Photo Contest

Welcome to the BMDCA 2023 Far Out Photo Contest!

Have you ever wondered how to get your dog featured in BMDCA’s gorgeous calendar? Or on the cover of the Yearbook? Enter the 2023 Photo Contest (regardless of whether you’re able to attend the National Specialty in Sacramento CA*; the Best Photo in Show and People’s Choice winner will be featured in the 2024 calendar! (First Place in each category will be under consideration for the Yearbook cover.)

Check out these other outta site and mind blowing enhancements:

All entrants will upload their entry(ies) to an online photo contest gallery!* NO MORE HAVING TO PRINT, MOUNT & MAIL your entries, so everyone will be able to enter a bunch more photos -- heavy huh!? NOTE: Protection of each photographer's images was paramount in our choice of service provider; the carefully-selected platform does not receive any rights of use for photos entered in the contest or allow right-click saves
Entries will be evaluated by a panel of three expert judges (see Judging below)
The most outta-sight part is that berner fanciers, friends, and family members nation/world-wide will be able to view all contest entries and cast votes for their favorite photos for People's Choice (one vote per person per category)
Entry order will be shuffled to prevent any image from receiving "front row" advantage

*Contest Terms & Conditions

So, let your Berner Love flow and share your captures with everyone while competing for category placements, Best Photo in Show and People’s Choice in this expanded online contest platform!

Far Out Categories
Puppy Love – Irresistible photos of Berner puppies
Groovy Veterans – Photos of beautiful veteran Berners (7 years & up)

Time in a Bottle – Timeless portrait of a Berner (any age or era)
It’s the Fuzz – Classic Black & White format to capture the spirit of your Berner
Keep on Truckin’ – Photos that showcase active Berners at work, in competition or at play
Flower Children – Photos of Berners taken by a Junior* (ages 9 year – under 18 years)

*Entries must be paid/submitted by parent/guardian; see contest rules for more details

Judging
Our esteemed panel of judges includes a professional photojournalist, a Sporting Dog breeder/fancier with a Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) in Photography, and a berner owner who is a multi-year top winner of the BMDCA Photo Contest. See Judge’s Bios

The panel will award first through fourth in each category and then select Best Photo in Show from the winners of each of the six categories. The People’s Choice Award and second through fourth placements will be decided by popular vote online prior to the specialty. Votes will be limited to one vote/per person/per category.

Prizes
Rosettes will be awarded to all placements in each category, including People's Choice. Each photo receiving a category placement will be prominently displayed in the Photo Contest Winners Gallery at Cal-Expo. Winners of Best Photo in Show and People’s Choice will also receive a special rosette and will be featured in the gorgeous BMDCA 2024 calendar. (Photo rights/release must be granted to BMDCA to appear in the calendar.)

Entry Fees: $10 for the first photo; $6 for each additional entry; No entry limits

Contest Dates:
Entry Period: Payment for entries accepted between January 2, 2023, and February 15, 2023
Photo Uploads: Upon receipt of payment, the Photo Contest Chair will send each entrant a link to upload entries; upload deadline February 18^thPanel Judging: February 19, 2023, through March 4^th

People’s Choice Voting will occur from March 5, 2023, through March 25^th, 2023

Tips for Taking Great Photos from your Cell Phone

For additional information or questions, sock it to me: Dino Candelaria, Photo Contest Chair [email protected]