Teen Photography Contest
2021 Teen Photography Contest
Contest Terms
The 2021 Teen Photography Contest opens July, 2021 and ends September 30 at 11:59 pm EST. The contest is open to Oakville teens ages 13-18 with an Oakville Public Library card. Need a free library card? Register online or contact us for more information.
Please review the contest rules and regulations below before submitting.
Theme
Poetics - Creatively interpret the essence of your favourite poem, story, or lyric through photography. It can be a representation of the story as a whole, or a single quote that inspires you.
Why Enter?
- Chance to win amazing prizes for your talent
- Have your work seen by photography experts and the community
- Chance to have your work showcased on OPL's social media
- Improve your skills with library programs and mentoring opportunities
Submissions
Submissions will be accepted July 1st until September 30 at 11:59 pm EST. Entrants can submit up to two images. Simply fill out the online submission form and upload your file. Only entries received through the online submission form will be considered for an award.
Please adhere to the following upload requirements:
- 1-2 Jpeg file format images
- Title your files with “your last name_title of your inspiration_author/musician”(ie. Snyder_SinceFeelingisFirst_EE.Cummings)
- If you are submitting two images, you must compress them into a ZIP folder
For extra exposure and a chance to win Creation Zone Credits, post your image on Instagram and use #opltpc21
We will accept
- Original photos taken by an Oakville teen age 13-18 with an OPL library card
- Maximum two entries per photographer
- Only photos taken during contest dates
- Basic image enhancements
- Digital photos or a digital copy of an analogue print
We cannot accept
- Photographs that were made before the launch of the contest
- Photos that portray nudity, illegal activity or other explicit content
- Photos that violate or infringe on another person’s rights, including, but not limited to, copyright. For photos in which a person is recognizable, you must be prepared to provide a model release to the Oakville Public Library upon request. A sample model release is available here.
Awards
Images will be judged based on technical and conceptual merit. There are three awards to be won, winners will be contacted via email to redeem their prize no later than October 23. Proof of residence will be required.
- First Place - $150 Henry’s gift card, plus a private mentoring session with a professional photographer and a $10 Creation Zone credit
- Second Place - $50 Henry’s gift card, prize plus a private mentoring session with a professional photographer and a $10 Creation Zone credit
- Third Place - Subscription to PhotoEd magazine plus a $5 Creation Zone credit
Judges
The 2021 jury contains three local photography experts.
Lora Moore 
Lora is an award winning photo-based artist living in Oakville. She started photographing in her late thirties, using the camera as a tool to explore concepts of identity and feelings of loss, grief, joy and love. Lora’s work includes evocative self portraits, intricate hand built sets, and underwater images. She has exhibited widely and is represented by many galleries including Art Gallery of Hamilton, Donna Child Fine Art (Toronto), Petroff Gallery (Toronto), Paula White Diamond Gallery (Kitchener/Waterloo).
David White
David is a commercial photographer and Professor in the Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design at Sheridan College. He first discovered the magic of photography while in high school through a local photography contest. As a shy teenager, the camera provided him with a safe distance from which to observe the world and the people around him. Over the years David has built an impressive client list including Bank of Montreal, Heart and Stroke, and Loblaws, just to name a few.
Anna Snyder
Anna is a Creation Specialist at the Oakville Public Library. Outside her role at the library she has a fine art photography practice and teaches photo courses at the University of Guelph-Humber and Georgian College. Through experimental photographic processes Anna’s art explores the ecology of the Canadian landscape, often blurring the boundaries between fact and fiction, micro and macro.
OPL Summer Photography Programs
Looking for ways to improve your photo skills? Check out our summer photography programs.
