Midpen Launches Annual Photo Contest With New Youth Category

From the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District: The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s ninth-annual digital photo contest begins today. Photographers of all abilities are invited to submit images taken in publicly accessible areas of Midpen’s preserves throughout the South Bay, Peninsula and San Mateo County coast. A new youth category added this year encourages middle and high school students to participate.

“The contest is a fun way for people using everyday technology, like smartphones and digital cameras, to connect with nature close to home,” said Acting General Manager Ana Ruiz. “We hope people will be inspired to explore their public open spaces, perhaps for the first time, and capture those moments of awe and wonder in nature.”

Participants can submit a total of three images in the following categories: Wildlife, plant life, landscapes, people in nature and this year’s new youth category for photographers under age 18. The contest runs through the end of May and has no entry fee. Winners are chosen by a public vote on Midpen's Facebook page.
The first-place winner in each category receives a $100 REI gift card and will have their image published in Midpen’s fall newsletter.

Contest details are at openspace.org/photo-contest. Winning entries from 2017 can be downloaded and published with news stories.

2017 winning entries, clockwise from top left: Landscape, After Winter Storm by Mike Asao, Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve; People in nature, Addicting Spring Ride by Ruben Garcia, Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve; Plant life, Nature's Fingerprint by Molly Pekula, Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve; Wildlife, Hunting Egret by Michelle Yau, Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Area.

Photos courtesy of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Image via Shutterstock