The Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC) is proud to announce its second annual wildlife photo contest.  The non-profit environmental center will be accepting entries from both adults and young people over the next few weeks.  Between now and December 1st, amateur as well as professional photographers are invited to submit up to 10 photos of wildlife that can be found in the central region of California, and have the chance to bring home a $200 first-place prize (or three other cash prizes).

     For the past 22 years, CSERC has worked to protect wildlife along the rivers, foothills, and mountains of the local region.  A key part of those efforts has focused on educating the public about the diversity of wildlife species that share central California with millions of people.  Last year in the initial photo contest, CSERC received over 300 entries from 65 contestants.  CSERC was able to use many of the pictures in the Center’s educational programs that teach students about wildlife of the region.  Since 1990 CSERC has reached over 103,000 students and members of community groups with free presentations.

Contest details:
            Interested contestants are invited to send digital JPG photos or slides to CSERC between now and December 1st.  All photos submitted will be considered the property of CSERC for use in the Center’s educational programs or for use on the CSERC website or in other conservation materials. 

The submission deadline ends on Thursday, December 1, 2011. 

     After the deadline, CSERC staff biologists and support staff will evaluate all the submitted entries.  The selected winning photos will be revealed on the CSERC website by December 10th.

     Contestants must include their contact information with all entries so that CSERC is able to send the cash prizes to winning contestants.

     In the ADULT CATEGORY, one first-place photo will be selected, and the photographer will be sent a $200 check.  A second-place photographer will receive a $100 check.   One third-place photo will be chosen, with a $50 prize.

     There will also be a YOUTH CATEGORY for young people 16 years of age or younger.  The winner of that category will receive a $75 prize.

1) E-MAIL PHOTO ENTRIES AS A JPG FILE TO:lindseym@cserc.org

2) PHOTOS SHOULD BE SENT AT HIGH OR HIGHEST RESOLUTION. 

3) EACH CONTESTANT MAY SUBMIT UP TO 10 PHOTO ENTRIES.  PHOTOS MUST BE OF WILDLIFE THAT CAN BE FOUND IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA.  NO PHOTOS SUBMITTED FOR THE 2010 WILDLIFE PHOTO CONTEST MAY BE CONSIDERED AGAIN THIS YEAR.  ONLY NEW ENTRIES WILL QUALIFY.

      Once the winning photos are selected, in addition to distributing cash prizes, CSERC will feature the top 20 photos from the contest on the CSERC website, where there are already many excellent wildlife and landscape photos.