Southern Delaware Tourism photo contest to launch Jan. 1

To celebrate Southern Delaware and keep it top of mind throughout the winter with visitors planning 2021 travel, Southern Delaware Tourism is launching its 5th Annual Southern Delaware Tourism Photo Contest.

Both locals and visitors are encouraged to enter. Entries will be accepted from midnight Friday, Jan.1, through 5 p.m., Friday, March 12. Winners will be announced Friday, March 26. There will be one grand prize-winning photo as well as one winning photo in each of three categories, Southern Delaware Lifestyle, Favorite Southern Delaware Souvenirs and Southern Delaware Wildlife.

Southern Delaware Lifestyle entries will show how people live their best life in southern Delaware. All photos must contain at least one person and have been taken in Sussex County. Photos from any season are welcome. Locations could include southern Delaware trails, beaches, bays, waterways, downtowns, businesses, restaurants, boats, kayaks, paddleboards or tractors.

Favorite Southern Delaware Souvenirs entries can be from last summer or from decades ago. The photo can show something found or something purchased. Each entry must include a note about where the souvenir came from and why it has special meaning for the entrant.

Southern Delaware Wildlife is one of its biggest attractions. From the spring migration to the annual horseshoe crab spawning, to visiting snow geese, ospreys and seals, and resident eagles, otters, deer, foxes and more, people share this beautiful part of the world with many finned, feathered and furry neighbors.

Contest organizers seek images obtained in the wild under natural conditions and in an ethical manner that places the welfare of wildlife above the photographer’s desire to obtain an image. Photographers should make every effort to avoid any action that might interfere with natural wildlife behavior or habituate wild animals to humans.

Photo contest winners will be selected by Karl Teel, president of the Recreation News Media Group. All eligible photo entries will be uploaded by Southern Delaware Tourism to its Instagram feed @VisitSouthDel with the hashtag #SoDelPhotoContest2021.

Grand prize is a two-night stay at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites.

Category prizes are, for Southern Delaware Lifestyle, a two-night stay at the pet-friendly Hyatt Place Dewey Beach; for Favorite Southern Delaware Souvenirs, a two-night stay at the pet-friendly Canalside Inn in Rehoboth Beach; and for Southern Delaware Wildlife, gift certificates for an ecotour or osprey banding tour with Cape Water Taxi, a paddle tour with Quest Adventures, and an annual pass to Delaware State Parks.

To enter, email photo to SoDelPhotos@gmail.com from Jan. 1 to March 12. Entrants should be sure to read all entry and eligibility rules and requirements prior to submission.

For detailed information and full contest rules, go to visitsoutherndelaware.com/southern-delaware-tourism-photo-contest.