By: Mary Beth Almond | Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published February 7, 2024
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Through March 17, Bloomfield Township residents can showcase their creativity by submitting entries in the library’s annual photo contest.
The Bloomfield Township Public Library has hosted its amateur photo contest for eight years now.
“It’s a great way for our residents to participate in telling their own stories,” said Assistant Library Director Katherine Bryant. “The library is all about stories, and not everybody is a writer or a storyteller, but a lot of people are very visual, so this is a way that some of our visual artists can tell their story at the library.”
This year’s theme, “Picture Perfect Patterns,” encourages entrants to explore the captivating world of patterns in everyday lives within the frame of their photo. Photos can be taken anywhere.
“It’s a challenge to our township photographers to look for interesting, unique, creative patterns in nature, architecture — anything geometric,” Bryant explained.
Submissions to the contest can be in color or black and white, digital or print. People of all ages are eligible to compete, as long as the shutterbug is a resident and the image was shot between March 27, 2023, and March 17, 2024.
The contest is very popular, according to Library Director Tera Moon, who said it usually draws around 100 entries.
“It gives our residents an opportunity to express themselves artistically and interact with the library in a way that is not typical,” she said. “It’s also a really nice way for patrons to interact with each other and share their love of photography.”
Entries will be grouped into three age categories — 12 and younger, 13-18, and 19 and older. The deadline to enter photos is midnight March 17, and people can enter no more than two photos.
After the submission deadline, all the entries will be posted on the library’s webpage, where patrons can vote for their favorite photo to win the People’s Choice Award.
Judges will also select winners in each category, which will be announced at a special reception Saturday, April 13. Their work will also be displayed in the library’s lobby.
Additional details, contest rules and photo contest entry forms can be found at btpl.org/photo-contest or by calling the library at (248) 642-5800. The Bloomfield Township Public Library is located at 1099 Lone Pine Road in Bloomfield Township.