Rules for “Reflections” Photo Contest

Eligibility

The ‘Reflections’ Photo Contest is open to photographers ages eight and older. There are three divisions for participants:  professional, amateur, and youth (see below for specifics).

Entry is available for both members and non-members of the Otsego Lake Association.

• Contestants must have access to a valid email address for communication with contest officials.

• Submitted photos must be original works with the focus on Otsego Lake. No copyrighted materials should be included.
  
• Photos may be color, or black & white.
  
• Eligible format is high-resolution digital images, jpeg. If you upload from your phone do not reduce the size. File size is limited to 10 MB.
  
• Photos that include images of people must have approval for use.

• Submitted photos should not have a visible name, date, border or any type of watermark.
  
• Minor adjustments of color/contrast, sharpening, spotting, dodging and burning are acceptable. (Photographs manipulated for artistic purposes by applying special effects such as collage, photo composites or HDR are not acceptable and will be disqualified.)

• Submissions are limited to two images per contestant. 

Use of Creative Work

Photographers retain full copyright to their own images. Participation in the contest gives the Otsego Lake Association permission to use the photographs without compensation on the Contest Website as well as on other OLA websites, social media, publications, and in news releases which may appear in print or on third party websites. 

Winners’ photographs may be printed at OLA’ s expense to display at the Annual Gathering. OLA will always include the photographers’ names when using a photograph for any purpose unless requested not to do so by the photographer. 

Winners are asked to allow OLA to use/auction these prints to support the organization.

Divisions

Prizes will be awarded for each category:

• Professional
• Amateur Adult (age 19 or older, or out of high school at the end of the contest)
• Amateur Youth (up to age 18)

Prizes

1. FIRST PRIZE: $100 Cash award for winner in each category 
2. OLA merchandise for Honorable Mention Awards (items selected by/at discretion of committee members)
3. Winning photographers will be notified through email and will be invited to receive their award publicly at the OLA annual gathering on Saturday, August 9, 2025.
4. Winners and finalists will be featured in the OLA Journal and may also be named in a news release to local media.

Submissions

• Submission:  You may submit photos starting November 15, 2024.
• Deadline to submit photos is midnight, Sunday, July 20, 2025. 
• Judging:  Judging will take place in July/August 2025.
• Finalists and Winners Announced:  Winners will be notified by email, and will be announced to the public at the Otsego Lake Association’s Annual Gathering on the morning of Saturday, August 9, 2025.

Certifications

Photo Contest participants agree and certify the following:

• Photos were taken by the person submitting the entry.
• Photos were taken in, around, or near Otsego Lake.
• By submitting a contest entry, you assert you have obtained the consent of all identifiable persons to use their likenesses in your contest entry. Disregard this rule if the subjects in the photo are not identifiable.
• By submitting a contest entry, you agree to grant permission to Otsego Lake Association to use photos submitted in print, digital, and online publications, social media, publicity, promotions, and other uses for the orgnaization.
• By submitting a contest entry, you assert that you have read, understand and agree to all terms and conditions.

Questions

Please contact us by email at info@otsegolakeassociation.org if you have any questions. Please include “Photo Contest” in the subject line.