Capturing the Erie Canalway
The annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest captures the beauty 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.
2020 Winners Announced
The competition was fierce, the images spectacular. But after hours of evaluating 435 images, our judges selected winners of this year’s Erie Canalway Photo Contest. We feel certain that you’ll be as impressed as we are.
These remarkable images remind us that the NYS Canal System remains a symbol of strength for our communities, providing a distinct sense of place and pride in where we live, work and play.
We are delighted to share them with you and look forward to featuring them in the 2021 Erie Canalway Calendar. The popular calendar will be available for free at libraries, visitor centers, and by request beginning in December.
View winning images in the web gallery.
Take a Shot at our 2021 Contest!
Photograph your favorite places and views and take a shot at being featured in the annual Erie Canalway calendar. Submissions are digital this year. Download and fill out an entry form and e-mail up to three entries to us. Entries are judged 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.
Note: because winners will be published in the 2022 calendar, images must be horizontal format.
| 2020 CONTEST CATEGORIES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| On the Water | Activities on the water; boats of all stripes |
| 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. |
| Classic Canal | When you see it, you know it—photos that could be taken only here; photos of on-water activities, 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
Deadline – All entries must be postmarked no later than August 28, 2020.
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 and entry number as follows: SMITH_1, SMITH_2, SMITH_3. 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.
- Winners will be announced no later than October 18, 2020.
- Winning photographs with appropriate credit will appear in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor 2021 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.
Winning Tips
- Look for scenes that could be taken only here.
- Consider new vantage points for familiar places.
- Include people and activity to enliven your image.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @eriecanalway to see more photos and join the conversation. Hashtag your photos #ErieCanalway!