Photo Contest

Amateur and professional photographers are invited to enter their best images in the 16th Annual “City of Lake Oswego Photo Contest.” This contest allows people the chance to see the city through your unique lens.

Send in your best photos for a chance to win!   In each category:

• First place winners will receive a $150 gift card.
• Second place winners will receive a $100 gift card.
• Third place winners will receive a $50 gift card.

All winning photos will be included in a special photo exhibit at City Hall throughout the following year.  In addition, all winning photos will be displayed on the City’s website. The category winning photos will also be publicized with credit in the November or December edition of the City’s newsletter (HelloLO), and featured in the City’s e-newsletter (LO Down).

So, what makes a photograph a Lake Oswego winner? Technical quality, clarity and composition are all important, but so is a flair for the unexpected and the ability to capture a picture-perfect moment.

Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m., Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Category winners will be announced in early November.

Contest entries will be judged on overall quality, creativity and how well the photograph portrays Lake Oswego. The City reserves the right not to award prizes if a suitable photograph has not been entered.

Categories

Category 1: Life in Lake Oswego

Photos should reflect what you do or see every day – photo examples include special events or community celebrations, sports, parades, people taking a walk and having fun, positive aging, children playing, street scenes, City crews at work, etc.

Category 2: Places in Lake Oswego

Photo examples include Lake Oswego’s neighborhoods, shopping districts, streets, parks, trails and green spaces, businesses, etc.

Category 3: Positive Aging in LO

Photos should depict people 50 and older. It should feature great aspects of aging in Lake Oswego; for example, someone hiking one of our trails, having a picnic with family in the park, shopping at the Farmers’ Market, painting, fishing, etc. Photographers can be of any age.

Category 4: Plants and Wildlife in Lake Oswego

Photos should reflect the close-up beauty of Lake Oswego - its environment and wildlife.

Category 5: Pets in Lake Oswego    

Photos should feature your pet enjoying life in Lake Oswego; for example playing at the dog park or city park, going for a walk along one of our pathways, enjoying the lake or river, etc.

Category 6: Digitally Altered Photographic Images

This category is designed for photographs that are more than just enhanced through digital fine-tuning. Alterations may include using an oil paint effect, or significant digital alteration of light and lines. Photographer should describe the digital enhancement or manipulation applied to the image.

Category 7: Youth (entrant/photographer must be under the age of 18)

Photos taken in Lake Oswego can reflect any subject matter the entrant would like to submit.

Vintage/Historic photos (photos taken prior to 1970) can be submitted for consideration in any of the above categories. These photos may be submitted as a print instead of digital or can be scanned and submitted digitally.

Contest Details

Below, download a full description of this contest, including rules, prizes, timelines, judging criteria and the official Entry Agreement.

Submit your photos and entry form online or via thumb drive/CD.

Questions?

For contest questions, please contact Bonnie Hirshberger, Citizen Information Specialist, at 503-675-3992.