Residents will have the chance to represent Cherry Hill through their camera lens with the third Annual Focus on Cherry Hill contest.
The three winners’ work will be published in the township’s magazine, which will now run three times a year, instead of quarterly, according to township communications director Bridget Palmer.
According to a township release, winners will also receive an “About the Image” piece inside the magazine. Winning photos will also be displayed during this year’s Fall Into the Arts Juried Photography Show at Croft Farm. Winning photographs will be available for sale to the general public, if the artist chooses.
“We thought it could be interesting to put it out to the community and invite photographers of all levels of interest, skill and experience to see what they came up with,” Palmer said. “No two people ever see life from the same perspective, and in that same vein, we hoped that this contest would allow us to show a new side of Cherry Hill, and at the same time, help showcase local artists.”
Two Cherry Hill High School East and West art teachers will judge photos.
According to Palmer, the magazine is delivered to every single-family home in the township, “a little more than 24,000 homes,” and apartment buildings.
Copies of the publication are available in town hall for interested residents.
“It includes news items, photos, classes and events for the upcoming season,” Palmer said.
According to Palmer, anything goes in the contest. It’s a chance to showcase photography abilities and highlight “the way you see life in Cherry Hill.”
“What does it mean to you? Could be a trail or a picture of Cherry Blossom trees, a picture of a sports complex or a firefighter’s uniform like we have on this month’s cover,” Palmer said. “The only rule is that the photo should be recognizable or identifiable as being taken in Cherry Hill. Otherwise, we want people to be creative and show us the world we live in from a totally new perspective.”
According to the township release, photographs may be submitted to Arts@CHTownship.com as attachments by email only and must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.
Each email submission must include the artist’s name, address, phone number and a two- to three-sentence description of the image and the location where the photo was taken. Files should not exceed 5MB per email. Additionally, images should be saved as .jpeg files and the file sizes must be suitable for printing at least eight by 10 inches at 240 pixels per inch or larger. Artists can submit a maximum of three photos.
Resident Alan Budman has won two years consecutively, with his photo of the fire department featured on the publication most recently.
“I enjoy living here and the photo contest allows me to show my pictures,” Budman said.
Budman captured a photo of the fire department to honor it, he said. His entry this year is a secret.
“I want to bring out some of the excitement of the winter months and when it snows,” Budman said. “It is beautiful all seasons of the year. That’s all I can say.”
For more information about Focus on Cherry Hill, visit www.cherryhill-nj.com/DocumentCenter/View/1834.
“The possibilities are endless, particularly for people who look at the world through the lens of a camera,” Palmer said.
