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The first round of 2019 Prairie Photo Contest judging is complete, and the Luverne Area Chamber announced winners Friday.
“I can honestly tell you that they had a very hard time,” Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere said about judges for the May-June contest.
Winners in the Animals category are Kelly Doyle with “Bison Stroll,” Jason Schutz with “Resting Place” and Steve Bloemendaal with “New Legs.”
Plants and Flowers category winners are Linsey Duffy with “Prairie Onion” and Linsey Duffy with “Aster & Quartzite.”
Landscapes winners are Kelly Doyle with “Tangerine Sunset” and Jason Schutz with “Serenity.”
General Interest winner is Mary Herr with “Bison Buggy Ride.”
Lanphere said $400 in cash prizes was awarded, and the Chamber and CVB will use the photos to promote prairie visits and travel.
“Special thanks to all of you for sending in your entries,” she said.
“Congratulations to the winners … and keep the gorgeous creative photographs coming.”
Area photographers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in the sixth annual Prairie Photo Contest sponsored by the Luverne Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“We’re trying to encourage people to get out and enjoy the prairie,” said Luverne Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere, who also staffs the CVB. “All men, women and youth are encouraged to enter. You need not be a resident of the area to participate.”
The CVB accepts photo entries for three contest periods: May and June (just completed), July and August (deadline Aug. 31) and September and October (enter by Oct. 31).
Photographers may enter up to five photos per entry period, and two $50 prizes will be awarded per category per entry period.
Contest entrants may be amateur or professional, but the CVB will retain the rights to use the winning images for the postcard promotion.
All photographs not selected as winners in the monthly judging will be retained in the pool of photos to be considered in the following month’s judging.
Photographs may be new images or selections from existing portfolios, but they must all be digitally submitted with a resolution of 300 pixels per inch or greater.
Individuals may submit up to five images per entry per month between May 1 and Oct. 31. Photos from all seasons will be accepted.
Submissions should be emailed on or by the first day of each month to luvernechamber@co.rock.mn.us.
The photographer’s name, address, phone number and email should be submitted with each entry, along with the title of the entry.
Lanphere said the Prairie Photo Contest is a fitting way to celebrate parks and to capture the beauty of the local prairie.
“We hope it’s something the community can envision being part of,” she said.
Lanphere can be reached at 283-4061 with questions.