Elsah Museum Photography Competition and Exhibit 2024

Entries Closed

T  W  O   T  H  E  M  E  S !! 

Native Species: Designed to honor our village’s ongoing efforts to re-establish native species all along the wetlands and creek ways in Elsah; this effort has spread even into yards and public spaces and has several stellar periods of bloom! We’re stabilizing our creek banks, improving habitat, cleaning our creek, and beautifying our Village! 

Historical Abstraction: Designed to encourage the use of our historical surrounds to find and create breathtaking, uncommon compositions of the historical built environment. Close- up details, unusual lighting, shadows and out-of-the-way views are the ticket!

 Choose either or both of them!

T I M E L I N E

  • Entries submitted/postmarked by 01.06.24.
  • Selected artist notified by 02.03.24 A list of the photographers selected for the exhibit will be posted on the Historic Elsah Foundation and Escape to Elsah websites, and also notified by e-mail on 02.03.24.
  • Shipped art due to Elsah by 03.01.24, 2-4pm
  • Hand Delivered accepted 03.02.24, 2-4pm, or 03.03.24, 2-4pm, at Village Museum, 26 LaSalle St, Elsah, IL 62028
  • Opening Reception & Awards 04.06.24, 3-4pm, Village Museum, 26 Lasalle St, Elsah, IL 62028
  • Exhibit closes 06.23.24, 4pm
  • Photo pick-up 06.23.24 4pm or 06.30.24, 1-4pm (Museum open only Saturdays and Sundays 1-4pm)

$1,050 in AWARDS
Best of Show $500 Plus a one night stay at Green Tree Inn 
First, Second, and Third Place
$250, $100, $50.

The exhibition reception and presentation of awards will be held in the Elsah Village Museum.  All participants, their families and friends are invited.  In the event the circumstance require an adjustment to these plans we will post an update on EscapetoElsah.com and HistoricElsah.org, as well as reach out to the exhibiting photographers with updated information by email.

S U B M I S S I O N S

For the jury process, we accept high-quality, digital images of photography (no film)- up to 7MB each – 4 x 6 inches.

All works must be original and completed within the last two years.  Works previously exhibit in the Elsah Photo Exhibit are not eligible. Upon being accepted, all photographs must be framed and ready to hang with a wire.  Framed works cannot exceed 16” x 20”.  

For questions regarding submissions, call or email,  Danne Rhaesa, Exhibit Coordinator, 618.946.7532, (leave message), [email protected]

S H I P P I N G

After Notification, accepted work may be mailed, shipped, or hand-delivered to the Elsah Village Museum at the photographer’s expense.  Mailed works must arrive by 03.01.24 between 2-4pm, return postage must be included.   Hand-delivered works must arrive on either Saturday or Sunday, 03.02.24 or 03.03.24 between 2-4pm. Works must be in well packed, reusable cartons, or crates.  All must have wires for wall hanging. Plexy must be used, No Glass! 

L I A B I L I T Y

Appropriate care will be taken in the handling of photos and museum staff will secure the safety of the work. HEF is responsible for works of art only while they are on the property of the museum. Works  in transit are the responsibility of the entrant and they are advised to purchase insurance.   

HEF reserves the right to photograph works in the exhibit for publicity, educational and archival purposes.  HEF does not discriminate with regard to race, gender, age, national origin, disability, religion, or veteran status.

P I C K – U P  P H O T O S

After the exhibition closes, on Sunday, June 23, 2024, works may be picked up at  4pm, or the following day, Sunday between 1-4pm.  Please make arrangements for the safe return of your framed images. The Museum is only open on Saturday and Sundays between 1-4pm. Shipped works will be returned during July, in the shipping materials provided by the photographer, using the return postage included by the photographer.  The shipping materials must be provided for return shipping.  If not, the abandoned photos will be kept in the museum during the month of July and discarded, if not retrieved by July 28, 2024. 

2024  PHOTOGRAPHY JUROR  – CARMEN TROESSER

Troesser is an editor and lifestyle photographer based in the Midwest. In 2022 she was the Winner of the Julia Margaret Cameron Award; in 2021, the Julia Margaret Cameron Award Honorable Mention; in 2019, she was a FoodPhoto Festival Juror; also, a Great Plains Journalism Award Winner;  In 2017, a FoodPhoto Festival Exhibitor and Overall Winner, and also was awarded Communication Arts Award of Excellence.  

Her list of clients include:  Dwell, Whole Foods, Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Dr. Scholls, Story Publishing, Penguin Random House, Curbed, Houzz, Ronnoco Coffee, Prevention, Durango Cigars, Time, Newsweek, Country Living.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree in painting and graduated with a Master’s Degree in photojournalism from the University of Missouri  in 1993. Troesser travels for assignments from her bases in Chicago and her family’s Missouri farm.

https://www.carmentroesser.com