Putnam Country Master Gardeners
2026 Photography Contest


Calling all Gardening and Photographers! Let’s showcase the Garden and Nature through still photography!

Contest Guidelines:

  • Open to the public and no entry fee required
  • No professional photographers
  • All photographs are to 5”×7” or 8”×10” and to be mounted on a mounting board
  • No framed photographs will be accepted
  • No photographs depicting people in them will be accepted
  • Only one submission per category is allowed with a total of 3 photographs per person.
  • Name, address, telephone number, email address and entry category must be printed legibly on the back of each photograph submitted.
  • Decisions of the judge(s) is/are final.
  • Photographs maybe delivered/mailed to the Putnam County Extension Office, 12 Central Square, Greencastle, IN 46135, during the weeks of March 9 through 19, 2026. All photographs must be delivered by Thursday, March 19 by 4:00 p.m.
  • Entries maybe picked up after the conclusion of the Garden Fair after 3:00 p.m. DST March 21, 2026.
  • Entries maybe also picked up from the Putnam County Extension Office from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm DST between March 23 to March 27, 2026.
  • Photographs not picked up by Thursday, April 2, 2026 by 4:00 pm DST will become the property of Putnam County Master Gardeners Association.

Categories:

  • Trees in the Garden
  • Bees in the Garden
  • Flowers in Bloom
  • Fruits, Vegetable, Herbs
  • Weeds, non-invasive & legal varieties only
  • Emerging Artists: children and young adults, 7 to 17 years of age, any photograph from any category of above
    • Any youth attending, under 18 years of age, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

 

Judging Criteria: 130 points in total

  • Technical Characteristics (50 points): focus, sharpness, detail, depth of field, color, brightness, contrast, saturation, use of light
  • Content & Subject Matter (50 points): unique point of view?, correct category entry?
  • Composition (20 points): What draws the eye? Does it tell a story? Does it have balance and visual impact
  • Aesthetic Value (10 points): Is it pleasing? Does it have artistic value?

 

Prizes:

  • Winners will be announced at the beginning of the Garden Fair, and placements will be on display.
  • Ribbons will be awarded for 1, 2, 3rd place in each category.
  • 1st place in each category will be awarded $50 in gift certificates to be used at any 2026 Garden Vendor during the Garden Fair Show.
  • Best of Show will receive an additional $50 in gift certificates to be used at any 2026 Garden Vendor during the Garden Fair Show.

 

Entry into this contest grants permission for the Putnam County Master Gardeners Association et al. the right to use any entry for publicity purposes without further permission or compensation and contestants agree upon the stated contestant guidelines. Artist's name maybe be listed with any photo used.

 

If you are in need of accommodations to attend this program, please contact Jenna at 765-653-8411 or smith535@purdue.edu by Mar. 5th. If you need an interpreter or translator, please contact Jenna at 765-653-8411 by Mar. 5th. Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis of r ace, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran.