Rosalie Thorne McKenna Community Photo Contest Entry Deadline

In an effort to preserve and celebrate the town’s artistic legacy, we are proud to present a community-wide photography contest. Named for portrait-photographer Rosalie “Rollie” McKenna, this annual photography contest is held to inspire new generations of photographers, as well as to continuously document our changing town by the people who live in it. We also hold this contest in memory of Rollie McKenna, who left a photographic legacy to Stonington and the world through her determination, creativity and passion for photography. May we always remember the path she forged for women in the arts!

Rules :

• All ages are welcome to participate

• Photographs entered must be original work of the contestant

• Photographs may be shot digitally or on film

• Contestants must be a current resident of Stonington, Westerly or Mystic

• Photographs must have been shot within the past year (2021)

• Photographs must be entered with a caption that includes the following information: title of the image, date and location where it was taken, contestant’s name, and a brief explanation of how the image relates to this year’s theme. If the image features people, please identify them.

• The theme for the contest is “Neighbors.” What does living in the town of Stonington mean to you? How do you interpret neighbors or neighborhoods?

• All photographs entered will be retained in the archives of the Stonington Historical Society. The Stonington Historical Society reserves the right to use these photographs with a credit line to the photographer in advertising or promotional materials.

• Winners will be selected by the community by popular vote.

• First place wins a Family Membership to the Stonington Historical Society. In addition, the first prize winner will have access to the Maurice LaGrua darkroom at the Woolworth Library, and act as an honorary photography fellow. Second place wins a Family Membership. Third place wins an Individual Membership. The three winning images will be displayed at the Lighthouse Museum for the 2022 season.

• McKenna Honorary Photography Fellow has access during Library open hours to the Maurice LaGrua darkroom for one year. Chemistry materials are provided by the Historical Society, but film and paper must be supplied by the fellow. If the winner has no experience in dark room techniques, lessons can be arranged. Two copies of Any images produced in the darkroom will be donated to the Stonington Historical Society, and serve to increase our modern documentation of the town for posterity.