Dear Readers,

Now that Autumn is upon us, the landscapes will be changing. Lady of the Lake would like to remind you about the 2023 Lady of the Lake Photo Contest!

The annual contest was opened in spring, with submission closing Dec. 31, 2023.

The purpose of the photo contest is to get the readership to think about and appreciate lakes, rivers, creeks, and anything water in Lake County. Water holds a special beauty, especially paired with the beautiful contrast colors of fall. Now is the time to capture that beauty on camera.

Winners from each category will win a free breakfast or lunch (or Brunch!) with Lady of the Lake sponsored by Angelina’s Bakery on Main Street in Lakeport, CA. Photo winners will also be highlighted in the Lady of the Lake Column in the Lake County News. Every photo submitted to the contest will be eligible to be used in the Lake of the Lake Column alongside relevant column topics, with proper credit reference.

The rules are simple:

There are two submission groups; Novice and expert / professional.

There are two types of photo categories: Water and Wildlife.

Because this is the Lady of the Lake photos contest, all photos submitted have to include a lake, creek, stream, wetland, marsh, or pond. Landscapes and scenery will be included into the “water” category, and anything with an animal focus will be grouped into the “wildlife” category.

For example, a landscape shot of Clear Lake with birds flying in the sky will still be considered in the “water” category, but a close up of a grebe mating dance on Clear Lake, will be considered in the “wildlife” category.

This is a nature-centric photo contest. Humans, from a distance, can be included in photos, but their faces can not be close enough to be recognizable. For privacy, any photos with recognizable faces will be disqualified.

All photos must be sent as digital JPG / TIFF / PNG attachments or google drive links to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. email address.

When submitting photos, in the email subject line include: “Photo Contest _ group type_category” For example, if you are a novice submitting a photo of a river otter sunbathing on a rock, the subject of your photo would be “Photo Contest_novice_wildlife”. Save your photos files using your last name.

There is a limit to 3 photos submitted in each category by a single photographer, so a single photographer can submit a maximum of 6 photos, 3 in each category of water and wildlife.

Photos must not be more than 5 years old and taken within Lake County.

There are no restrictions on the type of camera used to take the photos, so feel free to use those camera phones as well as point and shoots and DSLRs.

Photos will be judged and ranked by a panel of three members of the community, yet to be confirmed. Judges will not be participants in the contest.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Lady of the Lake

The Lady of the Lake column is written by Angela De Palma-Dow, a limnologist (limnology=study of fresh inland waters) who lives and works in Lake County. Born in northern California, she has a Masters of Science from Michigan State University. She is a Certified Lake Manager from the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), the current president / chair of the California chapter of the Society for Freshwater Science, and a Lake County Certified Tourism Ambassador. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..