Digital Owl Photography Contest

First Place 2011, Short-eared Owl by Alan Stankevitz

We're going digital for 2012!  There will only be a single category (owls), and the contest is open only to amateur photographers.  The entry fee is $5/photo, with a maximum of three entries per person.  Entries and payment must be received by February 15, 2012 at 11:59 PM.  Each entry should be sent as a separate email to owlphotocontest@gmail.com, and should be 300 dpi at 8"x10".  Please include your name, address, phone number, email address, and photo title in the body of the email.

Judges will pick the top 10 finalist photos to be made into 8x10 prints, matted, and displayed at the Houston Nature Center during the International Festival of Owls March 2-4, 2012. The public will vote from the top 10 finalists to determine the winners during the Festival.

First prize: $100, 2nd prize: $25, 3rd prize: $15. Please note that bank transfer fees will be deducted from the cash award if the money must be transferred to a foreign bank account.

Use the International Festival of Owls registration forms (either online or print) to enter.

 

Owl Photography Sessions

© Alan Stankevitz

On Sunday there is a special photography session with live owls in an outdoor setting.  Although the birds are all captives and some have permanent injuries, they often can be positioned so their disabilities and leather jesses are not visible. 

The specific birds used depend on health and training of the birds as well as weather conditions.  The owls used in 2012 will be coming from The Illinois Raptor Center in Decatur, IL.  We anticipate the following species to be used:

Great Horned Owl

Eastern Screech-Owl (red and gray together)

Barred Owl

Snowy Owl (female)

Please note that there is no guarantee as to which species will attend the photo shoot, as the well-being of the birds is of the highest importance.

Photographers can choose from 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM time slots, and must arrive in time to be ready to begin shooting sharply on time.  There will be three photographers per bird this year, with each group of three photographers rotating to a new owl every 10 minutes.  

Proceeds from this session benefit the Houston Nature Center.

Check out a few photos from the 2009 session taken by Alan Stankevitz here.

*Please note that there is no cell phone reception at Valley High Golf Club where the shoot takes place.

Cost is $75/photographer and includes a brunch.  If registering February 27 or later the cost is $100/photographer.  Limit 12 photographers per session.  Pre-registration is required.

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