Manatee County’s Natural Resources Department has been asked to provide images for the 2012 County Calendar. We are extremely excited to announce that the focus of this year’s calendar will be the County’s beautiful natural preserves featuring photos by YOU!

We are looking for photos which showcase the landscape, interesting features, wildlife and plants, of each property. Please send in photos that capture Manatee County’s natural beauty as YOU see it. Photographs of people are absolutely encouraged too, just please be sure that they feature the County’s preserves and the many great activities that happen within them.

Photos chosen in the contest will be included in the calendar and all selected photographers will be given credit for their work. The calendar is provided free to the visitors and residents of Manatee County and is a wonderful way to gain exposure for your work!

Contest guidelines:

· Photos must feature the County’s preserves and can include landscape, plants, wildlife, events, volunteers and, of course, people enjoying the preserves. All photo submissions must be taken within one of the preserves listed below:

· Emerson Point, Duette, Robinson, Rye, Jiggs Landing, Headwaters, Neal, Ungarelli, Perico, Riverview Pointe

· Include with your submission: preserve location, name of photographer

· Please submit photos in .jpg format

· Minimum resolution at 300 dpi

· There is no limit to the number of photographs which can be submitted

Photo submissions must be received by September 30th, 2011. Please send all images to Nicholas Azzara at Nicholas.azzara@mymanatee.org via email or drop off a disc, marked “attention: Nicholas Azzara,” at the County Administration Building. If you have any additional questions please contact Nicholas at 941-745-3771.