The theme for this year focuses on the urban forest, encouraging participants to capture compelling images of trees throughout Citrus Heights, whether they hold personal meaning, showcase natural beauty, or reflect the city’s landscape.
The contest officially opens April 22, with photo submissions accepted from April 22 through May 13. After the submission period closes, entries will move into a combined community and city staff voting phase from May 18 to May 29. Winners will be announced on June 8, with possible recognition at a City Council meeting on June 24.
Entries will be divided into three categories: Youth Photographer, for photographers who are 17 and under, Community Member Photographer, for photos submitted by anyone 18 and over who is a hobbyist, and Professional Photographer, for photos submitted by professional photographers. This structure allows participants of all experience levels to showcase their work and be judged among peers.
Participants can submit their photos through an online form available on the city’s website. Each entry must include the photograph, and brief written reflection describing the tree’s significance, whether personal, historical, or aesthetic. Multiple entries are allowed, as long as each submission is unique.
All photos must be taken within Citrus Heights, though both residents and non-residents are welcome to participate.
Winners will be selected using a balanced scoring system with fifty percent based on community votes and fifty percent from city staff judges.
To find out more information or enter the contest, visit the city’s website.
