Open class contest invites photographers of all ages to display their talent

SPENCER, IOWA- The 2008 Clay County Fair will mark the fifth year of photography competition at the fair. Dana Metcalf, Co-Superintendent for the Photography Department says, “We are really excited about the competition this year because the quality of photo entries has continued to improve every year.”

The Clay County Fair Photography Department will be receiving entries for competition on Friday, August 29 from 12 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, August 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Enrichment Center at the fairgrounds. Standard class entries will be judged on Tuesday, September 2 and special class entries on Wednesday, September 3. All entries will be displayed during the fair in the Enrichment Center.

The classes are designed to challenge amateur photography competitors and highlight their artistic talent. Each year, the Photography Department has three standard classes as well as the Special Theme Class, Photojournalism Class and “Beautiful Iowa” Class. This year, those classes will each have a new theme for which competitors will be able to display their talent.

The “Shadows of Light” competition, sponsored by Marvin Burk Photography, will serve as the Special Theme Class for 2008. The competition challenges the photographer to use light to capture shadows in a picture. Photos entered must be in black and white, sepia tones or monochrome. The top three of the “Shadows of Light” contest will be awarded $100, $75 and $50 for the adult division and $50, $35 and $25 for the youth division.

“Sports”, marks this year’s theme for the Photojournalism Class sponsored by The Spencer Daily Reporter. The photo subject matter must consist of pictures with informative and emotional impact as it relates to amateur or professional sports. First, second and third in the adult division will be awarded with $100, $75 and $50 prizes while the youth division winners will receive $50, $35 and $25 in cash awards.

The “Beautiful Iowa” Class, sponsored by Nielsen’s Tire and Appliance, will have a theme of “Winter Wonderland” for the 2008 competition. Photographs must be identified on the entry tag by the specific location where the photo was taken in Iowa as well as tie into the winter theme. The top three photos will receive ribbons and cash awards for $100, $75 and $50 for the adult division and $50, $35 and $25 for the youth division.

Rules for the three special classes require that the entries be only 8 x 10 inches in size and flush mounted. All classes will be split into two divisions, one for adults 18 and over and the other for youth 18 and under.

In addition to the special classes, the Photography Department will also hold competition in the standard classes. The three standard classes for both age divisions include; Color Photograph, Black and White Photograph and Creative Photography.

Both the Color Class and the Black and White Class have five lots for which competitors may enter one photo in each. The lots are people, places or landscape, things, plants and animals and insect world.

The Creative Photography Class has four lots that allow the photographer to use various techniques to alter reality to the point where the photo may be less real, non-objective or abstract in quality. Contestants may enter one photo in each lot of computer manipulation, multi-images into one photo, trick lenses and “other” category.

The standard classes require photos no smaller than 5 x 7 inches in size and no larger than 12 x 16 inches in size including any matting. The photos may be displayed on matte board or flush mounted.

All photos that competed in the Photography Department will be displayed during the fair in the Enrichment Center. A percentage of top photos in each class will be chosen to receive “Honorable Mention”. From those photos there will be chosen a “Best of Class” and a “Best of Show”.

The Clay County Fair Photography Department will be receiving entries on Friday, August 29 from 12 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, August 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Enrichment Center. Contestants can also pre-register by mailing entry forms to Photography Dept., Clay County Fair Assoc., P.O. Box 527, 1401 4th Ave W., Spencer, IA 51301. Premium books can be picked up at the Clay County Fair Association office or accessed online at the fair website at www.claycountyfair.com  under the tab, “ag programs”. Any questions can be directed to Photography Superintendents Dana Metcalf at 712-260-4852 or Kay Schueneman at 712-262-2689.