The 22nd Annual Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest and Exhibition is ready for the talents of the photographers, who enter their works of art in 2024.
“Each year the event welcomes back veteran photographers and greets new photographers, who are interested in the event,” says Ann Fortney, the creator and organizer. “We have new photographers who find us and want to enter then there are those photographers, who know someone that they encourage to enter,” Fortney says.
The contest applications are available at various locations throughout the region in photo labs, craft/hobby stores, matting/framing stores, libraries, gift stores, Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Kingsport Carousel and more. They can be found and printed from the website, www.penjaccphoto.com.
Participants can deliver entries to main gallery in The Kingsport Renaissance Center, Kingsport, Tennessee, Monday through Friday April 22 through May 3, from noon until 5 p.m. and on Saturdays, April 27 and May 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Deadline is May 4 at 4 p.m. If you live outside the region/state and want to enter, ship your entries to Ann Fortney at 154 W. Wanola Ave., Kingsport, TN 37660.
There is a fee of $5 per entry, and there is no limit on the number of entries. All entry fees are turned back into the event in the way of monetary prizes, ribbons and the award reception.
The judging of the competition is Saturday May 11, beginning at 10 a.m. The judging is open to the public and is held at the Kingsport Renaissance Center, room 111.
The exhibition is on display May 19 through July 1, at the Main Art Gallery and Atrium Gallery located in the Kingsport Renaissance Center. The awards reception is held Sunday May 19, from 2-4 p.m.
The contest is divided into four levels of competition: youth, amateur, proficient and masters. The youth level is for photographers 14 and under. The youth level is not divided into categories. They are evaluated as one group, and judges look for the elements of a good photograph.
The amateur level is for people who are just getting into photography, don’t place first, second or third regularly in competitions and don’t sell their photographs.
The proficient level is for those people who are of a higher skill level in photography, who regularly place first, second or third in competitions and who sell or offer to sell their photography.
The newest level is the masters. The masters category is by invitation from Fortney.
There are three categories in the competition: nature (color and monochrome), pictorial (monochrome and color) and the Carrie Penley Special Theme.
The nature category can have nothing manmade in it. The pictorial category can be anything and everything, including nature photographs. The Carrie Penley Special Theme category honors Fortney’s mother, who loved all kinds of scavenger hunts, especially photographic scavenger hunts. This year’s theme is “history/historic.” The photographs need to show history, such as historic re-enactments/actors, historic buildings, monuments, historic transportation, etc.
The original image must have been made by the entrant. The image may be altered digitally and artwork or a graphic created by the entrant may be incorporated as long as the photo content predominates. No AI created images are accepted, and any entered will be disqualified.
Monetary prizes and ribbons are awarded to first, second and third, Best of Show and People’s Choice. Honorable mentions receive ribbons. There is one special award, which honors Fortney’s father, The Jerry Penley I Love the Blue Ridge/Appalachian Region.
“Whether you have just picked up a camera for the first time or have been a photographer for years, whether you enjoy photography as a hobby or a professional, this event is for you,” Fortney says.
For more information, contact Fortney at 423-914-5453, by email at anniepenjacc2@aol.com or on Facebook at Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest and Exhibition.
