Posted By Les Conklin on May 1, 2014

 2014 Summer Fun Tony Nelssen Photography Contest 

Get Published, Prizes, and Recognition

“Phillip will be quite proud when I win.” Queen Elizabeth

 ABOUT THE 2014 CONTEST

It’s time to turn up the fun, spur creativity, and accelerate generosity. Again this year, our summer’s fun is delivered in the form of the Tony Nelssen Photography contest. The contest is easy to enter, and there is no entry fee. The deadline for entering is July 31, 2014. There are a several ways to win, as prizes are being awarded based on categories. For each contest, judges will select one winner for each category and a grand prize for the best overall contest entry.

In addition to publishing winning entries and the usual great prizes that top entries receive, this year The Peak will, once again, fund a school visit to the Pinnacle Peak Desert Center in the names of the Summer Fun Photo Contest and Summer Fun Write Stuff winners. The Desert Center’s mission is to educate children about the Sonoran Desert in which they live. Through education, the center seeks to ignite a child’s curiosity, respect for the desert, and the stewardship of the desert that will likely follow. The center’s audience is elementary school children, grades one through four, their teachers and aides, and accompanying adults.  The center conservatively estimates that more than 100,000 children, from 2500 to 4500 per year, have been touched by the program since it began. Be part of it all and take part in this summer’s contests.

Photo Contest Categories

Entrants can submit a maximum of two images per category. The photograph must have been taken by the entrant in the last three years and cannot have been previously published in The Peak. Winning photographs will be published in the September-October issue of this magazine, in e-Peak Monthly Newsletter, and posted on our website.

LANDSCAPES: The best image of a local landscape, flora, and other natural scenery.

WILDLIFE: The best image of local wildlife, including birds, mammals, reptiles, etc.

LANDMARKS: The best image of a local building, art, architecture, street, or any natural or man-made structure that captures the essence of our community.

LOCAL PEOPLE: The best image of scenes of local people engaged in local traditions and everyday lifestyles.

GRAND PRIZE: The best overall photo. the winning photo will be featured in A Peek at the Peak magazine either in a lead article, on the cover, or in the centerfold. In addition, The Peak will fund a  visit to the Pinnacle Peak Desert Center by an under-resourced elementary school class in the name of the Summer Fun Write Stuff Contest winner. The Desert Center’s mission is to educate children about the Sonoran Desert in which they live. Through education, the center seeks to ignite a child’s curiosity, respect for the desert, and the stewardship of the desert that will likely follow. The center’s audience is elementary school children, grades one through four, their teachers and aides, and accompanying adults.  The center conservatively estimates that more than 100,000 children, from 2500 to 4500 per year, have been touched by the program since it began. .

Prizes and Recognition Galore!

• All winning entries  will be published in The Peak magazine (both print and digital versions), and on The Peak’s website. In addition, winners will be recognized in GPPA’s e-Peak Monthly Newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter.
• Gift cards for local retailers
• Gift cards for entertainment venues
• Gift certificates for restaurants

Summer Fun on Display

Be part of the Summer Fun on Saturday, September 6th a the Summit Diner when ALL the photographs entered in the Summer Fun photo  contest will be on display, selected writing contest entries will be presented, and contest winners will be introduced. Like last year’s inaugural event, this will be a relaxed, informal, and enjoyable evening.  Everyone is welcome, whether you entered the contests or not. Order food and beverages from the menu at the standard prizes, enjoy a relaxing meal with friends and neighbors, and invest in a 50/50 raffle and vote for the Diner’s Choice Photo Award. Last year’s winner of the award was “Owl in a Palo Verde Tree, by Mickey Jansen, pictured here.  Proceeds will be used for the maintenance of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. Summer Fun on Display will be held at the Summit Diner, 32531 N. Scottsdale Road, STE. 101, Scottsdale, 85266,  www.summitdinieraz.com, (480) 575-6562.

Entering the Contest

There is no entry fee. Entrants must submit an entry form along with their entries by July 31st. Contest rules,  submission guidelines, and instructions for obtaining an entry form (s) are provided below.

You can also request that we email these items to you. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact The Peak. Our contact information is provided below. BE SURE TO REVIEW THE RULES AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES BEFORE YOU START CREATING YOUR ENTRIES. Have fun this summer and WIN!

Contest Contact Information

Email: thepeak@gppaaz.org, to request contest information and submit entry forms, and entries
Phone: (480) 361-6498, to request contest information
Mail: The Peak, 8711 E Pinnacle Peak Road #123, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, to submit entry forms and entries.

Download and Print Contest Entry Form

Before you submit your entry form (s), be sure to review the contest rules and guidelines below. One form can be used to submit two entries. If you have more than two entries, submit additional forms as required. Remember, it’s quality that counts, not quantity. Download contest entry form.

Photo Contest Rules

Before you start clicking, carefully review the contest rules below.

• A Tony Nelssen Photography Contest Entry Form must be submitted with your photograph (s). The entry form and photograph (s) can be sent separately, e.g. fax the entry form and E-mail the photograph (s).
• The photograph and the entry form must be received by the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA) by midnight, July 31, 2014.
• The picture must be taken in The Peak’s distribution area (north Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, north Phoenix, or Rio/Tonto Verde).
• The photograph must be an original taken by the person submitting the photo.

Photographs will be judged on quality, composition, aesthetic content, and capturing the theme.
Up to two photographs can be submitted for each category by an entrant. The minimum photo size is 4 x 6 inches. Rembers, quality wins, not quantity.
The style and tone of the photograph (s) should be consistent with photographs that are published in The Peak magazine.
Contestants cannot be members of the GPPA Board of Directors, members of their families, or regular photographic contributors to The Peak. The decision of the judges is final.
GPPA and The Peak magazine reserve the right to edit and publish submissions in the magazine and GPPA’s Web site, www.ThePeakAZ.org.

Photo Submission Guidelines

• The completed and signed entry form must accompany each photo or group of photos. This entry form should be neatly printed by hand or computer. It can be sent via E-mail, fax, or postal mail and need not be sent with the photograph (s).
• Photographs can be sent via Email or mail. E-mailed photographs should be attached to a message identifying the photograph. We prefer that photographs be sent as TIFF, EPS, or Jpg files. Files larger than three megabytes should be submitted on CDs formatted for IBM. If you are submitting a photo (s) taken by a digital camera, higher resolution images are preferred.
• Photographs, CDs and other submission materials WILL NOT BE RETURNED UNLESS A PRE-ADDRESSED, STAMPED RETURN ENVELOPE IS INCLUDED is included as part of the submission.
• Materials can be submitted by E-mail to thepeak@gppaaz.org or via mail addressed to GPPA Photo Contest, GPPA, 8711 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, #123, Scottsdale, AZ 85255.