Deadline Feb. 28th for Manatee Preserves photo contest

MANATEE COUNTY – A new local photography contest gives Manatee County’s amateur photographers a chance to publicly show their incredible images of Manatee’s natural beauty.

Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department is sponsoring the contest. Cary Catts, Education and Volunteer Specialist, says the department plans to host the contest every year.

“Local photographers constantly send in beautiful images of our parks and preserves,” Catts says. “We thought a photo contest would be a great way to display some of the best of the best and to give photographers greater publicity for their work.”

Now through Feb. 28, photographers may mail images to Catts at 5502 33rd Ave. Drive West, or e-mail them to cary.catts@mymanatee.org. Photographers may send up to 10 photos in the following categories:

• Landscape – Photos that display the habitats found within Manatee County’s natural preserves;
• Wildlife – Photos that feature a particular plant or animal found within Manatee’s preserves;
• People – Photos that display people enjoying Manatee’s preserves.

The best photos will be featured in a gallery presentation in the Valentine House at Robinson Preserve in April. By March 15, the County will notify photographers whose shots have been selected for the Valentine House display. The photos will be used on the County’s website and social media pages. Some photos will also be considered for the County’s annual wall calendar that is distributed throughout the area.

For complete details about the contest and to learn more about photo specifications, visit www.mymanatee.org/photocontest.