SAAC has added a new category to the slate of awards for its upcoming annual photography competition, “The Viewfinder”. For the first time, a special Sponsor’s Purchase Award will be given to a photograph taken in Union County. The exhibit will be on display in the Merkle and Price Galleries February 5-March 3, 2024, and it is presented in partnership with the El Dorado Insider and The Diamond Agency. A total of $1200 in cash prizes will be awarded.
To Enter: Complete the Online Entry Form and Deliver artwork to SAAC by February 1.
The Union County Sponsor’s Award was the brainchild of Don Hale, publisher of the El Dorado Insider. His goal was to encourage photographers entering the competition to look right in their own backyards for creative inspiration.
“In past competitions, an array of exceptional entries of photos flooded in from every corner of the globe. This inspired us to establish a distinctive category specifically tailored to encapsulate the essence of our extraordinary locale here in Union County,” he said. “We think that so many opportunities await photographers—an abundance of natural settings, an enchanting historic district, and woodlands that undergo a breathtaking transformation during autumn.”
The winner of the Union County Sponsor’s Purchase Award will receive a $250 prize, and their work will be published in the El Dorado Insider. Additional cash prizes will be awarded for the Best of Show ($500), First Place ($250), Second Place ($150), and Third Place ($100). All winning entries will also have the opportunity to be highlighted in the quarterly publication.
“The El Dorado Insider is dedicated to showcasing local magnificence, prompting us to enhance our visual narrative.” Hale continued. “We find it fitting to recognize and reward those who skillfully direct their creative focus toward these surroundings.”
Photographers may use any type of camera and print on any medium. Basic corrective editing in the dark room or digitally on the computer is allowed, but no graphic manipulations. Photographs must not have previously shown in The Viewfinder Competition. To enter, submit up to two framed photographs to SAAC by February 1, 2024. The entry fee is $10, with one free entry available to all SAAC members.