City Manager

What is the deadline to enter photos?
Each photo must be submitted - with its own photo entry form - by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 23, 2011.

Where should I mail/drop off my photo entries?
City Manager's Office, Midland City Hall, 333 W. Ellsworth St., Midland, MI 48640.

How many photos can I enter into the contest?
A maximum of three (3) photos per person may be submitted to the City's photo contest.

Do I need to live in Midland to enter the contest?
No, you do not need to be a resident of Midland to submit photos. Your pictures must, however, depict life within the city of Midland in order for them to be considered in the contest.

What size should my photos be?
Preferably 4" x 6".  This is the best size for clarity and reproduction. A bigger photo isn't necessarily a better one:  photos can become grainy and lose their clarity when they are enlarged. 

Can I submit a digital photo?
Yes, digital photos are allowed. However, they must be submitted on photo paper (or an equivalent paper stock) and not as an electronic file. For best reproduction, we suggest printing out the photo(s) on a high-quality, high-resolution printer. Digital photos should be printed out from laser-quality printers vs. inkjet if at all possible, as the quality from laser printers are generally better than inkjet.  

If a digitally-produced photo is selected to appear in the calendar, in some instances we may ask for a copy of the digital image on CD. This could provide us with a sharper image than the submitted hard copy photo.

Can I submit a photo as a slide?
Slides will not be accepted for the City's photo contest, as they are difficult to judge and hard to reproduce. We recommend having a color print (4" x 6") created from your slide and submitting that as your entry.

Can I submit photos that include children?
Photos featuring identifiable youth under the age of 18 will only be considered if the signature of the minor's parent or guardian appears on the City's photo entry form.

Can I submit black and white photos?
No. The calendar is a full-color calendar, so only full-color photos will be selected. 

How are photos selected?
City of Midland employees help identify which photos are most appealing to a general population. The employees review and rank all photos. This input is then used by a final selection committee as they evaluate the photos on creativity, clarity for reproduction purposes, appropriate representation of the Midland community, and ability to fit into a representative month or season. 

To prevent bias, photographers remain anonymous during the voting process.

How and when will I know if my photo is chosen?
Photos are judged in October. Participants whose photos have been chosen will be notified by mail no later than November 30.

Will I be notified if my photo has NOT been chosen? 
Unfortunately, because hundreds of photos are submitted each year, we are unable to notify every participant of their status and to return photos after the contest has ended.

If you have not received notification that your photo is being included in the calendar by November 30, 2011, you can assume that your submission was not chosen. 

Will my photo entries be returned? 
Because of the large number of photos submitted each year, it is prohibitive for us to return photos to entrants. If you would like to keep a copy of the photo(s) you submitted, it is suggested that you process doubles and/or retain the negatives.

What happens to my photo(s) after the contest? 
As indicated on the entry form, once photos are submitted, they become the property of the City of Midland. Because many of the photos showcase the beauty and uniqueness of our community, they may be used for marketing purposes by the City, such as in City print publications or on this website.

Why do some photographers have several photos in one calendar or are chosen year after year?
We try our best to choose a wide variety of participants as photo finalists. Some participants, however, submit up to three very good photos that rank high among City employees and the final selection committee.  Many of these same participants enter year after year - that's why you may see them in more than one calendar.

Who do I call with more questions?
Contact the City Manager's Office at 989-837-3307.