2020 society photo contest opens

Help Promote Your Work, and Win Money Too!

By Susan V. Fisk, Rachel Schutte

May 22, 2020

Your research and practice take place in the lab, field, greenhouse, and more. In today's visual—and online—world, photos help tell the story of your work. Photos can be shared in web and print stories, blogs, and social media. They bring a richness and clarity to your science story. They are one of the best communication tools out there.

Another “audience” for your photography is your funding sources. Becoming a better overall communicator—in this case, using photography—can help the future of all your research projects. They can improve communications with growers and fellow scientists.

You now have the opportunity to enter our photo contest and win money for your photos! We started this contest in 2014, and we promote the photos in advertisements, blogs, web stories, and more. Get your photos published—they tell awesome stories about your research or practice!

The contest is open to all members, including undergraduate and graduate students. You may only submit your original photography—not that of a labmate or colleague. (Further rules are found at www.acsmeetings.org/photo-contest).

Each of the following categories has first-, second-, and third-place winners:

ASA: Agronomy Feeds the World
CSSA: Plant Science for a Better World
SSSA: Soils Sustain Life
Tools at Work
People at Work

First-place winners from last year's contest for the categories of (l to r) ASA: Agronomy Feeds the World (photo by Idowu Atoloye), CSSA: Plant Science for a Better World (photo by David Tork), and SSSA: Soils Sustain Life (photo by Brad Bernhard).

The prizes are sweet! First place receives $300, second place $200, and third place $100. Plus, you may be asked to write a blog about your work!

Submit your photo: www.acsmeetings.org/photo-contest. The deadline for submission is 15 Oct. 2020 before midnight.

Helpful Articles, Tips

Feeling insecure about your photography skills? Brush up with our helpful articles in CSA News magazine:

Generation Image: Why Photos Are Important in Explaining Your Research (see https://doi.org/10.2134/csa2016-61-3-10)
New Year, New Resolution: How a High-Resolution Camera Can Have High Payoff in Your Work (see https://doi.org/10.2134/csa2018.63.0118)

And remember these tips. Take photos that:

have researchers or other people in them
show action
have contrast (elements of light and dark, colors and shapes, and big and small)
have an interesting camera angle
portray your team at work, in the lab or field

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Text © . The authors. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Except where otherwise noted, images are subject to copyright. Any reuse without express permission from the copyright owner is prohibited.