18th ANNUAL WATERLILY CELEBRATION

18th ANNUAL WATERLILY CELEBRATION

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

A beautiful and regal display of one of the state’s largest collections of waterlilies will be featured in the ponds and waterways during the 18th Annual Waterlily Celebration. Known for capturing the imagination of painters, photographers, and horticulture enthusiasts, these stunning flowers are not only beautiful, but also play an important role in our aquatic ecosystem. Come learn more about their importance, various species, variety of colors, growing periods, and blooming frequencies from our plant experts. Enjoy plein artists creating original works of art throughout the Garden, plant repotting demonstrations and plant sales. The Garden will open early at 8:30 am on this event only to give visitors an opportunity to enjoy both the night-blooming and day-blooming varieties. The Annual Waterlily Photo Contests submissions will be on display in the Hall of Giants. General admission rates apply.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL WATERLILY PHOTO CONTEST

McKee Botanical Garden

Annual Waterlily Photo Contest Guidelines

2023

McKee Botanical Garden will hold its Waterlily Photo Contest to coincide with its 18th Annual Waterlily Celebration on June 17. The contest is free to enter and open to McKee members as well as the general public.

The rules:

1. All entries must be submitted beginning June 13 through June 15 in the Administrative Office building at McKee. These are the only dates we will accept them. 
2. One “entry” includes one labeled photograph and a completed entry form. Photos will not be accepted without a completed entry form.
3. All entries must be of waterlilies photographed at McKee Botanical Garden in 2022 or 2023 with film or digital cameras.
4. Submitted photos must be 8”x 10”, mounted on foam board and matted in a WHITE MAT. Size including matting material must be 11” x 14”.
5. Each photo must be legibly labeled on the back with the category, name, address, email and phone number of contestant. Photos must not include any names, initials, or watermarks on the front of the photo.
6. Categories include Color, Black and White, and Manipulated*. Photographers may submit ONE entry in each category. Photos submitted in the Manipulated category must have a copy of the original photo attached to the back of entry.
7. There is a youth category for students under 17.

Any photographs not complying with the official rules will not be accepted nor exhibited during the Waterlily Celebration. Entries may be picked up after 9 a.m. on Monday, June 19.  McKee is not responsible for loss or damage to any photographs.  Any photos not picked up by June 23 will be disposed of.

Winners agree to email their winning photo to info@mckeegarden.org by Monday, June 26 and allow McKee Botanical Garden to use the photo for publicity purposes.

Entries will be judged by a panel of judges on Friday, June 16. Ribbons will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners and an honorable mention winner in the Adult categories.  The Youth division will not be judged in individual categories but overall, first, second and third place winners will be chosen.

During the Waterlily Celebration, visitors to McKee will have the opportunity to vote for the “People’s Choice” award. A ribbon will be awarded for this category.

Note: *“Manipulated” includes out-of-the-ordinary techniques and digital alteration on both film and digital images.  It shall include any image that has been substantially altered from its original form through printing with multiple layers; adding, removing, or rearranging elements of the picture; use of digital filters that alter the texture of the image; color substitution; etc.  Images that incorporate double exposure, time lapse, hand tinting, etc., should also be entered in this category.

“Manipulated” does not include normal image processing by digital means, such as cropping, dodging, burning or contrast and density control.  Photographs that have been captured with a digital camera or film images that have been printed using a computer printer are not considered differently than film images that have been processed using conventional darkroom techniques unless they have been substantially altered as described above.

Photos by JPR Images