Gallery by the Lake is excited to announce:
The sixth annual Bird Photography Competition and Exhibition
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!
2024
Overview
This competition is meant to celebrate the joys and benefits of birdwatching, draw attention to the diversity of bird life and habitat around the world and showcase the work of wildlife photographers in North America. With cash prizes totaling $1,400 for Open and Fixed-Lens Camera categories, the winners will certainly be rewarded for their beautiful photos!
When
The event itself begins on April 12, 2024 and will conclude on November 30, 2024.
Here is a list of all the important dates for this event:
April 12 - Call for entry opens
June 28 - Deadline for entries
July 12 - Notification of Acceptance
September 13 - Deadline for receipt of accepted works
September 27 – Opening Reception and Awards
November 30 - Exhibition concludes
Where
This is a national competition and exhibition of photographs of birds found anywhere in the world. The opening reception and exhibition will take place on the second floor of the Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center in Lake Charles, LA on September 27 and end on November 30. Awards will also be announced at the opening reception.
How to enter
Each photographer may submit up to 5 entries for the standard non-refundable entry fee of $35. Up to 3 additional entries may be submitted for $5 each. Entries are submitted using the www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ) website. Pictures must have been taken on or after April 1st , 2021.
Mailed entries should be suitable to withstand the rigors of packaged shipping
Please ship to:
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Historic City Hall
1001 Ryan Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Hand deliveries are accepted September 3rd to 6th and 10th to 13th from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Works must be received by Friday, September 13
Return of artwork begins November 28
Hand delivery pickup available at Historic City from November 28th - December 2nd and December 5th - 9th, 10 am to 6 pm.
A 20% gallery commission will be assessed on the sale of photographs during the exhibition. The exhibition committee reserves the right to reproduce accepted entries for future press releases, website, and social media promotion of this event.
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All shipped accepted works must include prepaid return shipping label
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Late or damaged shipments will be returned freight collect
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Works must be shipped in reusable packing cartons
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No packing peanuts or popcorn
Accepted works must be framed and back wired with the wire reaching no higher than 3" from the top of the frame.
Image size should not exceed 18” x 24” or equivalent with matted and framed work no larger than 24” x 30”
Open Category - for photos taken with any type of camera.
Fixed-lens Camera Category - only for photographs taken with less expensive, so-called “bridge” cameras with non-interchangeable lenses. Examples are the Canon PowerShot SX70HS, Nikon Coolpix P1000, and Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000. Photographs entered into this category erroneously will be removed from consideration without refund of entry fees.
The medium must be Photography. Digital enhancement should be limited to color, shadow, cropping, and reasonable use of AI sharpening software. No alteration of original image background is allowed. Photography regarding bird safety and dignity outlined in Audubon Photography guidelines should be followed.
Entry Requirements
Judges
The contest will be judged by BWD Magazine editors Dawn Hewitt and Bruce Wunderlich.
Prizes
For each category:
1st Place - $300
2nd Place - $100
3rd Place - $75
Best in Show - $450
Contact
Competition Coordinator: Dan Plummer
Phone: Dan Plummer (337) 842-6820
Liability
Gallery by the Lake Inc. carries no insurance for loss or damage to artwork in the gallery or in transit nor assume any liability for same. Care will be taken for the safety of the exhibited work. Artists should provide their own insurance coverage. Gallery by the Lake Inc. is not responsible for fees and/or damage from any cause. A submission of entry/ies into the show and exhibit constitutes a binding agreement by artists to all conditions stated. The entrant understands and agrees that any unclaimed artwork left after the exhibit take-out date will be removed from the exhibit site and will be donated/disposed of by the Gallery by the Lake after 30 days from last pickup date.
Gallery by the Lake is supported by a SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Marketing Grant from Visit Lake Charles (Lake Charles/SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau) and a City of Lake Charles Partnership Grant, both as administered by the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana.