The Natural Land Institute (NLI) announces the launch of the People’s Choice Photography Contest that will start November 15, 2011 and go through November 1, 2012.  Amateur and professional photographers are invited to take photographs that capture natural landscapes and wildlife throughout the four seasons at designated properties that are owned or have been protected by NLI.  “This is a chance to show off several of Natural Land Institute’s preserves in a range of seasons.  Diverse colors can be seen during each season and wildlife visitors vary throughout the year,” says Sheryl Almquist Hall, Chairperson of the event.    “We encourage photographers to register as soon as possible so they can start getting out to the properties this winter.  They can submit the photo at any time or by the established deadline.”

An art sale and benefit in November, 2012, entitled, “Seasons on the Land” will feature artists exhibiting in all mediums of visual art.  During the event, the public will be invited to vote for their favorite photograph in the People’s Choice Photography Contest.   The People’s Choice winner will be announced at the end of the “Seasons on the Land” Art Sale and Benefit (date to be determined). 

For more information about the contest, designated property locations and NLI call the office 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Mon – Fri, at 815-964-6666.

People’s Choice Photography Contest RULES:

• Open to amateur and professional photographers.

• Entry fee is $10 with one entry per person.  Registration form is available online at www.naturalland.org or in the Natural Land Institute office at 320 South Third Street, Rockford, IL  61104, Phone:  815-964-6666.

• The People’s Choice winner will receive a $100 cash award.  The public will be invited to vote by ballot during the “Seasons on the Land” Art Sale & Benefit.

• One black & white or color photograph may be submitted.  Must be 8.5” x 11”, horizontal/landscape position only. Matted or framed photos will not be accepted.

• Photograph must have been taken at one of the 13 designated northern Illinois properties.  See below for these sites.

• Photograph must be submitted to Natural Land Institute, 320 South Third Street, Rockford, Illinois, 61104 on or before November 1, 2012. 

List of DESIGNATED NORTHERN ILLINOIS PROPERTIES
Submitted photo must have been taken at one of the following properties that is owned or has been protected by Natural Land Institute.

• Beach Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve (Davis Junction)

• Colored Sands Forest Preserve (Shirland)

• Franklin Creek Nature Preserve (Franklin Grove)

• Freeport Prairie Nature Preserve (Freeport)

• Harlem Hills Nature Preserve (Loves Park)

• J. Norman Jensen Forest Preserve (Rockton)

• Jarrett Prairie Nature Preserve (Byron)

• Kyte River Bottoms Nature Preserve (Oregon)

• Lyndon Prairie Nature Preserve (Rock Falls) 

• Nygren Wetland Preserve (Rockton)

• Potawatami Woods Forest Preserve (Kirkland)

• Searls Park Prairie Nature Preserve (Rockford)

• Stone Bridge Nature Trail (Roscoe)