The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair (Gaithersburg) (http://mcagfair.com/general-information/ ) offers several photographic opportunities to club members. Residents of the County may enter the general public competition and view the exhibits in the Arts and Crafts building at the south end of the park. They may also view entries coming in via the 4-H route (in a near-by building). There is a new competition for which entries of on-site fair scenes are uploaded daily for the duration of the fair.
The broad categories for the general public competition are Black & White or Color; and Adult, Teen, or Child.
See http://mcagfair.com/data/upfiles/media/Arts%20Crafts%20Hobbies%20and%20Photography%20080216_2.pdf for more information.
There are numerous subcategories for the allowed subject topics. The prizes in each subcategory are first, second, third, fourth, and honorable mention. First place winners can move on to other categories including grand champion. There are also judge’s choice awards. Small cash premiums are awarded.
This event requires a lot of co-ordination. Entries are accepted on the Wednesday and Thursday afternoons immediately prior to the opening of the fair. Entries are hung by category and judged on Friday. The exhibit hall is monitored until 10 p.m. each day. Images, along with any ribbons, are released to participants the second Sunday after the opening of the fair. Premiums are mailed later. This is entirely a volunteer operation, and extra hands for the various tasks are welcome. No experience is needed – someone will show you what to do. Those who volunteer for set-up and monitoring tasks can earn credit hours that earn free-entry (not parking) for a day at the fair.
Contact Terry Sorcek, a co-superintendent for photography, at 301-253-6117 to find out how you can help. The Gaithersburg Camera Club provides many of the volunteers, but other clubs could help. It is a good way to network with other clubs. Clubs, if they have volunteers there, are permitted to distribute club literature.
In this year’s fair, my photograph, Looming, took first place in color architecture. The premium netted me $4.00. The photo was taken on a very windy day in February from the base of the National Gallery.
Beth Koller – Looming