Grab your cameras!   Search through your photos!  Join in the fun and win great prizes!  Merriewold Morgans is having our 6th Annual Photo Contest celebrating the Magnificent Morgan Horse.  Entry is FREE and will be judged by renowned Equestrian, Grand Prix Dressage competitor, author and artist,  Susan Derr Drake.

Prizes

1st Place Prize is a HERO GoPro video and photo camera with helmet strap and 32gb chip valued at $160.

HERO makes it easy to capture and share your world. Featuring high-quality 1080p30 and 720p60 video, HERO captures the same immersive footage that’s made GoPro one of the best-selling cameras in the world. User-friendly modes include QuikCapture, which lets you power on the camera and start recording with the press of a single button, and Burst Photo, which captures fast-action sequences at up to 5 frames per second. Wearable, gear-mountable and integrated into a rugged housing¹ that’s waterproof to 131’ (40m), HERO helps you capture photos and videos that make you look like just that: a HERO.

2nd Place Prize is trail gear insulated saddle bags in brown by Weaver valued at $60.

Weaver Trail Gear Saddle Bags are durably-constructed from 600D polyester with a weather-resistant polyurethane coating, these bags feature adjustable webbing straps for stability and nickel plated mounting grommets.  With ample room for storage, this design features two padded main compartments, one with an insulated insert perfect for food and drinks and one with additional interior pockets. Both main compartments feature a handy front pocket and flap secured with a quick-release buckle. Side pockets (one with a hook and loop closure and one with a waterproof zipper) keep small items like cell phones, cameras and keys close at hand.  Also features two mesh side pockets for easy access and cleanout as well as reflective piping for added visibility.

3rd Place Prize is a MEFOTO Walkabout monopod in purple valued at $50.

Monopods are surprisingly useful.  Seriously!  We know from experience that once you own a monopod, it’s something you just can’t live without.  Why?  Here are some examples: Say you’re on an outing where you need just a little lightweight stability, such as a wedding, sports event, or graduation; the MeFOTO WalkAbout Monopod is made for precisely that, walking about while taking photos or video without the hassle of setting up a tripod.  And if strolling is on your agenda, it converts to a walking stick!

How to Enter:

Submit via email, by September 1, 2015, 1-3 of your images in the format stated below in the rules.

Submit to: (photos@merriewoldmorgans.com)

Rules:

1. Amateurs only. (‘amateur’ means you do not get paid for your work.)
2. Morgan horses only. (Horses can be at liberty or under saddle.)
3. Photography only. No “graphics”, logos or Photoshop-type entries allowed. Minor adjustments such as light/contrast, cropping, etc., is allowed using your favorite graphics/image program.
4. You may enter up to 3 images.  (Previous years 1st-3rd winning entries can not be resubmitted and are not eligible to win again.)
5. Entries must be received by September 1, 2015.
6. Email digital files only. No snailmail entries.
7. Entries must be .jpg at 72 dpi and a minimum of 600w x 400h pixels and a  maximum of 1200w x 600h pixels.
8. Your full name, Country (if from the USA also include your state) and the photo title must be included in email. Name your file with title of your photo. I.e., attachment file example: myprettymorgan.jpg

Schedule:

• May thru September 1, 2015: Entries received.
• During the month of September: Judging.
• October 2015: Winners announced in the Fall Newsletter issue. *Sign up for our Newsletter here!

Legals:

1. Subscription to our Newsletter is not required to enter.
2. Merriewold Morgans, it’s partners or sponsors are not responsible for any copyright infringement concerning the entries submitted by you and posted on the http://merriewoldmorgans.com website.
3. Email submittal of your entries warrants and guarantees that you are the original creator and owner of each entry image.
4. No monetary award will be afforded in lieu of prizes.
5. By submitting your entry, you acknowledge and give consent for the display of said images on the http://merriewoldmorgans.com website indefinitely and without monetary consideration. Consent also applies to any winning images that “may” be used in advertising campaigns; media promoting or reporting on the contest for this, or coming years.

Judge:

Susan Derr Drake – Grand Prix Dressage Rider and Coach, Photo Journalist, Artist and Author.

Born in the Year of the Horse, Susan has devoted her life to all things Horse.  She has trained in all disciplines and styles of riding with many breeds - including, competing in 116 different Dressage Grand Prixs and training others to achieve that level of excellence.  She has studied alternative horse healing and she promotes that which is the highest good for the horse.

As a photojournalist, she worked for Horse Action News for years and had the cover story and photo of the Dressage World Championships for the California Horse Trader.  For many years she was a horse show photographer and videographer.

As a fine artist years ago, she won many awards for her oil paintings. Susan is looking forward to returning to that media to share the beauty of horses in oils.

Susan has written a book called, Reflections, Equus and Us, which tells of a magical journey touching on man’s relationship with the horse.   You can learn more about it here:   http://www.ridingaids.com/book-reflections-equus-.html

Sponsors:

     Merriewold Morgans

     Samy’s Camera

     Farm Supply Company

     deCastro Studios

Equestrian Healing Service

Riding Aids

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

The winning photographs in the Merriewold Morgans 2014 International Morgan Horse Photo Contest have been selected.  Congratulations to the 4 Finalists and the 8 Honorable Mention Winners  it was difficult making the final choices with so many high quality photographs.   A huge Thank You to all the photographers and Morgan lovers who took the time to enter their beautiful photos.

This has been a record-breaking year for our contest!  164 photos were entered,  about double the number in previous years.  Entries came from 6 countries including: Germany Australia, Canada, Sweden and the UK.  From the USA, 31 states participated!

Because of the large response, we decided to increase the number of winning entries by adding a fourth finalist and 2 additional photos in the honorable mention category.  And still there were so many excellent photos that our judges, Entera and Casey McBride would have liked to select.

Each year the quality and interest in our Morgan Photo Contest just gets bigger and better.  If you entered but didn’t win a prize, keep working on your photo skills, keep taking more shots and perhaps take a photography course.   And please enter again next year!

The Winners

First Place:  Come Fly with Me,  by Paola Anderson

Judges comments, “This photo is not only visually pleasing, well composed and technically strong, but it also is inspiring and tells the tale of a boy and his friend on a magical adventure.  This photo could be the cover image for a story similar to Peter Pan.   Congratulations, Paola on a wonderful photo!”

Second Place:   New Kid on the Block, by  Vali Suddarth

Judges comments,  “This photo has interesting composition, dramatic theme and shows the beauty and character of the Morgan horse all in a natural, pastoral setting.  Well done!”

Third Place:  Peekaboo, by  Tina DeLullo

Judges comments,  “A serene portrait that is artistic, creative, and also technically and compositionally well done.   But most importantly, it gives the viewer a sense of the character and beauty of the Morgan Horse. Congratulations Tina!”

Fourth Place:  I love my Ball, by  Corrie MacMurchy

Judges comments,  “Fun,  Funny, Endearing!  This photo makes you smile. And isn’t that what our Morgans do?  Make us smile every day. The judges wanted to give this photo a special prize for humor!   Wonderful Photo!”

In no particular order, the Honorable Mention winners are:

Focused On A New Beginning, by Jackie Dannenberg;  Love at First Sight, by Stephanie Tanner; Oh The View, by Dana Crossland; Beach Fun, by Robin McGrath; Wanna Share, by Michele Meijer; Stallions Poco and Calypso, by Danny Collins; Sunset, by Klaus-Peter Henkel and Diego. Morgan-3, by Jennifer Judkins.

     

     

     

     

Bj. deCastro has written an article exclusively for the Merriewold Morgans Annual Photo Contest called, “12 Tips on how to get that Award-Winning photo of your horse” for the aspiring photographers.

Click here to see all the 2014 photo entries.

That brings us to the end this year’s contest.   We look forward to another year and our 6th annual contest in 2015!  See you all then!  And keep taking those photos of your Morgans!

Diana