Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest seeks entries by June 6

DNREC's Division of Watershed Stewardship invites photographers to participate in the first Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest, which aims to share the beauty of Delaware's diverse environment while acting as a vivid reminder that everything that happens on land within the state's watersheds also directly affects what's happening in local waterways. All entries must be submitted by Wednesday, June 6.

The contest is open to all photographers, but only images taken of Delaware watersheds will be accepted. A watershed is all of the land that water moves across or under while flowing into a specific body of water. Contest judges will look for striking photo images in four contest categories: Natural Landscapes and Waterscapes of Delaware, Native Wildlife of Delaware, Native Plants of Delaware, and Protecting the Waterways of Delaware. Criteria for each category are listed below.

DNREC judges will choose entries that move on to the next stage of the contest – online public voting – which will determine the finalists in each category. Photography by contest finalists will be on display at the 2018 Delaware State Fair and will be voted on by fairgoers to determine first-, second-, and third-place winners. The three winners in each category will receive a Delaware State Parks annual pass for 2019. First-place winners in each category also will be recognized at the annual DNREC Awards ceremony on Governor's Day at the Delaware State Fair in July. Winning photographs also may appear in a future issue of Outdoor Delaware magazine.

To enter the contest, participants should email their 300 dpi or greater resolution digital image (no larger than 20 MB) in .jpeg or .png format with a completed submission form to Delaware_Watersheds_Photo_Contest@state.de.us. Entries should include information on where the photo was taken, the category it is being entered in, and, if submitting a photo in the Native Wildlife or Native Plant category, the name of the species in the photo.

Contestants may enter photographs in any or all of the four categories.

Category guidelines are as follows:
• Natural Landscapes and Waterscapes of Delaware – Photos of any waterbodies such as streams, rivers, lakes, creeks, estuaries, bay, ocean, etc. or scenic landscapes in Delaware.
• Native Wildlife of Delaware – May include native animals, birds, fish, insects, and amphibians (no domesticated animals). The name of any species depicted must be included.
• Native Plants of Delaware – Photographs of Delaware native plants in any setting. The name of any species depicted must be included.
• Protecting the Waterways of Delaware – Photos should portray things people can do to help protect area waterways, such as using rain barrels, streamside buffers, and rain gardens.

For more information on actions to help protect Delaware's waterways, go to http://delawarewatersheds.org/You-can-help/.

Submission forms can be found at www.delawarewatersheds.org. Completed forms and photos should be emailed to Delaware_Watersheds_Photo_Contest@state.de.us.

For more information, contact Phil Miller at 302-290-3578 or email Philip.Miller@state.de.us.