Archive Mode. Call Peninsula Photo Contest 2021 ended on 3/22/21, 11:59 PM. Call settings are read only. See Current Open Calls

Calling all photographers!

The Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Art Center and TheSixFifty.com are pleased to announce the Peninsula Photo Contest, open to all individuals who live, work or attend school in any city within the 6-5-0 area code.

  • Winning photos and those selected for exhibition will be displayed at the Palo Alto Art Center. A reception for the winners will be held online, and all winners and finalists can see their work displayed at a Palo Alto Art Center exhibition from June 12 to August 14, 2021. Winning images will also appear on Palo Alto Online and its social media accounts and on TheSixFifty.com, as well as the Palo Alto Art Center’s publications, website, social media and promotions. A selection of winning photos will also be published in the Palo Alto Weekly.

  • Winners will be notified by April 30, 2021. 
     

Entry Deadline

  • Monday, March 22, 2021 at 11:59 p.m PST.
     

Eligibility

  • Open to all photographers, including professionals, amateurs and hobbyists of all ages. Adults 18 and older must enter the adult division, while youth 17 and younger may enter either the youth or adult divisions.

  • Entrants must live, work or attend school in any city within the 650 area code to enter (cities within 6-5-0 area code include those between South San Francisco and Sunnyvale, and the Coastside).

Rules

  • All submitted entries must be original work(s) created by the entrant and taken within the past 5 years (no earlier than January 1, 2016).

    • Photographers may submit work which has previously been entered in other contests except photographs that have been awarded a best in show, first, second or third place in any contest. Photos awarded honorable mention however will be accepted.

  • Adult Division is open to all photographers regardless of age. Youth Division is open only to photographers age 17 or younger and current high school students who are 18.

  • The same photograph may be entered in multiple categories, but may not be entered in both the youth and adult division. Entering the same photograph into, for example, 3 categories counts as 3 submissions. Limit of 10 entries per photographer.

  • Contest categories include Abstract, Landscapes, Moments, Portraits, Travel and Wildlife (click on "Contest Categories" in the menu at the top of the page for expanded descriptions of each category).

  • Entrant agrees that the Palo Alto Weekly and The Six Fifty reserve in perpetuity the non-exclusive right to publish entries within print and online publication in all Embarcadero Media publications and social media accounts and Embarcadero Media promotions. Entrant agrees that the Palo Alto Art Center reserves the non-exclusive right to publish entries within the Art Center’s publications, social media accounts, email newsletter and website, and may be used for promotions.

 

Submission Guidelines

  • All photo submissions must be submitted online via this website (peninsulacontest2021.artcall.org) in digital (JPEG) format. Images sent by other means, including email and postal mail, will not be accepted.

  • Any digital file created with digital cameras, smartphones, and images shot on film that have been scanned are acceptable. Both color and monochrome images will be accepted.

  • Photos must meet the following requirements:

    • At least 1,600 pixels wide (if a horizontal image) or 1,600 pixels tall (if a vertical image)

    • Saved in JPEG format at 300 dpi

    • Maximum file size of 4 megabytes per image

    • RGB or sRGB format.

  • Each photograph needs its own submission; do not upload any additional attachments to entries.  

  • Images that have been retouched using software or a smartphone photo editing app or by other means will be accepted. Contest organizers politely request that entrants not submit images incorporating smartphone camera filters such as those used within Instagram, Snapchat, etc.

  • Winners will be asked to provide higher resolution images for exhibition.

Judging Criteria

  • Photos will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit.

  • After submission period concludes, four judges will select winners in each of the six categories in both the youth and adult divisions. Judges will also choose a “Best In Show” photograph as the overall contest winner.

  • Approximately 15 additional photographs will also be chosen for exhibition.

     

Fees for Entry

  • Adult Division: $5 to register + $5 for each entry (up to 10)

  • Youth Division: No registration fee (use code YOUTH) + $5 for each entry (up to 10)

 

How To Register and Submit Artwork

Click on "How to Register and Submit Artwork" in the menu bar for instructions.