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Photography contest
The Maple Grove moments photography contest is a great way to showcase our community!
The 2022 contest closed on July 12 with:
- Over 400 photos submitted
- 125 residents participated
- Over 2,100 votes cast to select the "Viewer's Choice" entry
Many thanks to all who submitted photos as well as those who voted! You will already see many of the contest photos in City of Maple Grove communications.
Take a look at 2022 photos
Judging of the contest entries took place in mid-August. Monetary prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category as well as one prize for the “Viewer’s Choice” selection. View the 2022 contest entries.
View the 2022 contest winners
Winning photographers are recognized and receive their award at a Maple Grove City Council meeting. Their entries are showcased at the government center, on the city’s social media, and in the winter newsletter. View 2022 winning photos.
The City of Maple Grove is proud to partner with Prime Advertising and Design for the contest. Photos submitted may be used on our websites as well as in area-wide media such as the City Focus newsletter, social media, the Parks and Recreation Activity Guide, and the Residents' Guide.
Contest categories
- Going Together: People - neighbors, friends, or family enjoying everyday things - chatting, playing, shopping, grilling, celebrating special occasions, weeding the garden, cutting the grass, taking a walk, shoveling snow, raking leaves, making home repairs
- Going Natural: Landscapes, trees, plants, flowers, weather, sky
- Going Wild: Animals, including pets - birds, insects, things with wings, critters, creatures, wildlife
- Going Places: City landmarks, buildings, and streetscapes -- examples include shopping areas, Main Street, Angel of Hope, Central Park, Farmers Market, Town Green, Chalkfest, etc.
- Youth: Photographers under age 18 can submit entries that pertain to any of the above categories
Entries are judged on overall impact, subject matter, originality, technical skills, composition, and meeting the theme of the category. Judges also appreciate creative photo captions.
Monetary prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category as well as one prize for the "viewer's choice" selection. View contest rules and more information on judging below.
Photo contest rules and judging
By submitting your photos in the Maple Grove moments photography contest, you agree to all of these rules and parameters.
- All photographs must be a .jpg and at least 1 MB in size.
- Photographs can be color or black and white. Minor digital enhancement is permitted, but images that have been significantly modified or appear unnatural will not be considered for judging.
- Photos that include logos, watermarks, or copyrights are not accepted.
- Photographs with inappropriate or obscene content are not accepted.
- Photos that were submitted in past Maple Grove Moments Photography Contests are not accepted.
- The contest is open to Maple Grove residents. All entries submitted must be your own work. (Employees and their family members of the City of Maple Grove, Prime Advertising and Design, Inc, as well as any contest judges and their family members are not eligible to enter.)
- Photographs must have been taken in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Photographs from all seasons are encouraged.
- If there are identifiable people in the photograph and it was taken in a non-public space, it is the responsibility of the photographer to obtain permission to use the photograph.
- Once they are submitted, photographs/images become the property of the City of Maple Grove and Prime Advertising and Design, Inc. and both have all rights for usage.
- All photography submissions must be completed online no later than noon on Tuesday, July 12, 2022.
- Entries are reviewed by a panel of judges selected by the City of Maple Grove.
- Photographs are judged on overall impact, originality, creativity, composition, photographic quality, technical skills, and how an image expresses the theme of the category.
- All decisions will be final, and judges reserve the right to recategorize or disqualify any entrant.
- There are a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize awarded in each of the categories. First prize winners receive $100 each; 2nd place $50 each; and 3rd place $25 each. The one photo receiving the highest number of votes overall in online voting is designated as the Viewers Choice winner, and the photographer receives a $50 award.
- Prizes may not be awarded if no acceptable entries are received.
- Winners in each category will be notified by phone and/or email. Winning entries are published in the winter City Focus newsletter, displayed at the Government Center, and highlighted on the city's social media.