Instagram Photo Contest: #dukegardensstudents

We're thrilled with the response to our first Instagram-Facebook photo contest (#dukegardenscolorpop), so we're doing a second one!

This time we're looking for photos of Duke students in Duke Gardens -- and among the prizes will be a $50 iTunes gift card (see details below). Your photograph can be recent or from past years.

Entering this contest is a little different from past contests, so please read the "How to Enter" instructions carefully.

Here's the scoop:

HOW TO ENTER: Tag your Instagram photos with #dukegardensstudents. Please only tag three photos with #dukegardensstudents, as participants are limited to three entries. Outside of the contest, we welcome #dukegardens tags at any time, and #dukespring tags this season. We will search for the #dukegardensstudents hashtag, and upload your photos into an album on Facebook, with your Instagram name in the photo description. You may then add more information about the photo in the comments if you like, and encourage your friends to come see it and vote by clicking "like." Only "like" votes on the album photos will count in vote tallies, though (polite) comments are welcome, too. We'll also tally "likes" on the Instagram photos.

Please be sure to see our etiquette page before posting, as we will not include photos of people climbing trees, playing sports, roaming off the paths or engaging in other activities that are not permitted in the Gardens.

DEADLINE: Photos must be submitted by noon Tuesday, April 28. Voting will end at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 30.

HOW TO VOTE: It's simple. Just "like" your favorite contest photos, both in Instagram and on Facebook. You can find us @sarahpdukegardens in Instagram. On Facebook, we're at facebook.com/dukegardens.

PRIZES: We'll have prizes for most "like" votes on Facebook and on Instagram, as well as judges' awards. Prizes will include Terrace Shop discount coupons, Duke Gardens note cards, the Duke Gardens souvenir photo book and other Duke Gardens-related gifts. We'll also have an extra prize -- a $50 iTunes gift card -- for the best Gardens photo featuring a Duke student or students dressed in Duke-branded clothing.
 
SHARE: Even if you're not interested in prizes or contests, we'd love for you to share your photos just for fun, and share our contest photo album with your own Facebook friends. We look forward to seeing your favorites.

ELIGIBILITY: Anyone of any age may share Duke Gardens photos in this contest. The only people not eligible to win a prize are Duke Gardens employees. In entering this contest, you are confirming that you are the person who took the photograph and that the person in the photo has granted permission for it to be shared online.

NOTE: This contest is not administered, endorsed or operated by Facebook.

LEARN MORE: Please check out our education and event listings for photo courses that you may enjoy. We also have a Nature Photography Certificate program that may interest you.

New Facebook Photo Contest: Fall Colors

The Virtue Peace Pond in fall. Photo by Rick Fisher.

Have you seen the beautiful oranges, reds and yellows peeking through the greens here at Duke Gardens? It's a perfect palette for a new photo exhibit+contest on our Facebook page (or see all entries). Got a favorite Duke Gardens photo featuring fall colors? We'd love to see it. Please don't be shy. This exhibit & contest is open to photographers at all levels and all ages. It's just a fun way to share your love for the Gardens with others who love it here, too.

For this contest, the fall colors can be anywhere, from a leaf to a flower, even a coat or hat -- as long as the setting is here at Duke Gardens.

Note: Facebook's structure has changed, so we can no longer do the contests in "events" with ease. So now we're using a collective album and email, which seemed to work well for our water plants contest.

Here's the scoop:

TOPIC: The topic for October/November is fall colors.

HOW TO ENTER: Email up to 3 photos for each contest to DukeGardensPhotos@yahoo.com. At least 5x7" or larger at 72 ppi is best, but if you don't know how to resize photos, feel free to send them as is, 1 per email. We will post them in an album on Facebook, with your Facebook name in the photo description. You can then add more information about the photo if you like, and encourage your friends to come see it and vote. You may also post the photo on our wall, but be sure to email it as well, so that it's officially in the contest and album. Only "like" votes and comments on the album photos will count in vote tallies.

DEADLINE: Photos must be submitted by Nov. 28. Voting will end at our amended cutoff of 10 a.m. Dec. 1.

PRIZES: We'll have prizes for most "like" votes and comments, as well as judges' awards. First prize is a Duke Gardens 2012 calendar. 2nd prize: Duke Gardens greeting cards or a 75th anniversary T-shirt. 3rd prize: discount coupon for the Terrace Shop. Entrants may only win one prize per contest theme in each tally (top votes & judges' prizes).

SHARE: Even if you're not interested in prizes or contests, we'd love for you to share your photos just for fun. We look forward to seeing your favorites.

LEARN MORE: Please check out our education & event listings for photo courses that you may enjoy. We also have a Nature Photography Certificate program that may interest you.

Facebook Photo Contests are on again

It's been a while since we had a photo exhibit+contest on our Facebook page. Let's see if we can get our collective lens caps dusted off and share some more photos. Facebook's structure has changed, so we can no longer do the contests in "events" with ease (thanks, Facebook). So we'll have to resort to a collective album and email and see how it goes.

TOPIC: The topics for September will be (1) water plants, and (2) plants from Duke Gardens plant sales growing in your own gardens.

HOW TO ENTER: Email up to 3 photos for each contest to DukeGardensPhotos@yahoo.com. At least 5x7" or larger at 72 ppi is best, but if you don't know how to resize photos, feel free to send them as is, 1 per email. We will post them in an album on Facebook, with your Facebook name in the photo description. You can then add more information about the photo if you like, and encourage your friends to come see it and vote. You may also post the photo on our wall, but be sure to email it as well, so that it's officially in the contest and album. Only "like" votes on the album photos will count in vote tallies.

PRIZES: We'll have prizes for most "like" votes as well as judges' awards. First prize is a Duke Gardens 2012 calendar. 2nd prize: Duke Gardens greeting cards or a 75th anniversary T-shirt. 3rd prize: discount coupon for the Terrace Shop. Entrants may only win one prize per contest theme.

SHARE: Even if you're not interested in prizes or contests, we'd love for you to share your photos just for fun. We look forward to seeing your favorites.

LEARN MORE: Please check out our education & event listings for photo courses that you may enjoy. We also have a Nature Photography Certificate program that may interest you.