The Discovery Center
Photo Exhibit Submissions
Pine Bush Perspectives 2025
Every visitor experiences the Albany Pine Bush from a unique perspective, and now it's your turn to share your focus through the lens. We invite you to capture the unique spirit of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve and submit your photographs to our juried exhibit by October 1, 2025.
Our discerning jurors seek images that tell a compelling story. Regardless of your age or skill level, you're encouraged to be part of this extraordinary exhibition. Selected photographs will be featured in the final exhibit, opening with a reception on December 5, 2025.
Exciting awards, including those chosen by our jurors and a People's Choice award, await the talented entrants. Unleash your creativity and be part of the Albany Pine Bush Perspectives: A Juried Photo Exhibit!
Entry rules
Photographs
• must be submitted by midnight October 1, 2025.
• must be taken in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.
• must not have been in a previous year’s Pine Bush Perspective’s show.
• must not have watermarks or any identifying marks on the photographs. This is to ensure the anonymity of the judging process.
• must be less than 20 mb.
• must be more than 300 dpi.
• must be in a .jpg file format.
• may have standard editing including cropping, spot removal, straightening, sharpening, brightness and contrast adjustments. The resulting image should represent the subject as it appeared in nature when the photo was taken.
• may be taken in any year.
Photographers
• may submit up to 2 photographs annually for the jury’s consideration.
• must be the original photographer
• may be any age or skill level.
• must have parental permission if under 18. An adult will be required to sign the Photographer’s license at the end of the submission process.
• must consider the health and wellbeing of wildlife being photographed. Give animals plenty of space and view them in a responsible manner. For more information about the ethics of wildlife photography visit www.nanpa.org.
• provide titles and short descriptions for each photograph submitted.
• may be members of the public, Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission (APBPC) staff or volunteers. Current members of the Pine Bush Perspectives Committee may not submit photos. APBPC staff members may not receive an award.
• must sign the license at the end of this form.
• must provide written permission from all recognizable humans depicted in the photographs. The General Photo Release is provided below and at the following link.
Process of selection, exhibition and use
1. All complete entries and photographs meeting the rules stated above will be anonymized prior to the jury process. All meta data and watermarks will be removed.
2. All photographs will be judged in a digital form regardless of entry method. Photographs submitted in a printed form will be scanned and viewed digitally by the jurors.
3. Jurors are selected by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission.
4. Jurors will select the photographs to be included in the exhibit and photographs receiving awards.
5. Jurors will select photographs that reflect the diversity of our community and the Pine Bush.
6. Jurors will judge photographs on composition, focus, use of light, and the artistic presentation of the subject.
7. Once the jurors make their final decision, entrants will be notified by email of each photographs status, no later than October 20, 2025. Submission does not guarantee entry.
8. All accepted photographs will require final preparation including cropping, resizing, printing and framing. This will be done by the APBPC at its own cost.
9. Juror selected prizes will be awarded at the opening event on December 5, 2025.
10. Any photograph submitted may be used in promotional materials, regardless of the photograph's acceptance into the exhibit.
Mark Your Calendars
OPENING RECEPTION: December 5, 2025 6-7:30pm
EXHIBIT RUN TIME: December 6, 2025 - March 1, 2026
Want to see some of the photos from previous shows?
The Friends of the Pine Bush Inc. have taken the show on the road to display these amazing photographs in the community. Check out their page to learn more about the Traveling Exhibit!
Previous year's shows are also in our Photo Gallery.
