‘People’s Choice’ Online Voting Now Open!
Calling SoBo shutterbugs of all ages! It’s time to enter the 2025 SoBo Photo Contest. We changed the format for this year’s competition to give local photographers more opportunities to show off their work and have it recognized by the SoBo community.
The SoBo Photo Contest is sponsored by South Baltimore United, Inc., the nonprofit publisher of the South Baltimore Peninsula Post.
- This year’s theme is Baltimore Celebrates – images of public celebrations large and small around Charm City, from concerts and fireworks to festivals and block parties.
- Photographs will be reviewed by our Celebrity Judge, artist Crystal Moll, and Cash Prizes of up to $100 awarded to the top 3 photos. In addition, we will conduct an online poll to determine the People’s Choice winner, who will also receive a cash prize.
- Contest winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on Thursday, July 24, at the Enoch Pratt Free Library (1251 Light St). Everyone is welcome to attend. Winning photographs will be displayed at the Library through October.
Below are Contest rules and instructions for how to enter. If you have any questions, please email us at hello@sobopost.org.
CONTEST RULES
Who Can Enter – All residents of the South Baltimore peninsula are eligible to enter, regardless of age. SoBo neighborhoods include Sharp-Leadenhall, Otterbein, Federal Hill, South Baltimore, Riverside, Key Highway, Locust Point, and Baltimore Peninsula.
Image Guidelines – Photographs submitted must include a recognizable celebration in Baltimore City. Photos can have been taken at any time. Entrants can submit up to 3 photographs. Photos must be free of watermarks or signatures.
Submission Requirements – Entries can be submitted online from June 1 through June 27. Images must be high-resolution JPEG files (1MB to 3MB preferred). Participants will receive an acknowledgement when their photos are received.
Judging and Awards – Our celebrity judge will review all photos and select First, Second, and Third Place award winners, with the option to designate Honorable Mention recipients. Online voting for the People’s Choice award will be available from July 2 through July 12. All winners will be announced and the winning photos displayed at the SoBo Photo Contest reception at the Light Street branch of the Enoch Pratt Library on July 24 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. South Baltimore United (SBU) will cover the cost of printing and displaying the winning photos at the Library.
HOW TO ENTER
Entries can be submitted online starting June 1 at 9 a.m. at this link. Entries can be submitted until June 27 at 5 p.m.
The following information is required with each entry:
- Photographer’s name
- Age
- Home address
- Email address
- Phone number
- Image Title (identifying the name or type of celebration)
Upload photos as JPEG files and give each photo a filename that starts with your last name (for example, “SMITH 2025.jpg”). The image(s) you submit will be posted online during the People’s Choice voting in July.
Before submitting your entry, please review these Terms of Use:
- By submitting an image to the contest, you are attesting that the photo was created solely by you and that you permit the image to be displayed by SBU with attribution to you as the creator. You retain all rights, title, and any interest you may have in the image. You are the owner of the image. It is your responsibility to monitor and protect any intellectual property rights you may have in your image. You must obtain model releases as necessary.
- Do not submit an image that (a) violates or infringes upon the rights of others; (b) encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense or give rise to a civil liability or violate any law; or (c) includes personally identifying information such as messages, phone numbers, or social security numbers.
- SBU will work with you to protect your rights as the creator and owner of your images. By submitting an image to the SoBo Photo Contest, you grant SBU the right to use the image as appropriate in operating or managing the contest, including promotional materials for SBU. If at any time you want SBU to stop using your image and your name, you must contact SBU directly.
- If you are under 18, by entering this contest, you confirm that your parent or legal guardian has agreed to represent your interests in this contest and agreed to all the applicable conditions related to the contest as appropriate.
- Photographers will not receive any compensation from SBU for the use of their images in the show or for the use of your image in any future SBU promotional materials.
- SBU has the right to review images submitted to the Contest and reject any image that it considers inappropriate.
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