What are you doing this summer? Capture the essence of summer through your lens and showcase your creativity, talent, and love for this vibrant season. This contest is a celebration of all the joy, warmth, and adventure that summer brings, encapsulating 101 days of unforgettable memories.

From the first days of June to the last moments of September, you'll have ample time to document the fleeting moments, breathtaking landscapes, vibrant colors, and cherished experiences that define summer for you.

Your subjects could be anything from joyful beach days, refreshing poolside moments, delightful family gatherings, captivating sunsets, bustling street festivals, vibrant flora, thrilling outdoor adventures, or even quiet moments of relaxation in nature's embrace. The possibilities are endless!

The addition of the composite photography category opens even more avenues for creativity— Entrants can create photo compositions of their own fantasy worlds or fictional scenes of their ideal summer. Feel free to let your imagination run wild, combining multiple images to bring your vision to life. 

Categories

This year, there are two main categories — Traditional Photography and Composite Photography. Entrants may submit up to two entries in each main category and must enter in their respective age/skill level sub-category. (See eligibility requirements.)

Traditional Photography (Main Category) Subcategories:

1. Adult Novice (Individuals who are new or inexperienced to working in the approved media)
2. Adult Accomplished (Individuals who have higher levels of art skills obtained through experience, education, training or who operate as professional artists.)
3. Youth Teen (Ages 13 to 17)
4. Youth Pre-Teen (Ages 9 to 12) or Youth Child (Ages 6 to 8)

Composite Photography (Main Category) Subcategories:

1. Adult Novice (Individuals who are new or inexperienced to working in the approved media)
2. Adult Accomplished (Individuals who have higher levels of art skills obtained through experience, education, training or who operate as professional artists.)
3. Youth Teen (Ages 13 to 17)

Traditional photography refers to the practice of capturing images by exposing light-sensitive film or a digital sensor directly to the scene being photographed. It involves composing a single image in-camera, without significant post-processing or manipulation. Traditional photography aims to depict a scene or subject as faithfully as possible, relying on natural lighting and minimal alterations.

Composite photography involves combining multiple images or elements to create a final composite image. It allows photographers to merge various elements, such as different photographs, backgrounds, textures, or objects, to produce a new and often more elaborate composition. With image editing software, photographers can blend, layer, and manipulate the different elements to create a cohesive and imaginative final image that may not exist in reality.

Sub Categories include: Adult Novice, Adult Accomplished, Youth Child (age 6 to 8), Youth Pre- Teen (ages 9 to 12), and Youth Teen (ages 13 to 17). Submissions for the youth categories must be made on behalf of the minor photographer by the legal parent or guardian. 

How to Enter

No purchase is necessary to enter or win.

Participants may enter up to two images. Photographs may be entered in only one category. Photographs will be judged by an expert panel based on Impact, Creativity, and Technical Excellence. Entries will be accepted 15 Sept through 15 November 2023 via https://forcesupport.awardsplatform.com. Prizes will be awarded to the top three entrants in each category. Only one prize awarded per entrant.

To enter the contest visit https://forcesupport.awardsplatform.com during the contest period and follow the instructions for submitting photographs.

AFSVC will not accept entries via any other means. The entrant must meet all eligibility requirements and the entry must meet all submission requirements.

Photographs must be submitted as high-quality JPG/JPEG or PNG files, and must be 300 dpi when saved at approximately 8.5" x 11" (3600 px minimum width required ). Files may not exceed 9MB in size.

Photo Composite Enhancement must include one original photo and must show the original photo with the entry of the composite enhancement. 

Eligibility

• Authorized patrons of Air Force Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Programs [IAW AFI 34-101, Air Force Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Programs and use Eligibility] are eligible to participate in Air Force Services Center (AFSVC) contests.
• Entrants in Adult Novice and Accomplished categories must be 18 years of age at the time of entry.
• Entrants in Youth categories must meet the following age requirements:

1. Child: Ages 6 to 8
   
2. Pre-Teen: Ages 9 to 12
   
3. Teen: Ages 13 to 17
   

• Entries in Youth categories must be submitted on behalf of the photographer by a legal parent or guardian.
• Force Support Squadron (FSS) Commanders, Civilian Leaders, and FSS marketing personnel may enter the contest, but are NOT eligible to win prizes.
• Prizes will be awarded to eligible participants.
• Failure to meet eligibility or submission requirements will render the submission ineligible.
• Photos are eligible in one category i.e., submitting the same photo in more than one category is not permitted.

Prizes

• Winners will be notified via the email address provided during the submission process. Winners must respond via email within five calendar days of notification. An alternate winner will be chosen if communication is not received within five calendar days of notification.

1. Prizes will be awarded to the top three (3) winners in each sub-category.

First Place: $500 Amazon Gift card
Second Place: $400 Amazon Gift Card
Third Place: $300 Amazon Gift Card

• Winners will receive an Amazon Gift Card presented by their installation Point of Contact (POC) in a method compliant with installation health and safety guidelines. If the winner is under the age of 18, a legal parent or guardian must be present with the youth to accept the prize.

• Acceptance of the prize grants the AF the right to use the winning submission in its entirety for any publicity, advertising, or promotional purposes without compensation.

• The winner must comply with all terms and conditions set forth in the Official Rules. Winning is contingent upon fulfilling all such requirements.

• No entrant may win more than one prize.

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Updates, photographer stories, tips, and special features will be posted weekly.