About the Contest

If you’re passionate about photography and have not yet participated in the Highlands Photo Club’s contest, 2027 is the perfect opportunity to get involved. It’s a welcoming event that offers both enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment. The Club encourages those who have entered in previous years to return and showcase their talents once again.

Eligibility and Participation

Sponsored by the Highlands Photo Club, the Annual Community Photo Contest is open to all residents of Highlands. This inclusive event invites photographers of all skill levels to share their work and engage with the community.

Exhibition and Awards

Submitted photographs will be displayed on four artboards located along the Highlands Clubhouse hallway, providing an opportunity for all attendees to view and appreciate the entries. Ribbons will be awarded and affixed to the winning photos, recognizing outstanding achievement and celebrating the artistic contributions of participants.

AGAIN THIS YEAR

The Best of Show Winner will receive $300.00

Bobette Williamson’s Legacy: Supporting the Highlands Community Photo Contest

After her passing, Bobette’s husband Mel Nunn expressed a heartfelt desire to continue supporting both the Highlands Community Photo Contest and the Highlands Photography Club that she cherished. In recognition of her he determined that a donation of $1,500 would be made in her honor. This generous contribution enables the club to present a $300 cash prize each year to the Best of Show winner for five consecutive years, ensuring Bobette’s enduring influence and encouragement are felt throughout the community. See below for full story/details.

Photos may be entered for judging in seven Categories:

Flora: Including all types of flowers, plants, & fungi.
Fauna: All types of animals including insects.
Landscapes, seascapes, nightscapes. (outdoor scenes, nature images, sunsets, astronomical events, etc.)
People of all ages.
Artistic: Creative, abstract - must be based on the photographers own photograph.
Monochrome: Varying tones of only one color including black & white and sepia
Hand of Man: Objects such as sculptures, jewelry, autos, planes, bridges, cityscapes, urban landscapes, architecture, etc.

Note: AI tools may be used for minor edits (e.g., exposure, color correction, noise reduction, or basic retouching) but images must be primarily the result of the photographer’s own work. AI-generated or heavily AI-manipulated images (e.g. content creation, object addition, or text-to-image generation) are not permitted.

Professional printer editing services are also not allowed except for perhaps color corrections.

Contest Submission Requirements

Photos must be in an 11” x 14” matte with at least 1 inch on each side. Prints can be any size that fits within the stated matte standard. Mattes may be any color. Mattes should be clean and free of defects. Framed pictures are not eligible.

On the reverse side of each entry, write your name, email address, phone number and the category in which you are entering the photo. Do not write anything on the front that identifies you as the photographer.

Start Early. There may be fewer local photo printing options and art supply stores this year. Contestants may want to explore on-line resources for materials and photo processing services. Allow extra time for shipping.

About the Judging Process

This is a two-track judging process. The contest will be judged by a professional photographer who will choose first, second, and third-place winners in each category and one overall “Best of Show” image. Ribbons will be placed on the winning pictures. The professional photographer who will judge our 2027 contest to be announced at a later date.

In addition, Highland's residents can vote for their favorite photos using ballots that will be available in the Clubhouse hallway. A different set of first, second, and third-place ribbons will be affixed to the residents’ favorites. Residents will again be allowed 1 vote per person.

The Bobette Williamson Award for Excellence
in Photography at The Highlands

Mel Nunn, Bobette Williamson’s husband, has created an award that combines Bobette’s love for photography, the Highlands Photo Club, and the Highlands community. This Award is titled “The Bobette Williamson Award for Excellence in Photography at The Highlands.”

This Award recognizes excellence in photography at The Highlands by presenting a cash award of $300 to the “Best of Show” winner at the Highlands Annual Community Photo Contest for the next five years beginning with the 2026 contest.

The “Best of Show” designation is made by a professional photographer hired from outside the Highlands Community to judge all entries in the contest. Since none of these entries have any identifiers other than the contest photo entry number assigned by the Photo Club, they are anonymous to the professional judge.

Because this contest is open to all members of the Highlands Community, all participants, whether members of the Photo Club or not, have an equal chance of receiving this annual Award.

By connecting this award to the “Best of Show” recognition, we celebrate Bobette’s passion for photography, her commitment to the Highlands Photo Club, and her dedication to the Highlands community—all through this single award.

This Award is being administered by the Highlands Photo Club therefore any questions regarding the award can be sent to Gail Becker, Photo Club President at mailto:president@highlandsphoto.club

This is a community contest sponsored by the Highlands Photo Club. If you have any questions about entering or the process, please feel free to reach out, we would love to help. Contact contest manager Walter Gasser wjg@aol.com or Photo Club President Gail Becker at: president@highlandsphoto.club