Virginia scenes of beauty invited for 8th photo contest

Scenic Virginia, the statewide organization committed to the preservation, protection, and enhancement of the Commonwealth’s scenic beauty, opens its 2015 Virginia Vistas Photo Contest today, April 20, with submissions due by May 17.

The annual photo contest—now in its 8th year - “showcases the depth and breadth of our Commonwealth’s incomparable scenic beauty,” notes executive director Leighton Powell of Richmond. “We’re honored that so many talented photographers are willing to share their beautiful images with us each year.”

The 2015 photo categories are as follows:
Cities & Towns
Coastal & Chesapeake Bay
Farms & Open Space
Highways & Byways
Mountains & Valleys
Rivers & Waterways
Scenic Trees
Vistas with Wildlife
Route 5 Corridor (Special in 2015)
The inclusion of the special Route 5 category is intended to encourage travel along that scenic corridor. Scenic Virginia is spearheading efforts to designate historic Route 5 between Williamsburg and Richmond—already a designated Virginia Byway—as a National Scenic Byway®.

A panel of judges will select a photo winner in each of the categories, as well as an overall Best in Show. Each winning photographer will receive:

• Two tickets to the 2015 Scenic Awards Gala Reception & Ceremony at the Virginia State Capitol, scheduled for Friday, October 9, at which the 2015 Virginia Vistas Photo Contest winners will be on display.

• Prominent placement in the Photo Gallery section of Scenic Virginia’s website.

• Note cards featuring the winning 2015 Virginia Vistas photographs.

Contest Rules are available at http://www.ScenicVirginia.org There. is no charge to enter, and each photographer may submit up to a total of five images. The deadline for submitting entries is Sunday, May 17, at 5 pm.