Texas Discovery Gardens Butterfly Photography Contest

Attention photographers! Texas Discovery Gardens announces its inaugural Photography Contest since the opening of our Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium. Winning photographs could be featured on our website and in upcoming promotional materials, including postcards! Deadline for entry is Aug. 6, 2010.

We’ll print top photographs for display during our Butterfly Festival Aug. 14, 2010. Visitors will vote on their favorite for a special prize!

A special thanks to Ron Hall with Ron’s Organics, Inc. for his help with this contest.

The Categories …

  • Butterflies: Show us your favorite butterfly photos during any stage of their lifecycle, either inside our Butterfly House or outside in our 7.5 acres of Gardens.  
  • Plants: Capture your favorite flora throughout the Gardens. (Think macro; for expansive shots, see our Landscapes category).  
  • People: Take your best shot of families, children, and visitors enjoying the Gardens and Butterfly House. (*Please turn in this waiver along with photos containing people).  
  • Landscapes: Wow us with sweeping views of the Gardens and/or Butterfly House. 

The Rules …

  • All photos must have been taken at Texas Discovery Gardens between September 2009 through the present. Entry deadline is Aug. 6, 2010.
  • All photographs should be in color. No black and white photography, please. Also, please limit your digital photo retouching! 
  • There is no cost to enter, and you may enter up to four photographs per category.
  • Photos should be submitted to Contact@TexasDiscoveryGardens.org or brought in on a CD in electronic format. Please include your full name, address, email, phone number, and photo category. Turn CDs into our Gift Shop or mail to: Texas Discovery Gardens c/o Photo Contest; PO Box 152537 Dallas, Texas 75315.
  • Photos should be high quality (at least 300 dpi and 1MB or larger).
  • If you photograph a person at the Gardens, you must include a photography permission waiver.

Any photograph submitted becomes the property of Texas Discovery Gardens and may be used for marketing purposes on our website, in advertisements, as postcards or promotional materials, and for educational purposes. No Texas Discovery Gardens employees or families of employees may participate in the contest. Regular Garden and Butterfly house admission applies for photography. The best time to photograph is in the morning; we open at 10 am daily.

The Prizes …

Photographs will be judged by Texas Discovery Gardens staff, Ron Hall, and a special guest! (More details to come)! We will announce one winner in each category, with an Audience Favorite winner chosen by Texas Discovery Gardens visitors during our Butterfly Festival Aug. 14, 2010!

  •   Butterflies: Receive a private Butterfly Release into our tropical butterfly house for up to 10 guests, with a tour by entomologist John Watts. Time and date to be decided per availability. 
  • Plants: Get your own butterfly garden started with 10 1-gallon host and nectar plants grown in our greenhouse, chosen with help from Randy Johnson, Director of Horticulture! You’ll also get a gift certificate from Ron’s Organics Garden Center. http://www.organicdynamics.com/  
  • People: Enjoy a “Behind-the-Scenes” tour for up to 10 guests of either our Butterfly house or Gardens, your choice! Each guest will receive complimentary admission to the butterfly house that day. Time and date to be decided per availability.
  • Landscapes: Learn how to create an organic garden in your space with a complimentary 1-hour garden consultation by Randy Johnson, Director of Horticulture. You’ll also get a gift certificate from Ron’s Organics Garden Center. http://www.organicdynamics.com/ 
  • Audience Favorite: You’ll receive a Texas Discovery Gardens family membership, giving you free entry into the butterfly house for one year!