The City of Valdosta and The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts will host the Opening Reception for 12th Annual Valdosta People's Choice Photo Contest on Monday, June 29 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. The reception will be held at the Turner Center for the Arts.  The Turner Center requests visitors wear masks and practice social distancing while in the galleries. 

The contest is sponsored by the law firm Coleman Talley, LLC and invites photographers—whether amateur or professional—to capture the beauty of life in Valdosta in photographs. All of the photos were taken within Lowndes County.

This year, nearly 60 photos were submitted and will be on display in the Turner Center's Tillman Gallery. Beginning Monday, June 29, the public is invited to view the photos displayed on their respective canvas, and vote on their favorite designs. The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts is open for visitation of these works of art on Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Voting will run through July 15.  

Contest winners will be announced at the 12th Anniversary Awards Reception which will be held at the Arts Center on Monday, July 20, from 5- 7 p.m. A $300 cash prize will be awarded for first place, $200 cash prize for second place, and a $100 cash prize for third place from among the adult-submitted entries. In addition, five honorable mentions will also be selected.

The public will also vote on the first place photo for the youth contest (ages 16 and under) and one honorable mention. The youth first place winner will receive a $100 cash award.

All award winners and honorable mentions will become part of a traveling display that can be viewed from August until December 2020 in various areas of the community.

The photographs will remain on display in the Tillman Gallery through Wednesday, July 29. 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.