Katelyn Larson of Rhinelander High School has been awarded 3rd place in Wisconsin’s [email protected] Student Photography Contest. Her submission, titled Slithering Garden Snake, was selected as a top image among all high school entries and earned her an iPad Nano.

The [email protected] digital photography contest is an annual event put on by the Quality Educator Interactive Inc. [email protected] is a website that contains lesson plans, student websites and curriculum resources aligned with academic standards for Wisconsin educators. Also included is a searchable database of copyright-free digital images for both students and teachers to use in projects and lessons.

Students in grades 6 through 12 are eligible to submit up to five digital images for judging. There are two categories: Middle School (grades 6 through 8) and high school (grades 9 through 12). Images are judged on quality of composition, elements of design, concept, color and technical quality. Photographs that feature Wisconsin culture, history or geography have an advantage in scoring, though overall photographic quality is the most important factor. Criteria for the contest include the following:

• Strong composition; layout and placement of camera to subject reinforce the image presence.

• Images and composition that use the elements of design to create a strong layout and high aesthetic value.

• Strong and effective concept. Idea is communicated well without giving more than is needed.

• Color that promotes the message or effect.

• Images that are high quality in focus and resolution, and properly exposed.

Photographs that best meet all of the above criteria are awarded first prize. One first-place prizewinner in each age division receives an iPad Mini. One second-place prizewinner in each age division receives an iPod Touch, and the third-place prizewinner in each age division receives an iPod Nano. All winning photographs are displayed on the QEI [email protected] Photo Contest page on the [email protected] website.