winners in several categories. While there's no monetary prize, winners receive ribbons and their photographs are recognized on our website and in our newsletter, as well as at the conference.
Since this statewide contest started in 2012, it has been in print format. Submissions had to be transported to the contest and displayed in standard-sized black frames. We are excited to announce that the 2017 Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Photography Contest will be conducted in a digital format! We hope this new format will encourage and make it easier for chapters to enter the contest and also offer an opportunity for a few digital lessons to be learned. We know it will have a much smaller ecological footprint than frames, mats, packing and printing!
Marie Majarov, 2017 VMN State Conference Photography Contest Coordinator, has prepared a download of useful information to help with image preparation and will be glad to talk with representatives from each chapter to answer questions. Full contest rules, the entry form, and a digital format guide are posted on the contest webpage.
All Virginia Master Naturalist Chapters are invited to enter photopraphs and may use any means that they wish in order to select photos to submit for representing their chapter at the statewide contest. Internal chapter contests are encouraged since photography is an important part of VMNs making and recording observations and a skill essential in communicating to the public as part of Education and Outreach.
Each VMN Chapter may enter one photograph in each of the following three categories, for a total of 3 entries per chapter:
- Virginia Flora, Fauna, and Other Species
- Virginia Landscapes and Habitats
- Virginia Master Naturalists in Action
The contest acknowledges the wonderful talent that exists in our membership, as well as the important role that photography can play in teaching and learning about natural resources. The entries will be judged by a qualified group of judges who will select First place, Second place, and Third place for all three categories. Honorable Mention(s) will be awarded as the judges see fit. All entered pictures will be exhibited via a slide show at the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center for the duration of the 2017 VMN Statewide Conference and Training.
If all goes well embracing a digital format this year, next year we can expand our categories and opportunities!
Check out the 2016 and 2014 contest winners for inspiration!
