This weekend’s Azalea Festival and spring weather sets the perfect stage for citizens looking for a fun way to photograph our beautiful community and earn a little extra cash. The 8th Annual Valdosta People’s Choice Photo Contest is underway, and citizens have until Tuesday, May 31, 2016 to submit their photos.
 
The City of Valdosta is proud to partner again with the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts to host the annual contest, which is designed to inspire citizens to capture on camera the best of living in Valdosta. Whether photography is a passion, a hobby or just an occasional pastime, all citizens are invited to participate.
 
This year’s categories are as follows:
 
Planes & Trains (And other transportation in the city)
Sponsored by the Metropolitan Planning Organization
 
Paws & Claws (For animal lovers)
Sponsored by the Lowndes County Animal Shelter
 
Trees & Bees (And other nature wonders)
Sponsored by Georgia Power
 
Faces & Places (Photographers' favorites)
Sponsored by Valdosta Main Street
 
Sites & Lights (Potential film and movie locations in the city)
Sponsored by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Tourism Authority
 
Citizens may submit up to five entries (a maximum of one entry per category), and categories are open to the photographer’s interpretation. All photographs must be taken within the Valdosta city limits, and entries must be mailed or hand-delivered to the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts by Tuesday, May 31, 2016, where they will be displayed in the center’s Tillman Gallery beginning on June 13.
 
An opening reception will be held at the Turner Arts Center on Monday, June 13, and the public is invited to attend and to vote on the entries. People’s Choice Voting will continue at the arts center from June 13 through July 13.
 
Overall winners in each of the five categories, honorable mentions, and the overall Best of Show Awards will be announced by Valdosta Mayor John Gayle at the Awards Reception at the Turner Arts Center, on Monday, July 18, from 5 -7 p.m. Monetary and gift prizes will be awarded to all category and Best in Show winners. The 2016 photo contest will again feature a Best of Show for younger photographers ages 14 and under, as well as several honorable mentions.
 
The photographs will remain on display at the arts center for the public’s enjoyment through the end of July 2016. Winning photos will then become part of a traveling display that may be viewed from August until December in various city locations.
 
No professional skills, special equipment or fees are required to enter. For more information, call the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts at (229) 247-2787 or the city’s Public Information Office at (229) 259-3548. Applications and contest rules may also be downloaded at http://www.valdostacity.com/valdosta-peoples-choice-photo-contest.