Like bees to blossoms, photographers who like to focus on details of the natural world were drawn in large numbers to last year’s inaugural Pollinator Photo Challenge.
Presented by Laughlintown’s Penguin Court nature preserve and the Westmoreland Pollinator Partners, the photo contest that is centered on images of bees, butterflies and other species that help pollinate plants is returning for another year. Entries can be submitted electronically through Aug.5.
In 2021, “We had 443 entries from 178 adults and 48 submissions from 19 children,” said Melissa Reckner, program manager at Penguin Court, which is a preserve of the Brandywine Conservancy. “I was really surprised, in a good way. So we decided to make it an annual event.”
Because the contest has attracted entries from throughout the state, cash prizes will be awarded for top-judged entries from adults, instead of the supermarket gift cards offered last year.
“We also have passes to (Chester County’s) Longwood Gardens that we’re throwing in as part of the adult prize packages,” Reckner said.
Cash prizes for adults range from $20 for third place, to $50 for first place.
The top three winners in the youth category, for age 17 or younger, will get Dairy Queen gift cards and a pocket guide to pollinators.
All winners will receive potted plants native to Pennsylvania that were grown at Penguin Court.
Winners are expected to be announced Aug. 21.
Submissions are limited to three per person and must be images of pollinators that were taken somewhere in Pennsylvania.
”Even if it’s a photo from last year, we’re just looking for pictures that were taken in Pennsylvania of pollinators that you would find here,” Reckner said. “We’re trying to promote local pollinators and local biodiversity.”
She said photographers seeking a subject to snap shouldn’t overlook pollinators other than honeybees, which are an imported species. Pollinators such as wasps, moths, beetles and additional types of bees all may be considered.
“Some of them are even more important as pollinators,” she said. “When it’s cold out and honeybees are in their hives trying to keep warm, our native bees are still out there working to get the job done.”
Photos and accompanying descriptions must be emailed to PenguinCourt@brandywine.org by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 5.
Permission from a parent or guardian must be included with youth entries.
Entries will be judged by representatives from the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art and the Westmoreland Photographers Society based on relevancy, creativity, impact and technical quality.
Visit brandywine.org/photo-contest for more information.
