Each year, the City of Bellingham and the Whatcom Museum sponsor the "Essence of Bellingham" photography competition. Digital or scanned entries gathered over the previous year that capture the "essence" of Bellingham are showcased and added to a collection documenting Bellingham and the diverse nature of life in our city and county.
Entries may appear in Whatcom Museum and City of Bellingham publications and in various places such as print, TV, and the Internet.
As we transition from film to digital cameras in our society, there are countless images being born digitally. This competition aims to help preserve these images before they are lost. The average citizen’s idea of what the "Essence of Bellingham" is will be an invaluable historical asset to this and future generations.
All residents of Whatcom County are eligible to participate with the exception of those called upon to jury the competition.
A jury comprised of representatives from the Whatcom Museum, professional art community, the Bellingham Arts Commission, and City of Bellingham staff will evaluate all eligible submissions received by the deadline. Winning entries will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:
In addition to classification and category winners, first, second and third place over-all competition winners will be chosen.
All entries will be added to the Museum’s photo collection. Winners will receive a certificate and special recognition by The Mayor and the Bellingham City Council. Their work will also be on public display, BTV10, and the City of Bellingham website.
The 2008 competition opens for entries starting Apr 1st with a deadline of May 15th:
