Photography, Dept. 25

2023 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.
• Division 2, Enlargements: more advanced amateur.
• Division 3, Snapshots: “point and shoot” amateur.
• Division 4, Digital: all skill levels of photographers.
• Division 5, Floating Category: this category accepts all of the above formats.

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, three weeks prior to the fair. Entries for Division 5 follow the above deadlines dependent upon the format type.
• Acceptance of Exhibits: All registered photos not mailed or delivered with the entry form at the time of registration must be delivered on Saturday, the weekend prior to the fair, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to the Creative Arts Building on the Durham fairgrounds.
• Judging: Judging of photography Division 1 – 5. will be conducted on the Sunday prior to the Fair weekend, at 1 p.m. in the Creative Arts Building on the Durham fairgrounds. Exhibitors and the general public are welcome and encouraged to attend this competitive judging. We suggest bringing your own chair, snack and beverage as none are available on the grounds.
• Return of Exhibits:
  1. All exhibits must remain on display until 6 p.m. Sunday, the official closing time of the Fair. People who remove their exhibits before 6 p.m. will be disqualified from future Fairs. Entries may be picked up at the Creative Arts Building between 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. following the Fair closing on Sunday or Monday following the Fair between 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Entries will no longer 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

A Best of Show will be awarded in each Division. Honorable Mention awards will be issued at the discretion of the judges. A special award ribbon will be issued at the discretion of each Division Assistant Superintendent.

Classifications for Division 1 – 4

1. Animals
2. Birds
3. Children
4. Buildings and Architecture
5. Image Artistry*
6. Insects
7. Miscellaneous
8. Transportation
9. Panoramic Image (used only in Div. 1)
10. People
11. Agricultural Fair
12. Plant Life / Flowers
13. Scenery
14. Sports
15. Selfies (used only in Div. 3 and 4)

*Definition of Image Artistry: Image Artistry will include any manipulation/creative process before and/or during the print process. Image Artistry is allowed in any Division.

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.

NEW Floating Division: 2023 "Fantasy"

A little bit of fairy dust or a splash of adventure; this is what the 2023 special category is all about! We are urging all photographers to reach into the realm of fantasy photography and bring us your most creative piece. Whether you're a fan of cosplay, dress up, or make believe or want to take real life and add a touch of the magic, here is your chance to do so. This is a storytelling genre, aimed at having the viewer feel engaged in something otherworldly. We encourage you to use your imagination and expect you to take the extra steps to make your image believable. How you execute your creativity will be a large part of how the category is judged, alongside high quality photographic principles.

Exhibitors can submit only ONE image for this category, either a salon-sized image, enlargement, snapshot, or digital image in addition to your other photo entries. Please mark the back of the image with name, phone number, a title and label it "Fantasy."

Division-Specific Instructions

Division 1: Salon Print

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

1. Photo Conditions: Backs of photos of salon print mattes/mounts must be neat and free of adhesives, mounting devices or Velcro to prevent damage to other people’s photos during handling, stacking and judging. Pictures must be printed on heavy weight premium quality photo paper. Photos must not be signed or titled on the front.
2. Prints must be mounted on 16" x 20" sturdy backing, matted and unframed unless they are full sized, i.e., 16" x 20".
3. The photograph itself must be at least 11" x 14" and can be as large as 16" x 20".
4. Exhibitors may submit a maximum of 3 prints total. Prints may be color or monochrome.
   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.
5. Salon exhibitors may also enter Division 4, Digital Slide Show and Division 5, Floating Category but not Division 2, Enlargement or Division 3, Snapshots.
6. Exhibitor’s title of the photo is specifically requested on the back for only this Division.
7. There will be a Best in Show in three categories under Division 1; Color, Monochrome, and Image Artistry.
8. Color Salon entries will be judged for each Class A-N.

Division 2: Enlargements

Joel Labella
192 Cherry Lane, Durham, CT 06422
[email protected]

1. 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".
2. Prints must be unmounted, unframed, not matted, no titles, unsigned on the front and adhesive free on the back.
3. Exhibitors may enter a maximum of 2 prints.
4. Pictures must be printed on heavy weight premium quality photo paper.
5. Enlargement exhibitors may also enter Division 4, Digital and Division 5, Floating but not Division 1, Salon or Division 3, Snapshots.

Division 3: Snapshots

Molly Otero
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 and Division 5, Floating Category but not Division 1, Salon or Division 2, Enlargement.

Division 4: Digital Slide Show

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

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

1. Image file size shall be a maximum of 5 MB.
2. Each exhibitor may enter 3 images with their registration form.
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, two 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].

Division 5: Floating Category

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

1. Exhibitors may enter 1 image in this category in addition to the above categories (in accordance with their guidelines).
2. Follow the submission instructions above for the appropriate type of image being entered. Mark the back of hard copy images with exhibitor name, phone number, a title and label it "Fantasy."

Contacts

• Matthew Kabel
  860-347-0131
  Superintendent
  [email protected]
  124 Murray Street
  Middletown, CT 06457
• Jennifer Schulten
  860-287-3291
  Asst. Superintendent
  Official Fair Photographer
  1 Passiac Road
  Middlefield, CT 06455
• Joel Labella
  Assistant Superintendent, Division 2
  193 Cherry Lane, Durham, CT 06422
• Molly Otero
  Assistant Superintendent, Division 3
  5 Gloria Heights
  Portland, CT 06480
• John Robinson
  Assistant Superintendent, Division 4
  33 Bretton Road
  Middletown, CT 06457
  

Committee

• Joel LaBella
• Mindy Petruck, Assistant Superintendent of Computer Services
• Braedon Robinson
• Margaret Robinson
• Lily Otero

Updated: 6/4/2023