Department Head: Anita Edington
(865) 659-5112
Schedule Information
Location: Kerr Building
Drop-off: Tuesday, September 8 - 10:00am-7:30pm
Judging: Thursday, September 10 (Closed to the public)
Pick-up: Monday, September 21 - 10:00am-4:30pm
Premiums for Classes 1-7
1st - $15.00 2nd - $10.00 3rd - $5.00
Best Of Show Awarded for:
Amateur, Professional, Senior Youth, and Junior Youth
Judging Criteria
Photographic Quality - Technical correctness and skills used to CAPTURE image rather than post processing, ie.) Photoshop.
Composition - Arrangement of subject matter for best effect
Originality - Eye-catching appeal to the greatest number of people.
Relevance - How the photographic subject relates to the lot category.
Attractiveness & Neatness - Mounting/Matting is complimentory to the photo, make sure your work is neat and clean.
Conditions Of Entry
1. MAXIMUM OF 8 PRINTS PER EXHIBITOR.
2. These competitions are open to East Tennessee amateur and professional photographers of all ages for all classes.
3. Professional exhibits must be entered into Class 5 ONLY. A professional is defined one engaged in any line of photography as a profession, business, or as a paid instructor.
4. After entry, you will receive entry tags in the mail. These must be attached to the appropriate photograph.
5. Exhibitors may only enter one exhibit per lot.
6. Any photograph previously winning 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prize at this Fair is ineligible to compete.
7. All photographs submitted must have been photographed by the exhibitor within 5 years of show date.
8. All judges’ decisions are final.
9. Any notes or descriptions are to be placed on the back of the entry tag or photograph.
10. A portrait is a “posed” photo. Any photo not “posed” should be placed in “candid.” Tinted and hand colored photos accepted in all color categories.
11. Failure to comply with entry preparation requirements will result in entry disqualification.
Important Notice: Amateur Best of Show winner will be invited to be one of the three judges at the following year’s
competition. As a judge, you would not be allowed to submit photographs for competition that year. Individual must be 18 years or older to participate as a judge.
Entry Preparation Requirements
1. All prints must be mounted on a 15"x19" or 16"x20" mat and/or foam core board
2. Print size(s) must be 8"x10" minimum and 16"x20" maximum. Panoramic photos must be 64 sq in. minimum.
3. Mat boards may be of a color complementary to the photograph. No frames or glass will be permitted, but sleeves are allowed.
4. You may use decorative mats to frame the photograph. We suggest not to use flimsy poster board which is subject to warpage (foam core board is recommended).
5. Do not use liquid adhesives, or mounting squares to mount the prints. We recommend using 3M Double Sided Tape or
photography spray, please cover well so all parts of photo are mounted securely.
6. Entry tag must be put on by the exhibitor with string. Tape only the string to the upper left-hand corner of the mat board, when
viewing the back side, leaving sufficient slack to flip the tag over to the front right side after judging.
Display Regulations
1. The Tennessee Valley Fair will make every effort to exhibit each article entered, but reserves the right to decide which articles will
be displayed in the event that space limitations do not permit displaying all entries.
2. The Tennessee Valley Fair will withhold from exhibition any photograph deemed offensive to the morals of the community.
3. Names of winners will not be given out over the phone, but they will be displayed in the department during the Tennessee Valley Fair.
4. Entries will be released Monday, September 21. If entries are not picked up by above date and time, they will be discarded.
5. General Fair and Home Centered Activities Department rules apply and shall supersede the above rules in case of conflict.
Class 1 - Color Prints (Tennessee State Fair Eligible!)
Lot
01 - Portrait of Children - infants through age 12
02 - Portrait of Teenager or Older - photograph that the person can be recognized
03 - Candid of Children - infants thru age 12, photograph of a child or children at work, play, engaged
04 - Candid of Teenager or Older - photograph of a person or people at work, play, engaged
05 - Landscape - focal point of the print area shall show land and may include buildings, bridges, fences, etc
06 - Waterscape - focal point of the print area shall show water either still or flowing; waterfalls, rivers, fountains
07 - Skyscape - focal point of the print area shall show sky or its contents
08 - Animal, Domestic - pets, livestock (no fowl)
09 - Animal, Wild - wildlife (no insects or birds)
10 - Birds, Fowl - Domestic or Wild
11 - Insects - focus must be on insects or spiders
12 - Plant World, Flowers - one or more flowers in bloom, arrangements, natural
13 - Plant World, Other -foliage, fruits, seeds, mushrooms, trees
14 - Inanimate Objects - subject matter/object that is not alive
15 - Architecture - man-made structures, bridges, buildings, inside or out
16 - Photo Decor - photo suitable for interior decoration
Class 2 - Black & White or Toned Prints (Tennessee State Fair Eligible!)
Lot
01 - Portrait of a person (all ages) - person must be recognizable*
02 - Candid - all ages, photo of person at work, play, engaged
03 - Landscape, Waterscape, Skyscape or Cityscape
04 - Inanimate Objects to Architecture - man-made objects, food, still-life to structures, bridges, buildings
05 - Animals and Plant World - wildlife, insects, birds, flowers, and other
Class 3 - Color Or Black & White Prints (Tennessee State Fair Eligible!)
Black & White Prints, Color, Toned or any Combination
Lot
01 - Macro - extreme close–ups taken with macro lenses or other devices
02 - Motion - action shots from sports or other activities
03 - Vacation/Travel - photograph of people, places, or things taken in or that simply gives the feel of another area.
04 - Nightscape - pictures taken with existing natural light e.g., city scenes
05 - Reflection - Any recognizable image that is reflected in another object. (e.g. water or glass)
06 - Appalachian Country - Cades Cove, Western, Farm in any of the above subject matter example (people, places, things)
07 - Events - Any subject matter (people, places, things) that reflects an organized event (sports, concerts, plays, etc)
08 - Hometown Pride - photo highlights your community (landmarks, attractions, school, etc)
Class 4 - 2026 Special Themes "The Great American Swine-A-Bration" "Celebrate America"
Black & White Prints, Color, Toned or any Combination
Lot
01 - Fair Time Favorite - show us what the Fair means to you (rides, contests, animals, concerts, friends)
02 - Celebrate America - Patriotic, landmarks, what you love about our country
Class 5 - Professional
Black & White Prints, Color, Toned or any Combination
Lot
01 - People, portrait or candid of children. (Person or People) - Excluding Wedding
02 - People, portrait or candid of teenager or older. (Person or People) - Excluding Wedding
03 - Landscape, Waterscape, Skyscape, Cityscape, Nightscape
04 - Wedding Theme
05 - Animals, Plant World, Bird or Insect
06 - Any of the above subject matter from amateur lots not already in this class
07 - Abstract, portrait - blur, off angle, photo shop/manipulation
Class 6 - Senior Youth (Ages 13-18) (Tennessee State Fair Eligible!)
Black & White Prints, Color, Toned or any Combination
$50.00 Gift Certificate for Best of Show Senior Youth (Class 6) - Special Thanks to Jerry's Artarama of Knoxville!
Lot
01 - Animal, wildlife, insects, pets.
02 - People, portrait or candid (person or people)
03 - Plant World - flowers and other
04 - Inanimate Objects to Architecture - Man-made objects, food, still life, to structures and buildings
05 - Landscape, Waterscape, Skyscape, Cityscape or Nightscape
06 - Reflection - Any recognizable image that is reflected in another object (e.g. water or glass)
07 - Any other subject matter not listed in Senior Youth
08 - Appalachian Country - Cades Cove, Western, Farm in any of the above subject matter (e.g. people, places, things)
Class 7 - Junior Youth (Ages 12 & under) (Tennessee State Fair Eligible!)
Black & White Prints, Color, Toned or any Combination
Lot
01 - Celebrate America - Patriotic, landmarks, what you love about our country
02 - Color - Any of the above subject matter
03 - Black & White - Any of the above subject matter
Medal of Honor Photography (Tennessee State Fair Eligible!)
The Medal of Honor is the highest honor an individual serving in the United States Armed Forces can receive. The Medal of Honor is bestowed by the President of the United States in the name of Congress and represents the following: Courage, Integrity, Selflessness, Sacrifice, Citizenship, Patriotism
You should enter pieces that you feel represents the core values and ideals of the Medal of Honor.
Rules
1. Maximum of 3 Prints per exhibitor allowed for Class 8 and 9.
2. Entries in Lot 8 and 9 do NOT count towards the exhibitor maximum of 8 prints as rules on page 80 originally states.
3. After entry, you will receive entry tags in the mail. These must be attached to the appropriate photograph.
4. Any photograph previously winning 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in Lot 98 and 99 at this Fair will be ineligible to compete.
5. Please include a TYPED brief description of how your photograph relates to the topic and attach to the BACK of the photograph (100 word maximum).
6. Failure to comply with entry preparation requirements will result in entry disqualification. Please Note: All judges’ decisions are final.
Class 8 - Medal of Honor Photography (Ages 13-18)
Lot
01 - Color
02 - Black and White
03 - Any Patriotic
Class 9 - Medal of Honor Photography (Ages 19 and Up)
Lot
01 - Color
02 - Black and White
03 - Any Patriotic