Celebrating the Beauty of Bates County Through Photography
Bates County Memorial Hospital invites community members of all ages to help celebrate the beauty of Bates County through photography.
The Show Us Bates County Community Photo Contest will accept photo submissions from August 1 through August 31, 2026. Whether you’re a student using a smartphone or a hobby photographer with a DSLR, we invite you to share your view of Bates County. Show us the landscapes, nature, and unique places that make our community special.
More than a photo contest, this project is an opportunity to celebrate the place we call home. Award-winning and selected photographs may become part of a lasting community collection displayed throughout Bates County Memorial Hospital and its clinics, helping create a welcoming environment for patients, visitors, and staff while showcasing the beauty of Bates County.
The contest is open to photographers of all ages and experience levels, and students are especially encouraged to participate. Whether you photograph with a smartphone, mirrorless camera, or DSLR, we welcome every perspective and every experience level.
Winning photographs will be announced following judging in early September. Finalists will also be displayed during the BCMH Health Fair on October 6, where community members can vote for a People’s Choice Award. Selected photographs will later become part of the hospital’s growing community collection as display spaces are prepared.
Every photograph tells part of our community’s story. We look forward to seeing Bates County through your eyes. Share your view of the place we call home and help create a lasting community collection that will welcome patients, visitors, and staff for years to come.
How to Enter:
Complete the form and uploage your images at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5QVTKFR or scan the code to access the form.
Official Rules & Submission Guidelines
Contest Purpose
The Show Us Bates County Community Photo Contest celebrates the beauty, character, and natural landscapes of Bates County, Missouri. Selected photographs may become part of a permanent collection displayed throughout Bates County Memorial Hospital and its clinics.
Eligibility
The contest is open to amateur photographers of all ages.
- Employees of Bates County Memorial Hospital and their immediate family members are eligible to participate unless serving on the judging committee.
- Members of the judging committee are not eligible to enter.
- There is no residency requirement; however, all photographs must be taken within Bates County, Missouri.
For photographers under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must submit the entry on the child’s behalf and serve as the primary contact. If the photograph is selected for recognition or display, Bates County Memorial Hospital may identify the photographer by the child’s name, with parent or guardian permission.
Photo Requirements
Participants may submit up to three (3) photographs.
Photographs should feature:
- Landscapes
- Nature
- Wildlife
- Agriculture
- Rural scenery
- Historic landmarks
- Parks, trails, streams, lakes, and natural areas
Photographs should promote a positive representation of Bates County.
Subject Restrictions
The following are not permitted:
- People as the primary subject
- Portraits or posed individuals
- Sporting events
- Parades or festivals
- Commercial advertising
- Political signs or campaign material
- Images promoting illegal activity
- Offensive or inappropriate content
- AI-generated images
- Drone or aerial photography
The hospital reserves the right to determine whether an image meets the contest theme.
Photography Guidelines
Photographs must:
- Be taken by the person submitting them.
- Be original works.
- Have been captured within Bates County, Missouri.
- Not infringe upon another person’s copyright.
- Be submitted without watermarks, logos, borders, or text.
Editing Guidelines
The goal of this contest is to celebrate authentic photography.
Acceptable Editing:
- Exposure adjustments
- Brightness and contrast adjustments
- Color correction
- White balance correction
- Cropping
- Sharpening
- Black-and-white conversion
- Moderate HDR processing
- Minor dust spot removal
Not Allowed:
- AI-generated or AI-enhanced imagery
- Sky replacement
- Composite photographs
- Adding or removing objects
- Adding or removing wildlife
- Adding or removing buildings
- Manipulating a scene to significantly change reality
- Digital artwork or illustrations
Photographs should accurately represent the original scene.
File Requirements
Please submit the highest-resolution version available.
Requirements:
- JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg)
- Minimum 3,000 pixels on the longest edge
- Original image preferred
- Do not resize or compress your image before uploading
Selected photographers may be asked to provide the original full-resolution image.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated on:
- Composition
- Technical quality
- Creativity
- Representation of Bates County
- Overall visual impact
Judging decisions are final.
Awards
Awards may include:
- First Place
- Second Place
- Third Place
- Honorable Mentions
- People’s Choice
The hospital reserves the right to modify award categories based on the number and quality of entries.
Copyright & Usage
Photographers retain ownership and copyright of their submitted images.
By entering this contest, participants grant Bates County Memorial Hospital a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:
- Display submitted photographs within hospital and clinic facilities
- Reproduce photographs for exhibits
- Use photographs on the hospital website
- Use photographs on hospital social media channels
- Include photographs in hospital publications and promotional materials
- Promote future photo contests
Whenever practical, photographer credit will accompany displayed images.
No additional compensation will be provided for future use of submitted images.
Display & Printing
Winning and selected photographs may be:
- Printed at various sizes
- Cropped for framing or display while preserving the integrity of the image
- Displayed individually or as part of a gallery
Submission
Entries must be submitted through the official online submission form before the contest deadline on August 31, 2026.
Each submission must include:
- Photographer’s name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Approximate location where photo was taken
- Brief description (optional)
- Uploaded image file
- Entry Agreement
By submitting an entry, participants certify that:
- The photograph is their original work.
- They own all rights to the submitted image.
- The image complies with all contest rules.
- They grant Bates County Memorial Hospital permission to use the image as outlined above.
- Disqualification
Entries may be disqualified if they:
- Do not follow contest rules
- Contain false or misleading information
- Violate copyright
- Include prohibited editing
- Include prohibited subject matter
- Are submitted after the deadline
Liability
Participants are responsible for obtaining photographs safely and legally.
Bates County Memorial Hospital assumes no responsibility for injuries, property damage, or legal claims resulting from participation in this contest.
Participants should not trespass onto private property or enter unsafe areas to obtain photographs.
Questions
Questions regarding the contest may be directed to:
Marketing & Public Relations
Bates County Memorial Hospital
Phone: 660-200-7313
Email: info@bcmhospital.com
