NWC community photo contest and exhibition returns in the spring

The third annual Northwest College Community Photo Contest and Exhibition returns in the spring of 2025, and digital entries are now being accepted through Friday, Jan. 10.

The contest and exhibit, co-sponsored by Roberts Camera of Indianapolis, will be on display in SinClair Gallery from February 4 – March 21, with an opening reception and awards ceremony taking place on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. The gallery is located inside the Orendorff Building on the NWC campus.

The contest serves as a showcase event for the NWC Photographic Communications program and also functions as a fundraiser for scholarship money provided to students interested in pursuing a professional career in photography. Proceeds from the exhibition entry fee will be used for first, second and third place awards in amateur and professional categories, as well as future scholarships.

This year’s juror is renowned conservation storyteller and wildlife photographer Kathy Lichtendahl. Based in Cody, Lichtendahl is a graduate of the NWC Photographic Communications program who taught at the college from 2015-18.

Those interested in participating in the contest may enter up to five digital images by January 10 to be considered for inclusion by the selection committee. There is no fee during this part of the process, but participants will be required to pay the appropriate entry fee upon drop-off or delivery of images selected for the contest and exhibit.

Selections will be ongoing as entries are submitted, and entrants will receive notification on which images have been selected no later than January 13. All images should be emailed to northwest.photo@gmail.com in JPEG format only at 300 ppi, with the longest end no more than seven inches.

For amateur photographers, there is an entry fee of $15 for each selected image. This contest is open to non-professional photographers living in the continental United States age 18 and up, including college students, teachers and photo enthusiasts. There is a limit of five digital entries in this category. Photographs previously published cannot be entered.

Professional photographers may also enter up to five images with a $20 entry fee for each one selected. Photographers earning income from their photographs are considered professional and must enter this category. Photographs previously published cannot be entered.

Cash prizes will be awarded in each category. 

Photos for the exhibition must meet the following frame sizes and colors to facilitate hanging in the SinClair Gallery and for award consideration. Photos not meeting the following requirements will not be displayed or considered for judging:

Black metal or wood frames only (Nielson Black 11 for metal)

Frame Sizes: 16 x 20 (for images 11x14 inches) or 20 x 24 (for images 16x20 inches)

White mats only

Must be ready to hang

Photographers in both divisions are responsible for the delivery and pickup of their entries. If entries are shipped, they must include a pre-paid return shipping label including insurance. Shipped entries must be received by Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, and sent to: NWC Photo Contest, 231 West Sixth Street, Fagerberg Building, Powell, WY 82435. For shipping questions, contact Christine Garceau at christine.garceau@nwc.edu or 307-754-6497.

Matted and framed photographs may also be dropped off at the Fagerberg Building on the Northwest College campus in Room 42 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. January 20-24.