The popular Lake Township summer photo contest is celebrating 20 years of honoring local photographers for their talents and creativity. The contest typically receives more than 100 entries most years from both youth and adult amateur photographers.
The contest, called the Stark Library Lake Community Branch Photo Contest, is a collaboration between the library and the Quail Hollow Camera Club. Beth Bouchard, adult librarian, and Charlotte Powell, branch manager at the Lake Community Branch, explained that the joint effort showcases photography as a great way to gain a deeper appreciation for nature and the beauty found in so many places. Bouchard said, “The contest is very popular, typically drawing over 100 entries each year. The majority of the entries come from adults, but we always receive some great youth entries as well. Ribbons are awarded for first, second and third place in each category, along with a Best of Show award for the best photo in the adult and two youth categories. Winners will be announced and receive their ribbons the night of judging on Aug. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lake Community Branch.” This year’s photo contest started June 1, 2026, and photos will be accepted until Aug. 1. All amateur photographers age 8 and older who received less than $25 in the last year from the sale of their photos are encouraged to participate.
Each entry must fit into one of the following categories: Nature, Animal Life, Plant Life, People, Outdoor Pictorial, Buildings/Structures, Open Black & White, Still Life and America the Beautiful (America 250). For more information, check the event listing at starklibrary.org. Photos can be taken anywhere as long as they fit into one of the categories. There are three age groups judged separately. Student entries are judged in two divisions: Division I, ages 8 to 12; Division II, ages 13 to 17; and Division III, ages 18 and older. Participants can be from anywhere but must submit their photos at a Stark Library location. The library collects and displays the photos until the judging is completed. The judges for the contest are provided by the Quail Hollow Camera Club, which evaluates all entries and awards first-, second- and third-place ribbons. The Lake Community Friends of the Library provide the ribbons.
Gary Stine of the Quail Hollow Camera Club of Hartville said that all members contribute to finding judges for the contest, and they help handle the photos as each gets judged. Stine added, “As each category is judged, the images that don’t win a first, second, or third place are carried out into the library for display, and ultimately even the ribbon photos are taken out into the library main area for display.” The camera club was chartered in 1986 and originally called the Quail Hollow State Park Camera Club. The group started at Quail Hollow when it was a state park and provided photography for the park when needed. The club's original mission was nature photography, but as it gained members, interest in other subjects became accepted. The judges provided by the camera club have various backgrounds and include club members, teachers and others with art backgrounds. The photos are initially judged on impact, composition, sharpness and overall technical merit.
All photos are displayed at the Lake Community Branch until judging is completed and then for a week afterward with ribbons. All photos must be picked up by Aug. 31. “The photo contest encourages creative expression and the exploration of photography and the world around us,” Powell said. “It promotes community engagement by creating a locally curated photo gallery full of interesting photos to be viewed, discussed, and enjoyed by everyone who visits the library. It is a fun way to showcase the talent of amateur photographers in our community and to bring community members to the library who might not visit regularly.”
View and enter the contest HERE
Read the full article HERE
Pat Faulhaber
The Hartville News