City of Pawtucket Announces Annual Photo Contest

April 28th, 2009 · No Comments

Winners Will Comprise City’s Official 2010 Calendar

Pawtucket: Entries for the City of Pawtucket’s 11^th Annual Photo Contest are being solicited for possible publication in the city’s official calendar for 2010. The contest’s theme is “The Faces of Pawtucket.”

The 11 best submissions as determined by some of Rhode Island’s most distinguished professional photographers will comprise next year’s calendar. Each year, Pawtucket prints approximately 8,000 color calendars, which are free and distributed (while supplies last) at Pawtucket City Hall, the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, the Pawtucket Public Library and The Camera Werks in Providence. Such pictures taken during any time of the year within Pawtucket are eligible. Submissions may be the photographers interpretation of the theme, and all submitted photos should include a location in the photograph that is recognizable as that of Pawtucket. Only one entry from each contestant may be submitted. The top prize (the “Mayor’s Choice”) will be awarded $100, and smaller cash prizes and gift certificates will be given to other winning contestants. All entries must be submitted by Aug. 31. Submissions must be no larger than 12 x18 in overall size and must be mounted ONLY and not framed (see complete contest rules listed below). “This contest has been tremendously popular every year since its inception 10 years ago,” stated Pawtucket Mayor James E. Doyle. “The awards ceremony, which will take place on Sept. 13, has become one of the most anticipated events of the Pawtucket Arts Festival, where the winning entries will be unveiled and the public can meet the distinguished judges.” Contest’s judges will include: Butch Adams, award winning photographer from The Pawtucket Times and recipient of several awards from the National Presss Association, the New England Press Association and the RI Press Association for his photography; Richard Benjamin, a former staff photographer for the Providence Journal and now a freelance assignment photographer, and also a provider of stock photos of Rhode Island, in addition to publishing several books on his photography; Omar Bradley, award winning photographer from the Fall River Herald and recipient of several awards from the New England Press Association as well as Suburban Newspapers of America; Paul Darling, former Channel 12 cameraman and now a commercial & stock photographer; & Aaron Usher, who is an active member of CIPNE (Commercial/Industrial Photographers of New England), and has been published in over 300 magazines and/or books throughout the world.

Some of the themes from past contests have been: (2009) “Doorways & Gateways in Pawtucket”, (2008) “Paws (or Pause) in Pawtucket”; (2007) “Historic Places in Pawtucket”; (2006) “Pawtucket People, Places or Things”; (2005) “Discovering Pawtucket”; (2004) “Taking Pride in Our Neighborhoods”; (2003) “Pawtucket Mills: Our Past and Our Future” and (2000, 2001, 2002) “Pawtucket: A City in Focus”.

Rules for City of Pawtucket’s 11th Annual Photo Contest

· All photos must be taken in the City of Pawtucket and should include a recognizable location in the Pawtucket.

· Only one entry per contestant.

· The entry deadline is Aug. 31.

· Photos may be color or black and white. Prints from film or good quality digital prints will be accepted.

· Submitted photos should be mounted, but not framed. Matting is not necessary; however, mounting the photo on a stiff board or matboard is preferred. A mounted photo’s overall size should be no smaller than 8×10, but no larger than or larger than 12×18.

· All photos will be on display in the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center during the City of Pawtucket’s Arts Festival beginning Sept. 5 and throughout the month of September.

· The Mayor’s Choice Award will receive a $100 cash prize, First Place will receive a $75 cash prize and Second Place will receive a $50 cash prize, with remaining winners receiving gift certificates. All winning photos will be used in the City of Pawtucket’s 2010 Calendar.

· All entries should be dropped off at The Camera Werks, 766 Hope St., Providence.

· Entry Forms will be available on the Pawtucket Arts Festival website www.pawtucketartsfestival.org or at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, 175 Main St. and the Pawtucket Public Library, 13 Summer St., both in Pawtucket; and The Camera Werks, 766 Hope St., Providence.

· Winning entries and the judges will be presented at a public reception starting at 2 p.m. on Sept. 13 at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, 175 Main St. Pawtucket.