DNREC photo: Errol Ebanks

Winner to be Featured in Outdoor Delaware Article

To celebrate the ocean and the countless benefits it provides us, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is seeking entries for a Delaware Ocean Photo Contest.

June is National Ocean Month and June 8 is World Ocean Day. Governor John Carney and Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long have proclaimed June as Ocean Month in Delaware.

DNREC’s Delaware Ocean Photo Contest runs from June 8 through August 31, and the winner will be featured in an Outdoor Delaware article.

As a coastal state, Delaware depends on the ocean and marine resources for its economic prosperity, particularly in terms of tourism, commercial fishing, recreation and shipping industries. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Economics: National Ocean Watch data, the total economic value of Delaware’s ocean-related activities is estimated at approximately $1.4 billion annually.

In celebrating all the benefits the ocean contributes to our lives and livelihood, the DNREC contest seeks photos that show a personal connection to the ocean.

“The state’s rich history has direct ties to the ocean, culturally, economically and as a destination for millions of visitors each year,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Protecting and preserving these resources through active stewardship is essential to ensuring their viability for generations, and this photo contest is one way that we can help increase awareness of the importance of the ocean to Delaware.”

Potential photo contest subjects may include, but are not limited to, marine wildlife and habitat, recreation, fishing and marine transportation. Complete rules and a photo release form are available online.

All images must include the photographer’s name, a short description of what is shown in the photo, where and when the photo was taken. Submitted entries must include a completed photo release form. A legal parent or guardian must complete the release form for contestants under the age of 18. The deadline for submissions is 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2023.

Photographs must have been taken within the state of Delaware, or offshore of Delaware, and they must be original, previously unpublished and created solely by the submitting entrant(s). Only photos that meet the criteria, along with a completed release form, will be eligible.

Entries will be judged for composition and theme. Preference will be given to clear, good quality photographs.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Jim Lee, jamesw.lee@delaware.gov

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Great Blue Heron at Trap Pond, by 2021 contest winner Sharon Denny.

Photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in the Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest. Hosted by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the contest will share the beauty of Delaware’s diverse environment while acting as a vivid reminder that everything that happens on land directly affects what happens in our waterways.

A watershed is land that water moves across or under while flowing to a specific body of water. All land in Delaware is part of a watershed. This year, images taken in any watershed within the state of Delaware will be accepted. The contest opens online for entries on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 and closes on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.

“This contest challenges photographers to go out to capture and share the unique beauty and functionality of Delaware’s watersheds,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “In addition, sharing these photos will help highlight areas of the state that have an important and significant role in improving our water quality and managing water quantity, which are both under threat due to the impacts of climate change on our state.”

A panel of judges consisting of a photographer, an educator and a scientist from DNREC staff will be looking for striking photographic images of Delaware’s waterways, landscapes, sustainable watershed practices, native plants and animals and agricultural practices. The judging panel will determine the finalists whose work will be posted online, with the winning photograph to be chosen by public voting through the DNREC Watershed Facebook page.

The winner will receive a prize pack including a $250 Visa gift card, a 2023 Delaware State Parks annual pass, a print of the winning photograph, and a certificate signed by Governor John Carney and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. The winning photo also will be published in Outdoor Delaware online magazine at de.gov/outdoordelaware.

To enter the Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest, use the online submission form at de.gov/watershed. The form should include the entrant’s name, phone number, address, email address, a photo description and the location where the image was taken. A legal parent or guardian must complete the form for contestants under the age of 18. Images must be at least 1650 by 2100 pixels resolution but no larger than 10MB, and the digital image must be submitted in .jpeg or .png format. Only photos that meet the criteria, along with a completed form, will be eligible. DNREC staff members and immediate family are not eligible to submit photos in the contest.

Learn more about Delaware watersheds at de.gov/howyoucanhelpwetlands.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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A photo titled “Winter Hike at Dusk Near the Marsh” by James Blackstock submitted for last year’s AREC Photo Contest.

Photographers and nature lovers are invited to submit photographs for the second annual Aquatic Resources Education Center (AREC) nature photography contest, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. The contest is intended to increase public awareness and promote the natural wonders of the AREC and surrounding Tony Florio Woodland Beach Wildlife Area. Children and adults are encouraged to visit the wildlife area and take and submit photographs of birds, nature to include aquatic life, other wildlife and scenic landscapes, and people enjoying the outdoors.

The photography contest is open from Friday, April 22 through Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Photographs entered in the contest must have been taken at the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area from Jan. 1, 2022 through Sept. 29, 2022. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: birds, nature and people enjoying the outdoors, and in three age groups for each category: under age 13, teens age 13 through 18 and adults aged 19 and older.

Judging will be based on how well the photographs represent the following criteria: things you can see and do at the Woodland Beach Wildlife Area, originality/creativity and universal appeal. The judging panel will include DNREC educators at the Aquatic Resources Education Center. Winners will be notified by email.

Managed by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, the AREC and Tony Florio Woodland Beach Wildlife Area are located along Delaware’s Bayshore Byway on Route 9 near Smyrna. The wildlife area connects to the Delaware Bay through a network of brackish tidal marshes and streams where visitors can observe a variety of wildlife, including a wide array of birds. Trails and blinds are available for viewing birds and other wildlife, and a raised boardwalk and observation tower offer vistas of the marsh and tidal streams.

Contest rules and more information, including entry submission, can be found at AREC photo contest. Information about the AREC is available at de.gov/arec.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Snowy egrets engage each other on the water/Photo credit: Kimberly Barksdale.

Submissions This Year Focus on Chesapeake Bay Watershed

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control invites photographers of all ages and skill levels to enter this year’s Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest. Hosted by the DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, the contest aims to share the beauty of Delaware’s diverse environment while acting as a vivid reminder that everything that happens on land directly affects what happens in our waterways.

A watershed is all the land that water moves across or under while flowing to a specific body of water. Only images from Delaware’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed will be accepted this year. Contest judges will be looking for striking photographic images of Delaware’s waterways, landscapes, sustainable watershed practices, native plants and animals, and agricultural practices.

Registration for the Delaware Watersheds photo contest opens at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28. All entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26. A judging panel consisting of DNREC staff — a photographer, an educator and an environmental scientist — will determine finalists whose entries are voted on at the Delaware Watersheds Facebook page. Facebook voting will pick the winning photograph.

The winning photographer will receive a prize pack consisting of a $250 Visa gift card, a Delaware State Parks Annual Pass for 2022, a signed certificate from Governor John Carney and DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin, a print of the winning photograph, a feature published in Outdoor Delaware online magazine, and additional goodies.

To enter the Delaware Watersheds Photo Contest, participants should fill out the online submission form, which includes providing a description with the entrant’s name, phone number, address, email address, and the location where the image was taken. Those submitting photos will click on the map in the submission form or use their device’s GPS locator to show where the photo was taken within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. A legal parent or guardian must complete the form for contestants under the age of 18. Images must be at least 1650 by 2100 pixels (but no larger than 10MB) resolution, and the digital image must be submitted in .jpeg or .png format. Only photos that meet the criteria, along with a completed form, will be accepted.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship develops and implements innovative watershed assessment, monitoring and implementation activities. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov, or Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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(DOVER, Del. — April 15, 2021) — Between April 19 and 24, 2021, photographs of the Zwaanendael Museum, located at 102 Kings Highway in Lewes, Del., will be accepted for the “Museum Madness” photo contest which is open to amateur photographers above the age of 13.

To submit a photo of the museum, photographers should visit the Zwaanendael Museum’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Zwaanendael) beginning on April 19, 2021 where they can complete the Google application form and attach their photograph (limit of one photograph per applicant) by the deadline of April 24, 2021. Photographers can also receive a link to the application form by emailing the museum at Zmuseum@delaware.gov or by calling 302-645-1148.

A maximum of 25 photos will be selected, on a first-come-first-served basis, for participation in the contest. Selected photos will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page where followers will be asked to “vote” for the winning photographs by “liking” or reacting to the individual photos. Votes will be collected for one week from April 26 to May 1, 2021. The three photos with the top number of reactions will be deemed the first-, second- and third-place winners. The first-place image will be featured as the new Zwaanendael profile picture on the museum’s Facebook and Instagram sites. All three winning photographs will be printed and displayed in the outdoor kiosk next to the museum on Kings Highway and will receive corresponding prizes.

The Zwaanendael Museum was built in 1931 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the state’s first European colony, Swanendael, established by the Dutch along Hoorn Kill (present-day Lewes-Rehoboth Canal) in 1631. Designed by E. William Martin (architect of Legislative Hall and the Hall of Records in Dover), the museum is modeled after the town hall in Hoorn, the Netherlands, and features a stepped facade gable with carved stonework and decorated shutters. The museum’s exhibits and presentations provide a showcase for Lewes-area maritime, military and social history.