Museum Photography Contest: “Take a Hike in Yoknapatawpha”

“Take a Hike in Yoknapatawpha” is the theme of the photography contest and exhibit coming up this June at the Union County Heritage Museum. The contest is juried with cash awards in four categories.

“We want people to get outside, enjoy nature and take great photographs,” said Jill Smith, Director of the museum. “And we hope this will give them a reason to explore our great scenic outdoors.”

The contest is geared toward the mythical county of Yoknapatawpha created by New Albany’s native son William Faulkner, winner of the Nobel Prize for his prose. “Since this is a mythical county, the photos can be from North Mississippi in general, however, we would love to see great photos from Union County,” she said. This is his ‘postage stamp of native soil’. The contest is part of the community’s annual William Faulkner Literary Fest.

One aspect of the contest of a bookish nature is that entries should have a literary quote paired with the photograph. The literary quote can be from a favorite writer. This gives more depth and meaning to the photos, and the intentions of the photographer. It can be Faulkner quotes or from another writer.

The objectives of the contest are to celebrate Faulkner’s use of nature in his writing as well as to deepen our connection with Mississippi’s beauty and culture.

Take a Hike in Yoknapatawpha photography contest details

The four categories are Adult Professional, Adult Amateur, Student Group A – grades 5 – 8, Student Group B – grades 9 – 12. In each division, 1st place receives $100, 2nd place receives $50 and third place receives $25. There will be an overall all winner with a prize of $200.

Contest photos must be printed as a 5 x 7 or an 8 x 10, a matte finish is preferred. The museum will mount the photographs in mats in which they will be exhibited, so no framing is necessary for entry.

Contest entry fee is $5 per photograph. Photographers need to provide the following information with entries: Name, mailing address, phone and email, photograph title and literary quote where the photo was taken and in the student division grade in school and name of school. No excessive digital manipulation of the photographs will be allowed. Adjusting exposure, color balance, contrast and sharpness is allowed, but highly manipulated colors and content images is not allowed.

Deadline to enter the photography contest is May 27. The exhibit will open June 6, 2019, 5 p.m. till 7 p.m., and the winners will be announced at the opening.

For additional information call the museum at 662-538-0014 or go to the museum’s website www.ucheritagemuseum.com