Local photographers may submit work

Here’s something those photographers who send Reader’s Photos to The Western News may be interested.

The Montana Wilderness Association is asking shutterbugs of all ages and experience levels to get ready to show the world what they love about Montana’s special wild places.

This September, photographers will be able to submit their work and compete for prizes totaling over $1,000 in MWA’s fourth annual Picture Wild Montana photo contest.

The theme for the contest, Picture Wild Montana, will have six categories for contestants to compete: Montana’s Wild Rocky Mountain Front, Wild Northwestern Montana, Montana Wildlife, Montana Wild Landscapes, Montana Wildflowers and People in Montana’s Wild Places.

Three prizes will be awarded in each category: one for winner based on judging, one for winner based on popular vote, and one for the winner competing within the kindergarten through eighth grade age group.

There will also be three grand prize winners decided in the same way from all photos submitted to the contest, regardless of category.

In addition to prizes, winning photos may also be selected to be published in the MWA 2013 calendar and/or other various MWA publications such as Wilderness Walks books, annual reports and newsletters.

Photographers can submit their work at wildmontana.org during the two-week open submission period from Sept. 14–28, 2012. After the submission period has ended, qualifying photos will be displayed at wildmontana.org, voting will be enabled, and the public will be able to cast their vote for their favorite photos and determine winners by popular vote. 

This will be a chance for contestants to use social media, like Facebook and Twitter, to rally supporters of their photos to wildmontana.org to vote for their work.

Online voting will close at midnight on Oct. 12. During this same period, qualifying photos will also be judged by a panel of judges who will determine their selections for category and grand prize winners.

Winners will be notified on or near Oct. 19.

For more information about the Picture Wild Montana photo contest, visit our website at www.wildmontana.org in September, or call the Montana Wilderness Association office in Helena at (406) 443-7350.

The Montana Wilderness Association is the state’s leading grassroots wilderness conservation organization.

Founded in 1958, MWA works with communities to protect Montana’s wilderness heritage, quiet beauty, and outdoor traditions, now and for future generations. Our vision is for a Montana where pristine public lands are permanently protected as federally designated wilderness, thus ensuring biodiversity, clean headwaters, and sustainable economic opportunities for nearby communities to thrive.