The Carolina Photography Contest has now closed. Check back for details about the winning entries!  

Mark your calendar for October 5th at 3:30pm to meet Frank Ruggles at Rocket Surgery in downtown Travelers Rest.  Hear Frank's talk, get your copy of Chasing Light signed and see if you've won!  Frank's book is available here:  https://www.frankruggleschasinglight.com/

2019 Carolina Landscape Photography Contest
Sponsored by the City of Travelers Rest and Travelers Rest Artists Alliance

Overview
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Landscape photography captures an image that embodies the spirit of the outdoors. When viewers look at a landscape photograph, we want them to feel the same emotions that you felt, standing in the middle of nature and bringing back something amazing.  Photographers of all levels of experience are invited to submit your best Carolina landscape photograph for a chance to receive a cash award, as follows:

First Place:          $300
Second Place:      $200
Third Place:     $100

Goals

The Carolinas are a special place, filled with natural beauty and opportunities for outdoor adventure, relaxation, and conservancy.  The City of Travelers Rest and Travelers Rest Artists Alliance (TRAA) hopes to increase appreciation of the beauty we call home and draw awareness to the importance of preserving it for future generations, while also creating avenues for the arts and artists in our Carolina communities.

Photo Contest Rules
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  1. The competition is open to the public regardless of age or experience.
  2. The fee to enter the contest is $10 and you may submit a maximum of 2 images.  This fee is non-refundable.
  3. Your submitted photograph(s) must be of a landscape image taken in North Carolina or South Carolina.
  4. While photographers retain complete copyright over their photograph entries, TRAA and the City of Travelers Rest retain a royalty-free right of use of submitted photographs for purposes of advertising and marketing in all media including but not limited to website use, social media, and in organizational exhibitions, slideshows, and print publications. In such use, every attempt will be made to credit the photographer.
  5. Each submitted photograph must be your own original work to which you alone own the copyright.  Please provide a title for your photograph(s) when submitting your entry form.
  6. You may not watermark or incorporate a signature into your submitted digital image if you want your photograph(s) to be judged.
  7. Photographs must be submitted digitally, as a .jpg file, along with your entry form and fee between June 15 - August 31, 2019.  We will not accept mailed entry forms, fees, or photographs.
  8. Our judge(s) will select the top five finalists in the competition no later than September 10, 2019.  The top five finalists are responsible for printing and framing their photograph(s) with a minimum dimension of 8x10 inches and a maximum dimension of 18x24 inches in size, including a frame of your choice.  
  9. Finalists will be responsible for delivering the framed photograph(s) to Travelers Rest City Hall on a designated date and time prior to the awards reception.  We will send an email reminder to you with additional details if you are a chosen finalist.
  10. Finalists are asked to attend the awards announcement at Rocket Surgery in downtown Travelers Rest on Saturday, October 5th, 2019.   Winners will be announced at the conclusion of Frank Ruggles talk which runs from 3:30 to 4:30pm.  1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be announced by Frank Ruggles, as well as two honorable mentions.  The top finalists’ images will remain featured inside Travelers Rest City Hall for the month of October.​
About our Guest Judge:  

Frank Lee Ruggles​​

Your submitted image will be judged by Frank Lee Ruggles, a critically-acclaimed photographer who has held the esteemed position as an official eminent photographer for the United States National Park Service from 2007 through 2011, a position only held by a handful of people in the 100 year history of the NPS.  

Frank feels one of the best ways to share the magic of our parks is by capturing stunning photographs of America’s natural wonders in some of the most rarely seen and hard-to-reach places. His ultimate goal is to create such a compelling body of work that people who see it will want to join him in protecting our natural places. Drawing upon his physical strength and endurance capabilities acquired during his paratrooper training, Ruggles has been on a 5000-day, 100,000 mile journey that has spanned more than 315 national parks and forests through all 50 states, and he's just getting started.
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Frank's photographic works can be seen in galleries and public buildings across the country. His photographs hang in private collections next to the works of Ansel Adams as well and have been featured in countless magazines and even a few TV shows.  His newest book; "Chasing Light, An Exploration of the American Landscape" is in bookstores across the country and is available at most national parks,
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Frank and his wife, Lisa live in Richmond, Virginia, though they can often be found hiking and photographing America's treasures about 35 weeks a year.   For more information about Frank as well as his latest projects, visit frankleeruggles.com and 79years.com.