Council Grounds Sate Park is holding its annual photo contest. The contest is organized by the Park's Friends group. Come and enjoy the Park and remember to bring a camera along to take photos for the contest! Full contest Rules and details are given below, and can also be found online at. https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/councilgrounds/pdfs/2020photocontest.pdf
Contest Categories
1. Plants (close up of wildflowers, shrubs, trees, etc.)
2. Wildlife (animals, birds, insects, etc.)
3. People using the Park (do not include photographs of clearly identifiable people.)
4. Landscapes (broad view scenes sunsets, sunrises, river etc.)
Contest Rules
1. All photos must be taken within the boundaries of council Grounds state Park between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2020 (a 2-year period).
2. Only one photo per category may be submitted. (total of 4 per photographer).
3. Photos submitted only between July 1 and July 31, 2020, must be in color and must be submitted as a high-resolution digital jpeg file attached to an email sent to cgphotos@hotmail.com. No panoramic photos. Each photo submitted MUST include:
a. Category
b. Date taken
c. Photographer name
d. Address
e. Phone number
4. By entering the contest, photographers are verifying that the image is their own and are agreeing to have their submitted photos used/copied/displayed (without fee or compensation) for contest voting purposes in local publications, in articles relating to the contest, for future use by the Park Friends group, in the Park contact station, on the Parks website, on the Friends Facebook page, on cards/postcards for sale, as well as in a DVD of park photos used by the Park and the Friends Group.
5. The Friends group retains the right to reject any photo submitted that does not comply with the contest rules, is not properly labeled as stated in Step 3 above or that is inappropriate in any way.
6. The contest is open only to amateur photographers. Professional photographers who earn more than half of their income taking pictures are not eligible. Photos may not be digitally enhanced or altered.
7. Contest judges, DNR employees and Friends group members and their families are not eligible to enter.
Judging
A panel of judges from the friends group will narrow the entries to the top three in each category. Photographer names will not be revealed to the judges. If fewer than 8 eligible photographs are entered in a category, the Friends group may cancel that category. The final first and second place winners in each category will be determined by votes from the public.
Winners
First place winners will receive a 2021 Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission sticker. Second place will receive a $15 gift certificate. Gift certificates are redeemable only on Friends merchandise sold in the council grounds contact station up to amount specified, and no portion will be redeemable for cash. Limit of 1st or 2nd place prize per person.
Voting
Public voting will take place Aug. 15 to Sept 15, 2020 at the Council grounds state Park contact station and Sept. 1-15, 2020 at T.B. Scott Public Library in Merrill, WI winners will be announced in October 2020.