ATHOL — Hundreds of square miles of rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands will be displayed in print for the first-ever “Millers River & Watershed Photo Contest and Exhibition.”
The contest, co-sponsored by the Millers River Watershed Council and the Athol Public Library, allows nonprofessional photographers to submit images of the Millers River and its watershed, which will be displayed at the Athol Public Library throughout October.
“MRWC aims for the Photo Contest and Exhibition to inspire watershed residents to explore, appreciate and help protect the 50-mile long Millers River and its surrounding watershed of 400 square miles — including numerous tributaries, streams, lakes and ponds,” said Millers River Watershed Council Director Ivan Ussach in a statement.
Photographs should be 14 inches in length on the long side, and submitted to the Athol Public Library at 568 Main St. between Friday, Aug. 17, and Monday, Sept. 24, at 5 p.m.
Images can be from any season, should be “ready to hang” and must include water from the Millers River or its tributaries, streams, lakes, ponds or wetlands within the river’s watershed, which covers at least part of 18 Massachusetts and six New Hampshire municipalities. Only printed images — no digitals or negatives — will be accepted.
Each contestant may submit up to three images and must include their name, mailing address, phone number and email, as well as the location of each image — local area, nearest street or GPS coordinate. Titles, if any, should be given for each image along with a short paragraph detailing how the image relates to the Millers River or watershed, and any personal comments. People who make more than half of their income from photography are not allowed to compete.
Judges are professional nature photographers — Paul Rezendes of Athol, Bill Fournier of Gardner and Dale Monette of New Salem — who will award ribbons to those with the best images.
According to Ussach, the images may be displayed at other venues within the Millers River watershed’s boundaries after the exhibition at the Athol Public Library, but will eventually be available for pick up at the library after exhibitions are finished.
The contest and exhibition falls in line with the nonprofit Millers River Watershed Council’s mission of being the “eyes and ears” of the area, and, Ussach said, is meant to draw attention to the vast system of streams and waterways.
To learn more about the contest and exhibition, visit www.millerswatershed.org.
Reach David McLellan at
dmclellan@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.