PA Environment Digest Blog: PA Parks & Forests Foundation Invites Entries To 2021 Thru The Seasons Photo Contest

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation is now accepting entries to the 2021 Thru the Seasons Photo Contest. This year the categories pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Environmental Rights Amendment to Pennsylvania's constitution.

"The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people." -- Article I, Section 27

The categories include--

-- Clean Air – What does “clean air” mean to you? Maybe it’s a blue clear sky? The night sky? The ability to see for miles and miles from that favorite vista? The ability to run or bike or hike for miles breathing in clean air?

-- Pure Water – Lakes. Streams. Waterfalls. Pennsylvania has a lot of them. How about turning on the fountain to quench your thirst? What’s your favorite?

-- Natural Value – For purposes of this category, the “natural value” of our environment is embodied by the birds and wildlife found there, the erosion that is controlled by tree roots, shade from a tree on a hot day.

-- Scenic Value – We’ll call this the “knock our socks off” category! What scene through your camera’s lens took your breath away?

-- Historic Value – Pieces of the past are still important to the present, and are vital to the future.

-- Esthetic Value – Hard to pin down philosophically but let us focus here on the part of the definition of “aesthetic” that speaks to something’s “capacity to elicit pleasure.” Bring out your fun friends and family, simply enjoying what has been and is being saved for all of us.

Young Photographers (ages 12 to 17 ) – What is a young person’s perspective on any of the above? We’d love to have a photo and your thoughts as well!

The contest’s seven categories offer a prize to each of three photographs from each category as follows:

-- PPFF’s blue ribbon panel of experts (chosen solely at PPFF’s discretion) will select a Judges’ Choice in each category prior to the photos being made available for public voting on the PPFF Facebook page.

-- Thereafter, the top vote-getter in public voting will be named People’s Choice in that category.

-- Second prize in the category will likewise be chosen by popular vote.

Prizes include--

--Both Best in Show winners (People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice) receive a $75 state park gift card.

-- The People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice winners in each category receive a $50 state park gift card.

-- The runner-up in each category receives a $25 state park gift card.

All photos must have been taken in a Pennsylvania state park or state forest.

Click Here for all the details. The deadline for entries is September 30. Click Here to see a Gallery of past winners.

For more information on programs, initiatives, special events and how you can get involved, visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Foundation, Like them on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter or tune in to their YouTube Channel. Click Here to become a member of the Foundation.