Medina_Barringer_Peggy_1800x564.jpg

Photo Contest and Calendar

Capturing the Erie Canalway

The annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest captures the beauty, vibrancy, and character of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Winning images offer a snapshot of what makes this 500-mile ribbon of waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes a national treasure.

Free Calendars Available 12/1/23

Pick up a calendar at selected libraries and visitor centers throughout the National Heritage Corridor. Enjoy gorgeous canal scenes all year long. Available on a first come, first served basis while supplies last.

CC1_SenecaFalls_Forte_Frank_569x384.jpg

Pick up one at a library or visitor center near you.

Brockport_Fall_Preston_Kyle_Brockport_569z384.jpg

View all winners and honorable mentions in our gallery.

Albany_Cycle-12_569x384.jpg

Follow us @eriecanalway and hashtag your photos #ErieCanalway!

2024 Erie Canalway Photo Contest

The 2024 Photo Contest will begin accepting submissions in May 2024. Capture images of people enjoying activities on the waterway and Canalway Trail or that show the unique character of New York's canals and canal communities and you could win a spot in the 2025 Erie Canalway calendar.

How images are judged:

Entries are judged by a team of professional photographers, designers, and canal experts. They evaluate each image on the basis of creativity, photographic quality, and effectiveness in conveying the beauty and unique character of the Canalway. Judges select first, second, and third place winning images in each contest category, as well as 12 honorable mentions.

A note about "amping" your images: While you may crop or perform color correction on your images, the judging team discourages over-amplifying the color. We are looking for images that reflect the scene as it appeared in reality. You may use HDR camera settings, but again, please avoid over enhancing the image.

CONTEST CATEGORIES DESCRIPTION
On the Water Activities on the water: boating, paddling, boat tours
Along the Trail Cyclists, walkers, strollers, and activities or scenes along the Erie Canalway Trail.
Canal Communities Historic downtowns, distinctive architecture, farmers markets, events, and scenes taken in canal communities. Bonus when you can also show water in view.
Classic Canal When you see it, you know it—photos that could be taken only here; photos of engineering marvels, canal structures, nature, or other scenes that show the distinctive sense of place of the Erie Canalway.

Read the Rules

Eligibility and Location

Formatting and Labeling Your Images

Eligibility – The contest is open to any amateur or professional photographer except employees, Board Directors or Commissioners of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and members of their immediate families.

Locale – All photographs must be taken within the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor which includes the Erie, Oswego, Cayuga/Seneca, Champlain Canals and surrounding communities. List of corridor communities >

Deadline – All entries must be postmarked no later than August 25, 2023.

Entry Forms – Entries must be accompanied by a completed and signed Entry Form.

Multiple Entries – A maximum of three (3) entries per photographer is allowed. All entries must be listed on a single Entry Form.

Categories – Entrants must place their photos in one of the four categories listed above. The judges reserve the right to recategorize any entry.

Enhancing your Images- While you may crop or perform color correction on your images, the judging team discourages over-amplifying the color. We are looking for images that reflect the scene as it appeared in reality. You may use HDR camera settings, but again, please avoid over enhancing the image.

Format – Digital Entries: Images must be a minimum resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch) and no smaller than 3072 x 2304 pixels (or 10.24 x 7.68 inches). Images should be in RGB color format and be submitted as JPG (at high quality) or TIFF files. Do not resample small files to fit requirements, as it will compromise the quality of the image. Images must be in landscape (horizontal) orientation to fit the format of our calendar.

Entry Identification – Please label your entries with your last name, first name, and entry number as follows: SMITH_JOHN_ENTRY1, SMITH_JOHN_ENTRY2, SMITH_JOHN_ENTRY3. Including a location in the label is helpful, e.g., SMITH_Fairport_1

Model Release – Photos containing recognizable people must be accompanied by a model release form (attached or available at www.eriecanalway.org) signed by the subject or a parent or legal guardian, if subject is under 18 years of age.

Contact for Questions:

Diane Jennings, Project Coordinator at (518) 237-7000 ext. 207; Diane_Jennings@partner.nps.gov

Judging

  • Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity, photographic quality, and effectiveness in conveying the beauty and/or unique character of the Canalway in one of the contest categories.
  • An Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor panel will judge the entries and all contest decisions are final. First, second, and third place winners will be selected in each of the four categories identified above. Honorable mentions will be awarded at the discretion of the judges.
  • Winning photographs with appropriate credit will appear in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Calendar and on the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor website. Winners will also receive a copy of the calendar and other prizes to be determined.

Photographer's Rights

Each photographer will retain all rights to any photograph submitted – including ownership if applicable – other than those rights licensed in the next sentence. By entering the contest, each photographer hereby grants to the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor (i) a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to reproduce, distribute, publicly display the photographs submitted to the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, and (ii) the right to use the photographer's name, city and state of residence in promotions and other publications.

Photographs, regardless of medium, will not be returned. Do not send your only copy of a photograph. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is not responsible for any material lost, damaged, or misdirected in the mail.