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Photographers Encouraged to Enter 2015 North Dakota Governor’s Photo Contest

Posted: May 27 2015
For more information contact:
Sara Otte Coleman, Director, Tourism Division
North Dakota Department of Commerce
701-328-2525
 
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. Jack Dalrymple and the North Dakota Tourism Division, in partnership with AAA and North Dakota Council on the Arts, are kicking off the 2015 Governor’s Photo Contest. All North Dakota photographers are encouraged to submit their photos that capture the unique things to see and do in the state. Deadline for entry is August 31, 2015.
 
Photographers can submit photos to one or more of the following categories: Adventure, Attractions, Events, People, Scenery and Wildlife. One winner will be selected in each contest category and a $200 cash prize will be awarded to the photographer of each selected photo. Additional honorable mentions may be selected in each category, with photographers receiving $50 and North Dakota Legendary merchandise. A Best of Show photo will be selected from the winning photographs and the photographer will receive an additional $300 cash prize and a free, one-year basic membership to AAA.   
 
In addition to the prize money:
  •          Winning photographs will be published in North Dakota Tourism’s 2016 promotional materials and on the website.
  •          Winning photographs will be eligible for display in AAA North Dakota branch offices and may be printed in AAA regional publications.
  •          Winners also will be published in North Dakota Tourism’s newsletter and likely in future promotional publications and marketing efforts.
  •          Winning photographs will be featured in a public display at the North Dakota Capitol building during the fourth quarter of 2015, through a partnership with the North Dakota Council on the Arts.
 
“Each year, we are impressed with the talent and unique perspectives of North Dakota’s resident photographers,” Dalrymple said. “This contest is an excellent way for us to help photographers showcase their images while simultaneously showcasing the beauty and variety of North Dakota. It also gives the Tourism Division more options to highlight North Dakota’s legendary scenery, attractions and events.”
 
“We look forward to this contest each year and to partnering with Gov. Dalrymple and the Tourism Division,” AAA North Dakota President Mark Grieb said. “It is always exciting to see areas of the state or special activities through the eyes of residents, and to be able to tout the opportunities in North Dakota to potential visitors in this way.”
 
Launched in 2004, the annual Governor’s Photo contest has grown significantly since its beginnings. In its first year, the contest attracted more than 300 submissions. Approximately 8,400 photos have been submitted in the years since.
 
“The beauty and adventure found in North Dakota are uniquely captured each year we host this contest,” North Dakota Tourism Division Director Sara Otte Coleman said. “It is always amazing to see the artistic talent that exists across the state and we are fortunate to be able to use that to recruit new and returning visitors to North Dakota.”
 
Contest Rules:
All photos must be submitted electronically via Flickr or postmarked by the contest deadline, August 31, 2015. 
 
Only North Dakota residents are eligible to enter. There is no limit to the number of entries allowed per photographer. Excessive cropping, digital alterations or enhancements are discouraged.
 
Photographers will be judged on their ability to showcase North Dakota as a Legendary travel destination in the following categories: Adventure, Attractions, Events, People, Scenery and Wildlife.
 
Entries will be judged on originality, interest of the subject matter, visual appearance and consistency with the category theme. Photo entries should be taken within the last three years and must be in full color.
The number of winners will be determined by the number of entries and the quality of photos in each category.
 
Photo entries will be judged by a panel of North Dakota Tourism, Governor’s Office, AAA and North Dakota Council on the Arts staff familiar with photography and responsible for selecting images for various marketing materials. 
 
Submission of the photo is the entrant’s guarantee as the photographer and copyright holder of the photo that they have the rights to distribute the image.
  • Photographers must have the consent of those whose faces are visible in the image.
  • By entering the contest, photographers agree that if their photo is selected, they agree to authorize North Dakota Tourism, AAA and their official marketing partners to use that image in promotional materials offline and online. Photos will be credited whenever possible.
  • Winning photographers agree to unlimited usage by North Dakota Tourism for promotional materials and websites. Photos will not be sold.
 
Photo Submission:
To enter the contest by mail, photographs must be submitted on a CD with a 5x7 or 8x10 print copy. Prints need not be mounted or framed. The back of the photo and CD must be labeled with the entrant's name, address, telephone number, email address, contest category, title of photo, location and date the photo was taken.

Entries should be mailed to North Dakota Department of Commerce Tourism Division, Attention Heather LeMoine, at P.O. Box 2057, Bismarck, ND 58502-2057. AAA branch offices in Fargo and Bismarck will also accept entries.
 
You may submit your photos online through Flickr. Join the Legendary North Dakota Travel group on Flickr if you are not already a group member. http://www.flickr.com/groups/northdakota/ 
 
The membership is free and the frequently-asked questions page at Flickr can answer questions regarding membership, uploading and sharing photos.  http://www.flickr.com/help/faq/
 
When you add your photo(s) to the Legendary North Dakota Travel group, tag it “ND2015Contest.” If you forget to tag your photo it will be not be entered in the contest.  North Dakota Tourism is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, incomplete entries or technical errors.
 
Upload the highest-resolution image possible: 8”x10” @ 300 dpi (or 1024x768 pixels).
Entered photos must be family-friendly. Inappropriate photos will be removed from the group.
Information about the photo must include title of the photo, location in state where the photo was taken, date photo was taken, the contest category and name and town of photographer.
 
Entrants should include some contact information in their Flickr profile, or frequently check Flickr mail, in order to be contacted by North Dakota Tourism for name, address, telephone number and email address. Failure to respond to inquiries within three days may result in the disqualification of a winning photograph.

Complete contest rules can be found on the Tourism Division Web site at NDtourism.com. For more information, contact the Tourism Division at 701-328-2525 or 800-435-5663.
 
 
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