Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine Holds Annual Photo Competition
Entries Accepted Now Through Sept. 15

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 2, 2008)– The award-winning Wildlife in North Carolina magazine is partnering with N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation for its annual Photo Competition this year – and needs your prized nature photo.

For the fourth consecutive year, photographers will have an opportunity to enter their best wildlife photos, whether taken in a state park or a backyard or anywhere else in North Carolina. Wildlife in North Carolina, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s flagship publication, invites everyone to participate in its 2008 wildlife photo competition. The state parks system joins the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh and the Great Outdoor Provision Company as sponsors of the competition.

The competition, which runs through Sept. 15, will result in awards in 10 categories: Birds; Mammals; Reptiles and Amphibians; Invertebrates; Wild Plants; Outdoor Recreation; Peaks, Valleys and Plains; Animal Behavior; Youth Photographer 13–17; and Youth Photographer 12 and under. Rules and more detailed category descriptions are printed in the June issue of the magazine, or you can click here.

“State parks are outstanding places to photograph wildlife and nature, offering easy access to wild places, and rangers that know the habitats and amenities that can smooth the way for amateur outdoor photographers," said Lewis Ledford, director of the state parks system. "The contest is becoming a very popular event in the state, and it's a natural fit for us.”

The grand prize winning photo will grace the cover of the January 2009 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina and the photographer will receive a check for $200. All winning photographs will be published in the magazine and exhibited at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. First place in all categories pays $100; second place, $75; and third place, $50.

Only photographs taken in North Carolina in the past five years are eligible for the competition. The following rules apply:

• No pets or farm animals, with the exception of animals participating with people in outdoor recreation (for example, hunting dogs or riders on horseback)
  
• No photos of animals that are both captive and non-native to North Carolina (for example, polar bears or lions at the N.C. Zoo)
  
• No photos manipulated digitally beyond conventional darkroom techniques or basic digital cropping, sharpening and cleaning up
  
• All photos must be entered electronically at www.ncwildlife.org. No slides, negatives or prints will be accepted by mail. Go to the Web site and click on the Photo Competition link to enter your photographs and to see last year’s winners. Photographers can enter up to three photos in each category. (The competition drew more than 5,400 entries last year.)

To learn more about the many opportunities for photography and outdoor recreation found in state parks, go online to www.ncparks.gov.

For information on the photo competition, please direct any questions to competition@ncwildlife.org.