Description
About the Life in Louisville Photography Contest
Every year, our community shares their best photos for the "Life in Louisville" photo contest! Local photographers are invited to submit photos that capture “Life in Louisville” over the past year. All submitted photos need to have been taken between January 1 - December 31, 2024.
The 2024 Life in Louisville Photography Contest will take place from December 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025. During this time frame, local photographers can submit up to 5 photos through the City's online application.
Please see below for further information on judging criteria and photo use conditions in relation to the Photography Contest.
Winner Selection Process
Winners of the 2024 Photography Contest will be selected over the course of a few weeks following the submission deadline. A panel of judges will choose winners within the following categories: People & Events, Animals, Nature & Landscapes, Sunrise & Sunset, Downtown & Old Town and Student Photography. An Overall Winner will also be chosen and the residents of Louisville will have the opportunity to vote to select the winner of the People's Choice Award.
The winners of the Life in Louisville Photography Contest will be announced at a City Council meeting in February, where the recognized photographers will be invited to receive their certificates in person.
Questions? Iris Belensky - ibelensky@louisvilleco.gov
Judging Criteria:
- How well does the photo capture the essence of “Life in Louisville" in the past year?
Consider photographing different perspectives, seasons, and areas around town. Think about your favorite parts of the city, whether it’s beloved Louisville icons or overlooked areas that make life here unique. - Artistic quality and originality of subject matter. Consider new and pleasing ways of framing your subject. Photos that are in focus and well-lit are encouraged. Please refrain from submitting heavily edited, filtered, or composite images for this contest.
- Awards will be given in several categories. Please indicate each photo's category when submitting the photos. Photo categories are:
- Old Town and Historic Louisville
- Nature and Landscapes
- Sunrises and Sunsets
- Community Events and People
- Student (under age 18)
- Photographers may submit up to 5 photos, selecting one category for each photo.
Additional Criteria:
- Photos must be from the previous calendar year (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2024), and taken in Louisville, Colorado.
- Photos that appear to depict illegal behavior will be disqualified. Please note: this includes images showing dogs off-leash in areas with leash requirements.
- Wildlife photography should be respectful of the subjects, and wildlife should not appear to have been disturbed, handled, “harassed”, or “baited”.
- Heavily edited, filtered, or composite images are not allowed.
- Panoramas are not allowed, as they are difficult to share online.
- Photos may not show the photographer's name, signature, logo, or website.
- Photos should be in a high-quality .JPG, .JPEG, or .PNG format, with the file size not exceeding 10MB per photo.
- Please do not print or mail in photos. We can only accept digital files.
Photos from this contest may not be used without the permission of the City of Louisville. To request permission for non-commercial use of these photos, please contact Iris Belensky at ibelensky@louisvilleco.gov.
Photo Use Conditions:
Photographic Materials Use Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into the City of Louisville (the “City), and (”Photographer”) in order to set forth the terms and conditions under which the Photographer’s photograph(s) will be entered in the “Life in Louisville” Photo Competition and all future related rights and uses.
Photographer represents and warrants at the time of submission that the Photographs are the sole property of the Photographer and the Photographer has the right to permit the Photographs to be used for the purposes stated in this Agreement.
Under this Agreement the parties mutually agree to the following conditions:
1. Photographs entered in the "Life in Louisville'" competition may appear in the City of Louisville publications displayed in various places such as print, TV, the internet, and/or in the City facilities, and may be given to outside organizations for publication (”After-Competition Uses”). The City will request, but cannot guarantee, photo credit for any image used.
2. The Photographer will provide the City with copies of the original digital files for use in the competition and any After-Competition Uses. Any image from the Photographs may be cropped or otherwise manipulated within the discretion of the City to fit within the dimensions of any intended use or to serve other aesthetic or practical purposes.
3. The City agrees to either (a) include Photographer’s name in all Competition and After-Competition Uses that feature Photographer’s Photograph whenever commercially feasible, as determined by the City, or (b) have the Photographer’s information readily available and associated with any After-Competition Uses in order that such can be immediately provided upon any inquiry.
4. The Photographer grants the City permission to publish their name with the Photographs.
5. The Photographer will retain ownership and copyright of submitted Photographs; however, the Photographer hereby grants to the City a royalty-free, perpetual license to use the Photographs for any lawful purpose, including without limitation commercial uses and the right to sublicense use of the Photographs. The Louisville Historical Museum may select entries from submitted photos to add to the Museum collection.
6. All Photographs are sent at the Photographer’s risk. The City shall have no liability for any loss of or damage to any Photographs entered into the competition or for any loss or damage resulting therefrom.
7. Photographer agrees that the right to participate in the Competition, together with the publicity and recognition obtained from use of the Photograph, in accordance with the terms and conditions contained herein, constitutes full and fair compensation and consideration for use of the Photographs and specifically disclaims any right to any other compensation or consideration.
Submissions automatically constitute the acceptance of all conditions set fourth in these rules and the Photographic Materials Use Agreement. If photographer is under the age of 18, an adult guardian must provide acceptance of conditions on behalf of the minor.
