2014 photo contest winner by Amy Racine.
From the rolling Loess Hills of western Iowa to a wide, green cornfield or the view from the rocky cliffs overlooking the Mississippi River, Iowans are being challenged to capture their favorite Iowa view in a photograph.
Gerry Schnepf, executive director of Keep Iowa Beautiful, says the nonprofit group’s 6th annual photography contest aims to raise awareness about Iowa’s beauty.
“Because of today’s technology, it’s so easy for people with their phones and/or cameras to take electronic photos and to be able to pass them along to other people,” Schnepf says. “In Iowa, we want people to focus on what, in their minds, is the most attractive part and the most beautiful spot.” Whether you shoot with an iPhone or use old-school film, the contest is open to amateur and experienced photographers, giving them the chance to tell Iowa’s story in a fun and engaging manner.
“It could be a scenic view, it could be some volunteer doing a project of beautification, it could be from a festival, a state fair picture, RAGBRAI, some community site in their area that in their minds is attractive, and I think that’s worth sharing with a lot of people,” Schnepf says. Winners will be published in the Keep Iowa Beautiful newsletter and on the website.
“We provide a little financial incentive for the top couple of people, the first and second prizes, but that’s not the significant part,” Schnepf says. “The big thing is getting recognition and for us to see what people think their favorite spot is in the state.” First place will receive $25 and second place $20, while both will receive complimentary registration to the Keep Iowa Beautiful Annual Conference in 2016. The deadline to enter is December 31st.
Entries must be submitted as a high resolution JPEG electronically to: bjackson@keepiowabeautiful.com. There’s a $5 entry fee. Find the contest rules and make a payment at: www.keepiowabeautiful.com.