Photography, Dept. 25

2025 Entry Instructions

ONLINE ENTRY IS REQUIRED. To be an Exhibitor, click on the Online Entry link and follow the instructions. Entry deadlines are listed on the Entry Deadlines and Delivery Schedule page.

Division-specific instructions are located below the Table of Categories.

The Durham Fair Photography Competition is designed to provide a competitive opportunity for photographers of all skill levels.

• Division 1, Salon Print: expert amateurs, camera club competitive photographers and semi-professionals. Youth (ages 17 and younger) are welcome to enter in the Salon Division and will be judged as an adult.
• Division 2, Enlargements: more advanced amateur.
• Division 3, Snapshots: “point and shoot” amateur.
• Division 4, Digital: all skill levels of photographers.

New for 2025

1. Food: Whether it’s juicy berries, crisp garden harvests, or an elegant wedding cake, we want to see the delicious side of your creativity. However you interpret “food,” make us hungry with your mouth watering shots!
2. Skyscapes: Have you been captivated by recent celestial events? So have we! From the dazzling aurora borealis and dramatic eclipses to planetary alignments and moon craters—there’s so much beauty in the sky. With just a few tips and tricks, even the moon’s surface is within reach.
3. Sunrise & Sunset: If you’ve explored the photo displays, you’ve probably noticed that the “Scenery” category draws the most entries. While each image is judged on its own merit, many of you suggested creating a separate space just for those stunning sunrise and sunset shots—and we couldn’t agree more.
4. Special Themed Classification: “Home Sweet Home” is a newly announced, special themed class for all Personal Skills departments at the 2025 Fair. What images come to mind when you hear the phrase “Home Sweet Home”? Is it the nostalgia of your grandparent’s house, or the comfort of their welcoming arms? Does “coming home” mean reuniting with friends at a cherished annual event? Maybe you feel most at home in the forest—or by the ocean. Whether it’s a person, a place, or a feeling, if Home Sweet Home stirs something in you, we want to see it in your photos!

Rules

• Eligibility: Images that have previously been entered in the Durham Fair Photography Department are NOT eligible for exhibition.
• Registration: All entries must be preregistered via Durham Fair online entry. Entries for Division 1–3 must be registered by Monday, two weeks prior to the fair. Entries for Division 4 must be registered and received by Friday, two weeks prior to the fair.
• Acceptance of Exhibits: All registered photos not mailed must be delivered on Saturday, the weekend prior to the fair, between 10 AM and 4 PM to the Creative Arts Building on the Durham fairgrounds.
• Judging: Competitive judging of photography Divisions 1 and 2 will be conducted on the Sunday prior to the Fair weekend in the Creative Arts Building on the Durham Fairgrounds. Division 1 (Salon) will be judged at 9 AM.. Division 2 (Enlargements) will be judged at 10:00 AM. Exhibitors and the general public are welcome to attend.
• Return of Exhibits:
  1. All exhibits must remain on display until 6 PM Sunday, the official closing time of the Fair. People who remove their exhibits before 6 PM will be disqualified from future Fairs. Entries may be picked up at the Creative Arts Building between 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM following the Fair closing on Sunday or between 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM the Monday following the Fair. Entries will not be mailed back after the Fair.
  2. The committee is not responsible for items not picked up at the end of the Fair.
• Additional Information:
  1. Exhibitor’s full name, contact phone number, Division and Class must appear on the back of each entry. Use labels or write on the back of photos with a black permanent felt tip pen only. Let ink dry and separate photos with clean paper to prevent ink from smudging onto other photos.
  2. Damaged or soiled entries may not be accepted for exhibition.
  3. Shrink wrapping, laminated photos, polaroids, colored copies and framed pictures are not allowed.

State Photo Contest

Sponsored by The Association of Connecticut Fairs and the Durham Agricultural Fair Association. Visit the Photo Contest page at ctagfairs.org for complete categories, rules, prizes, judging criteria and information on the State Photo Contest.

TABLE OF CATEGORIES

Honorable mention ribbons will be awarded at the discretion of judges and committee members.

Exhibitors entitled to a premium check who do not collect their exhibits will have their check mailed to them.

Ribbons will not be mailed with premium checks. They can only be collected when exhibits are picked up.

Best in Show will be awarded in each Division. A special award ribbon may also be given at the discretion of each Division Supervisor/Superintendent.

Fairgoers are invited to vote for their favorite submission in the Salon division for the 'People’s Choice' award. Votes will be tallied at 2 PM on the Sunday of the fair, and the winning photo will receive a special rosette.

Classifications for Division 1 – 4

1. Agricultural Fair
2. Animals
3. Birds
4. Buildings and Architecture
5. Children
6. Food
7. Image Artistry*
8. Insects
9. Miscellaneous
10. Panoramic Image (used only in Div. 1)
11. People
12. Plant Life / Flowers
13. Scenery
14. Skyscape
15. Sports
16. Sunrise/Sunset
17. Transportation
18. Special Category: “Home Sweet Home”

*Definition of Image Artistry: Image Artistry refers to the process of altering a photograph before and/or during the print process through creative modifications to produce a final image that looks decidedly different from the original photo. Unlike straightforward photography, which aims to capture an accurate representation of a scene or subject, Image Artistry incorporates elements like digital alterations to evoke emotion, tell a story, or convey an abstract concept. The result of this manipulation is to create a completely new work of art in an imaginative and interpretive way. Image Artistry is allowed in all Divisions.

NOTE: Photos entered in all classifications may be broken into sub classifications for judging depending on the entries received. The creation of additional subcategories is at the discretion of that Division's Asst. Superintendent.

Division-Specific Instructions

Division 1: Salon Print

Matthew Kabel, Superintendent
124 Murray Street, Middletown, CT 06457
860-347-0131
[email protected]

1. Exhibitors may submit a maximum of 3 prints total. Prints may be color or monochrome.
2. Salon exhibitors may also enter Division 4, Digital Slide Show but not Division 2, Enlargements or Division 3, Snapshots.
3. Youth (ages 17 and younger) are welcome to enter in the Salon Division and will be judged as an adult.
4. Pictures must be printed on heavy weight premium quality photo paper and must be mounted on 16" x 20" sturdy backing, matted and unframed unless they are full sized (i.e., 16" x 20"). The photograph itself must be at least 11" x 14" and can be as large as 16" x 20".
5. Photo Conditions: Backs of photos of salon print mattes/mounts must be neat and free of exposed adhesives, Velcro or mounting devices that could damage other photos during handling, stacking and judging.
6. NOTE: Panoramic images will be accepted for judging within Salon Division 1. Definition of Panoramic Image: The image must have an aspect ratio (length to width) of 2.5 to 1 or greater. Images may be horizontal or vertical. The smaller dimension must be at least 4" but no bigger than 8". The prints must be mounted on 16" x 20" backing, matting optional. Panoramic images may all be judged together depending on the number of entries received.
7. Photos must not be signed, watermarked or titled on the front. However, exhibitor’s title of the photo is specifically requested on the back for this Division only.
8. There will be a Best in Show chosen in three styles under Division 1: Color, Monochrome, and Image Artistry.
9. Color Salon entries will be judged for each Class A–R.

Division 2: Enlargements

Joel Labella
192 Cherry Lane, Durham, CT 06422
860-301-3513
[email protected]

1. Exhibitors may enter a maximum of 2 prints.
2. Enlargement exhibitors may also enter Division 4 (Digital Slide Show), but not Division 1 (Salon) or Division 3 (Snapshots).
3. Image must be 8" x 10" or 8" x 12" (be sure to trim your pictures to the proper size). No border is to exceed ½".
4. Photo Conditions: Prints must be printed on heavy weight premium quality photo paper and must be unmounted, not matted and unframed. Front of photos must not be signed, watermarked or titled. Backs of photos must be free of adhesives that could damage other photos during handling, stacking and judging.
5. Enlargement entries will judged for each Class A-R, excluding J. Panoramic

Division 3: Snapshots

Molly Otero, Asst. Superintendent
5 Gloria Heights, Portland, CT 06480
860-836-6774
[email protected]

1. Print sizes must be 4" x 6".
2. Prints are to be unmounted, unframed, not matted, and no titles.
3. Exhibitors may enter 1 print.
4. Pictures must be printed on heavy weight premium quality photo paper.
5. Snapshot exhibitors may also enter Division 4 (Digital Slide Show), but not Division 1 (Salon) or Division 2 (Enlargement).
6. Snapshot entries will judged for each Class A-R, excluding J. Panoramic

Division 4: Digital Slide Show

John Robinson
33 Bretton Road, Middletown, CT 06457
860-301-2159
[email protected]

The “Digital Slide Show” is for digital image files.

1. Each exhibitor may enter 3 images with their registration form.
2. Image file size shall be a maximum of 5 MB.
3. All entry file names must be in the following format: Last name (space) First name (space) Title (with spaces between words).JPG. EXAMPLE: Robinson John new jeep.jpg
4. Photo files and the completed registration form must be received no later than Friday, three weeks prior to the fair.
5. When you receive your Confirmation Receipt by email immediately forward it with your digital photo entry JPG file to [email protected].
6. Digital entries will judged for each Class A-R, excluding J. Panoramic

Committee

• Matthew Kabel, Superintendent
• Molly Otero, Asst. Superintendent
• Jenny Doll
• Joel Labella
• Ray Linehan
• Lily Otero
• Mindy Petruck, Asst. Superintendent, Computer Services
• Adalyn Proulx
• Braedon Robinson
• Griffin Robinson
• John Robinson
• Jennifer Schulten
• Karen Wickham