2026 Amann Sowell
Photography Contest
at the Berea Urban Farm
Celebrate the Beauty in the Everyday
The Amann Sowell Photography Contest at the Berea Urban Farm, sponsored by his family, is dedicated to the memory of Amann Sowell and to the enjoyment and enrichment that photography brought to his life. Amann was rarely without his iPhone or Canon camera, capturing images almost daily, especially around Madison County and in Berea, where he spent most of his life. A serious and thoughtful student of photography, he was drawn to beautiful, imaginative, and evocative imagery—and he loved experimenting with different lenses, filters, and effects. Many of his photos feature local landscapes or familiar features of the area that he challenged himself to see anew. He looked at his own “back yard” with fresh eyes and deep curiosity. That same spirit is at the heart of this contest: to encourage others to slow down, observe closely, and find beauty in the everyday. During the month of June, visit the Berea Urban Farm—even if you’ve been there before—and take a closer, lingering look around. Opportunities for wonder, creativity, and great photos are all around you, just waiting to be discovered.
Contest Details
Who can enter:
Open to photographers of all ages, skill level, and equipment types (cameras, phones). Amateurs are especially encouraged to participate, and professionals are welcome.
Where & When:
All photos must be taken at Berea Urban Farm, located in Berea, KY, between June 1 and June 30, 2026
What to Capture / Theme:
Around The Farm, this can include landscapes, plants, insects, water, structures (natural or man-made), and staff interacting with the farm, etc.
Entry Limit & Cost:
Up to 3 photos per person. Free to enter. Winners will be notified by email, and the winning photos will be posted on the website and Facebook.
Submission Deadline: July 15, 2026
How to Enter:
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Visit the farm; sign in* and take photos. All photo entries must be taken at Berea Urban Farm, located at 201 Adams Street, Berea KY, 40403. Please read our full visitors guidelines for more information about our Service Animal Policy and more information about each of these listed guidelines.
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Confirm your photos meet the specifications listed below and choose your favorite 3.
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Scroll down to register with the form below or click ENTER CONTEST.
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To submit your entry you will need to provide your name and contact information and a title and short caption and for each photo, and then upload your photo(s).
*The sign in book will be located at Farm's Sales Table on Adams Street. Please only visit the farm only during daylight hours.
Technical & Editing Requirements
To ensure quality and fairness, entries must meet the following technical and content-based criteria:
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Limited to three (3) image entries per photographer. Original work only (no plagiarism, stock photos, AI-generated or AI-enhanced images). No watermarks, logos, text overlays, borders or frames, or identifying marks.
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File Format: Upload as JPG or PNG files with a maximum file size of 15 MB. Images must be at least 2000 pixels wide (or tall for vertical images) and in sRGB or RGB format.
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Adjustments Allowed: You may adjust color, contrast, brightness, and sharpness, as well as crop, convert to black and white, or perform minor retouching (e.g., removing dust). Photos using special lenses or a drone are allowed but use should be disclosed.
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Manipulations Disallowed: Combining multiple photos, inserting features into or removing features from an image, and "smart" filters using AI are not allowed.
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Photographers are responsible for securing all necessary rights and permissions for any recognizable non-staff individuals featured in their submissions. This includes obtaining a valid model release where applicable. By entering the contest, participants confirm that such consent and releases have been obtained and can be provided upon request.
When submitting, each photo must include:
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Title or Subject name
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A brief caption or description, including date taken (max 25 words).
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(Optional) Equipment used or a short note about the photo’s background.
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(Optional) EXIF data or Metadata is encouraged but not required.
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Entrants confirm that their work is original and free from third-party rights claims and give consent to Berea for fair use future publications.
Judging & Prizes
Voting:
Photos will be displayed online after the submission period.
Public voting will be open from July 18–31, 2026. Each person may cast up to five votes, with a limit of one vote per photo.
Judging:
Winners will be selected based on a combination of public votes and reviewed by a panel of judges.
Judging criteria include:
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Creativity
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Originality
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Relevance to the spirit of Berea Urban Farm
Prizes:
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1st Place: $500
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2nd Place: $300
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3rd Place: $100
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Honorable Mentions (3): Recognition and online feature
Winning photos will be exhibited at the Sustainable Berea 2027 Winter Gathering and may be shown at other community events. Winners will be notified by email, and the winning photos will be posted on the website and Facebook.
Timeline Overview
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Period to take photos: June 1–30, 2026
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Submission Deadline: July 15, 2026
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Voting & Judging: July 18–31, 2026
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Winners Announced: By August 12, 2026
By entering the contest, participants grant Sustainable Berea permission to use submitted photos for educational, promotional, and exhibition purposes.
This may include, but not limited to:
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Promoting the contest (online, in print, in social media)
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Displaying winning or shortlisted entries in public or virtual exhibitions
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Publishing entries in promotional materials (newsletters, brochures, websites)
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All uses will include credit to the photographer whenever feasible
The contest hasn't started! Check back again soon!
The contest may not have started but it doesn't mean you can't start prepping! Check out our visitor's guidelines in advance to know how to prepare for your next trip to the BUF or check out last year's participants and winners to help find inspiration.
Start Looking Closer
Whether you’re behind a DSLR, a phone camera, or something in between—this is your chance to slow down, look closely, and rediscover a place that may already feel familiar.
Creativity begins with attention. We can’t wait to see what you notice!