Do you have great photos from your cruising experiences? Yes, you do. Find the best ones and submit them in this year's photo contest. The contest runs from May until October. Monthly winners will have their picture on the SSCA Facebook page for the month. The monthly winners will also be featured in the Cruisers' Bulletin and at the 2024 Fall Gam (TBD) where a grand prize will be awarded to the overall winner. This is a great way to have fun sharing your cruising experiences while enjoying those of fellow members vicariously and, at the same time, learning a bit about how to take better photos. Need a little inspiration? Check out the monthly winners from 2023 and earlier.
On a personal note, I'm Hartley of S/V Atsa and I was asked to take over the administration of the SSCA Photo contest - rest assured I'm trying to learn the ins and outs of the SSCA's web pages - I think we can make this work, but if there's a glitch or two, PLEASE let me know and we'll work this out. And since I DON'T judge any of the submissions, I get to play along with all of you!
2024 Addendum: Faithful Photo contesters will note that the contest is late getting started this year - this is entirely my fault, though I will plead that we've been REAL busy getting Atsa off the hard in Georgia and up to the Chesapeake in time for memorial Day!
Guidelines
Photos must relate to cruising, but can include special moments such as harbors, hiking or people and events encountered while out cruising.
NEW! Because our previous wording was (to say the least) ambiguous, we need to make it clear that photos must be taken, as well as submitted, by an SSCA member. The Photographer should be listed as the "Author" in the submission (not the submitter). And while I have your attention, please put the photographer's vessel name along with their name ("formerly of xxxxx" is fine if they've swallowed the anchor 😃).
For the last couple of years we had loosened our policy of asking for current photos as many folks were restricting their activities due to the pandemic. Since the majority of the effects of this have abated, we will return to asking you to submit photos taken THIS YEAR (actually, since October of 2023 😃 ). Let's get out there and take more pictures!!
Limit submissions to two photos/month/member. If you have more than two you think could be winners, you can submit additional photos in different months.
By submitting photos, you are granting the Seven Seas Cruising Association the right to publish your photos on various media platforms.
Photo Submissions
Go to the Document Library using the link below (when active -- submissions generally start when the voting is over for the past month which is approximately the 20th of the month -- and end on the 15th of the next month) and upload in the folder. Click the "Upload" icon in the top right corner. Fill in the fields for title, description, author (photographer) then upload your photo by clicking the "Select Document" icon. Please be sure to include the location of the photo when you provide the description and you use today's date in the "Date Created" field if you don't remember - or leave blank. Put your boat name after your name so everyone will know it's you!
Submit Photos!
I will add a number in front of your Title which is how we keep track and vote on the best picture - the numbers start in May and run through October.
Voting
View the photos in the photo album below (visible when it's time!) and then use the "vote now" link to cast your vote when the voting window is open. The voting link will only be available from the 15th of the month through the 20th of the month. Once voting is over for the month, the monthly winner will be announced in the forum and posted here on the site.
Prizes!
Yes there are prizes! Sorry, no silver or crystal pickle dishes, but the monthly winner has their picture featured on the cover of the next month's Cruisers' Bulletin.
All of the monthly winners are entered into the annual Photo Contest, and the winner is chosen by attendees at the November SSCA GAM. The Winner of the annual contest will be featured in the Thanksgiving Special Edition of the Waterway Guide Bulletin and will be able to select a printed Waterway Guide edition of their choice! Their photo will also be featured in both Waterway Guide and on SSCA's social media platforms and in SSCA's publications (with attendant bragging rights!).