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 exhibited digitally at City Hall throughout the following year, publicized in the City’s e-newsletter (LO Down), and featured in a special section in the November or December edition of the City’s newsletter (Hello LO). In addition, all winning photos will be shared on the City’s website. 

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., Tuesday, September 10, 2024. 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: Places & Landscapes 

Photos that showcase parks, trails, business districts, street scenes, urban landmarks or scenery that identify Lake Oswego.

Category 2: People & Community

Photos in Lake Oswego from community events, gatherings, and celebrations that embody the feelings of community and belonging.

Category 3: Wildlife

Photos that showcase any of Lake Oswego’s beautiful wild critters such as deer, eagles, raccoons, osprey or other wildlife.

Category 4: Flora, Fungi, Bees & Butterflies

Up-close photos that show the fine-detailed features of non-feathered pollinators, flowers, trees, plants, fruit, or fungi in Lake Oswego.

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: Monochrome & Digitally Altered Photographic Images

Photos in this category can reflect any subject matter and must be taken in Lake Oswego. This category is designed for photographs that are:

• In black and white or in varying tones of only one color.
• 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.

Contest Details

Photo Submission

Submit your photos and entry form online or via thumb drive/CD. All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 10, 2024.

Rules

• Contest is open to professional and amateur photographers of all ages.
• Photos must be taken in Lake Oswego.
• Photos must have been taken within two (2) years before the date of entry.
• A participant can win in no more than one category, but can place in up to two categories.
• A completed and signed Entry Agreement must accompany each photo submitted.  Entry Agreements by youth under 18 years of age must be signed by parent or guardian. The online form allows for submission of multiple digital photos and includes the Entry Agreement.
• Photographs must be in digital format and must be in the following format:
• Suitable for poster size reprint - iPhone or camera pictures 8mp or higher are generally acceptable.
• File format: TIFF, JPG, JPEG or PNG. 
• The photographs will be processed and evaluated as Adobe RGB Color and should be submitted as such.
• Photos will not be returned and may be used in City print or electronic media.
• City employees are encouraged to submit photographs, but will not be eligible for monetary prizes. However, they will be recognized in any category.

Judging

A panel consisting of City of Lake Oswego staff and a City Councilor (“Judges”) will evaluate all eligible entries based on overall quality, creativity and how well the photograph portrays Lake Oswego in relation to the category criteria. The Judges will select three finalists from each category. Places of finalists (first, second or third place) will be selected in each category by a public vote. Voting will close on October 15. Category winners will be announced in early November.  Decisions of the Judges and the public are final and binding.

Questions?

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

Photo by Barbara Barbour, 2023 Photo Contest.