Native Beauty of Mesquite Photo Contest
Sponsored by Keep Mesquite Beautiful

Keep Mesquite Beautiful is proud to announce the 2010-2011 Native Beauty of Mesquite Photo Contest. Winners of this exciting nature photography contest will be eligible to win prize money as detailed below. Prize money will be awarded in three categories: elementary, youth, and adult. The entry fee is $3 per photo submitted. Deadline for submissions is 5:00pm, Thursday June 30, 2011.

Photo Contest Rules:

1. Theme: The photo contest is based on the theme: "The Native Beauty of Mesquite." All photos submitted should showcase natural flora and/or fauna within the city limits of Mesquite. Keep in mind that the City of Mesquite is a Bird Sanctuary and has received Tree City USA designation. The flora (plants) pictured should provide food (seed, nuts, berries, acorns, fruit, nectar, etc.) or shelter for migrating birds or other natural Mesquite creatures. The fauna (animals) may be birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, bugs etc. The predominant flora and/or fauna, the date and the location of the photo shoot must be identified on the entry form. Pictures of pets or farm animals will not be awarded prizes.


2. Judging: Photos will be judged on technical quality (sharpness, correct exposure), composition, originality, and relevance to the “Native Beauty” theme. Photos will be judged by the Keep Mesquite Beautiful, Inc. Board of Directors and others associated with the City of Mesquite Community Services Department. The decisions of the judges are final.


3. Entries: Mail your photo submission(s), fully completed entry blank(s), and a check or money order to Keep Mesquite Beautiful, Inc. Submissions must be 35mm prints or unaltered digital photo prints. Submissions on CD will not be accepted. Submissions must be at least 4X6, but no larger than 8X10 in size. Photos should not be matted or framed. Do not mark your name or other identifier on your submissions. Each photo will be assigned a number when it arrives at KMB.


4. Deadline: All entries must be received in the KMB office no later than 5:00pm on Thursday, June 30, 2011. Photos may be mailed to the following P.O. Box or dropped off to our physical location. Keep Mesquite Beautiful, Inc. cannot be responsible for lost, late, misdirected, damaged or postage-due mail.

   Mailed Entries: Keep Mesquite Beautiful
   Attn: Executive Director
   P.O. Box 850137
   Mesquite, TX 75185
   
   Physical Location: Community Services Building
   Attn: Keep Mesquite Beautiful
   1616 North Galloway
   Mesquite, TX 75149



5. Fee: Contestants may enter as many times as they wish, but must complete an entry form and pay an entry fee for each entry submitted. The entry fee is $3 per photo submitted. Entry fees may be paid by check or money order made out to Keep Mesquite Beautiful.


6. Awards: First, Second and Third place winners of the photo contest will collect, in total, prize money equal to 75% of the combined entry fees of all entrants for their category. First Prize will win 40% of entry fee money for the entrant category. Second Prize will receive 25%, and Third Prize.10%.


7. Entrant Categories: Elementary, Youth (Junior and Senior High), and Adult (age 18 or over) categories will be judged separately.


8. Notification: Winners will be notified by mail and/or email. To qualify to receive a prize, winners must sign an affidavit of eligibility and release.


9. Eligibility: Everyone is eligible with the following exceptions. Keep Mesquite Beautiful Board of Directors, resident family members of Board of Directors, any contest Judge, or resident family members of judges are not eligible to win cash prizes. They may be, however, awarded a certificate of honorable mention.


10. Release: All photos become the property of Keep Mesquite Beautiful, Inc. By submitting an entry, you give KMB permission to use the photos in its publications, educational programs, and publicity efforts. Submitted photos may be featured in a City building and on our website. Contestants must know the names and addresses of any identifiable persons in the photos; who must also sign an affidavit of release without compensation.

Download Entry Form (15KB) The entry form is available in Adobe Acrobat format only.  You can download your free copy of Acrobat Reader by clicking here.