If your camera is your constant companion, it’s time to print up some of your best work for one of the most exciting arts events in this valley. The 2015 Spring Print Competition hosted by the Santa Clarita Valley Photographers Association will be held Saturday, May 2 at the Saugus Train Station at Heritage Junction in William S. Hart Park in Newhall. Judging will be conducted from 9 a.m. to noon, with a free reception for photographers and the public from 5 to 8 p.m.

Photographers may submit up to five entries, no more than three in one category. There are eight categories for the competition.

1. Portrait
2. Animals
3. Photojournalism, Event and Editorial
4. Landscape
5. Nature
6. Macro & Close up
7. Design, Architectural, Still Life & Fine Art
8. Digital Manipulation and “Freestyle” (Photoshop)

Applications, entry labels and detailed descriptions for each category are available in the Rules for Entry on the SCVPA website: www.scvphotographers.com. Some important items to remember:

• Entrance fees are $20 per entry for SCVPA members; $30 for non-members and $5 per entry for students up to age 18.
• Entrants must select one of two levels of entry: Novice or Master. Master level includes all professionals or members who possess an advanced level of photography or editing abilities, or who have previously won four or more First Place awards in prior competitions. The Novice level applies to all members not falling into the Master level.
• The photographer’s name, print category and print title must appear on the back of the entry, using labels that are found on page 7 of the rules. Untitled prints will not be accepted.
• Entries may not be longer than 24 inches on the longest side. Although there is no minimum size, historically prints smaller than 8X10 tend not to do well in competition.
• All entries must be permanently mounted, entry thickness must be a minimum of 1/8” and a maximum of 3/8” at any point on the entry. No framed entries are allowed.
• Images must have been created within one (1) year of the date of the competition. i.e. after May 2, 2014.
• There must be no studio or photographer name, logo, watermark or signature visible on the front of the print.
• Entries must be submitted to the SCV Center for Photography (27600 Bouquet Canyon Rd. Suite 212) between 8 am and 5 pm on both Monday, April 27 and Tuesday April 28. No late entries will be accepted. Prints and entry fee MUST accompany an entry form, or the entry will be refused.

Entries will be available for pickup by the photographers immediately after the completion of the competition reception at 8 p.m. Those not taken home from the competition may be picked up at 6 p.m. Tuesday May 12 before the SCVPA meeting at the Saugus Train Station.

William S. Hart Park is located at 24151 Newhall Avenue, adjacent to the Newhall Roundabout. Once in the park’s main gates, Heritage Junction is the collection of historic buildings on the left, anchored by the Saugus Train Station. For information on the competition, call SCVPA President Kevin Karzin at (661) 810-4249.