2014 “Picture a Park” Photo Contest Guidelines
Take your best shot in the fourth annual Picture a Park Photo Contest, highlighting the beauty and fun activities
within the Minneapolis Park System.
CONTEST CATEGORIES
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Beauty in the Parks. Capture the everyday beauty within the Minneapolis Park System, including
wildlife, historic sites and breathtaking views.
Fun in the Parks. Document a fun park activity, such as a concert, movie, bike ride or picnic.
Sports in the Parks. Photograph a team or a group of friends playing sports in Minneapolis
Parks.
Photos by Youth. Photographers ages 17 and younger can submit photos of their favorite
Minneapolis Parks in any of the three subject areas: beauty, fun or sports.
CONTEST RULES
Who may enter:
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Photographers of all ages are eligible to enter the contest. Those 18 or older should enter their
photos in the categories Beauty in the Parks, Fun in the Parks and Sports in the Parks. Photos
taken by those 17 and younger should be entered in the Photos by Youth category. Youth
participants must provide a parent or guardian signature and consent with each photo
submission.
 All entries must be submitted online between June 1, 2014 and 11:59 p.m. CST, Monday, Sept.
1, 2014 for contest eligibility. No entry fee is required.
 Photographers may enter up to a total of three photos in the contest. All three may be in one
category, or among two or three categories. Contestants will be eligible to win only one award
per year, even when submitting two or three photos.
 Employees and their family members of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, People for
Parks, National Camera Exchange and 2014 contest judges are not eligible to enter.
Photos must be:
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Color. Photos that are submitted as black/white, cyanotype, sepia or any other monochromatic
color will not be considered for awards.
 High-resolution (at least 300 dpi at 5x7 inches)
 Taken within the Minneapolis Park System, which includes parks, park facilities, parkways and
lakes.
 Previously unpublished.
 Photos featuring inappropriate content will not be considered.
To enter:
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Photos must be submitted online through National Camera Exchange (www.natcam.com).
A completed online entry form must accompany each photo submission.
All entries require the Minneapolis Park System location name or area in which the photo was
taken. Entries not listing the photo location will be disqualified.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), People for Parks (PFP) and National Camera
Exchange are not responsible for any lost or misdirected entries.
(see page 2 for judging, awards, terms and conditions)
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JUDGING
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Photos will be judged by a panel of three judges representing People for Parks, National Camera
Exchange and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
All photos will be judged on impact, image quality, composition and storytelling effect for how
well they capture and represent the beauty, and/or fun activities within the Minneapolis Park
System.
First-, second- and third-place winners will be determined in each contest category (Beauty in
the Parks, Fun in the Parks, Sports in the Parks, Photos by Youth). Merit awards may also be
recognized in each category.
The MPRB will select one photo for its Annual Patron Parking Permit, which features a highlight
or destination along the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway.
A People’s Choice Award will be decided by public vote on the National Camera Exchange
Facebook page following the announcement of first-, second- and third-place and merit award
winners.
AWARDS
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First Place: 2015 calendar from PFP including winning photograph and MPRB Annual Parking
Permit (adult) or four passes to Jim Lupient Water Park or Wirth Winter Tubing Area (youth).
 Second Place: MPRB Annual Parking Permit (adult division) or four passes to Jim Lupient Water
Park or Wirth Winter Tubing Area (youth division) and certificate of recognition.
 Third Place: MPRB Annual Parking Permit (adult division) or four passes to Jim Lupient Water
Park or Wirth Winter Tubing Area (youth division) and certificate of recognition.
 Merit: Certificate of recognition.
 People’s Choice: MPRB Annual Parking Permit (adult division) or four passes to Jim Lupient
Water Park or Wirth Winter Tubing Area (youth division).
 Best of Show recognition will be determined from the winners of each of the four categories,
with the winners receiving:
 Gold: $100 National Camera Exchange gift card and an enlargement of the winning entry of
up to 16x20 inches.
 Silver: $50 National Camera Exchange gift card and an enlargement of the winning entry of
up to 16x20 inches.
 Bronze: $25 National Camera Exchange gift card and an enlargement of the winning entry of
up to 16x20 inches.
Award-winning photos will be posted at www.minneapolisparks.org and featured on a poster shown
throughout the Park System.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By submitting a photo, you agree that you have taken the photo submitted and have received consent
for submission and publication from all subjects shown in each photo. Submitted photos may be used at
the discretion of the MPRB, PFP and National Camera Exchange, including and not limited to, websites,
social media outlets, print and online publications, marketing, media requests, public displays, etc.
By taking part in the contest, you give the MPRB, PFP and National Camera Exchange consent for
unlimited usage rights of any images submitted. There will be no credit or compensation (aside from
awards to the winners) to the photographer, the person submitting the photos or any people depicted
in the photos.
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Additionally, submitters of any winning photographs also give the MPRB, PFP and National Camera
Exchange consent to use their names in any announcement or promotion of the contest and its winners.
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