Wanted: NJ residents shooting engaging images of older adults in NJ places
New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW) is inviting NJ’s amateur and professional photographers to celebrate aging well in the Garden State with the launch of their “Aging Great in the Garden State” photo contest.
“NJAAW is discouraged by the minimal range of stock images of older adults 60+, which tend to be unrealistic, showing them as ‘super successful’ or enfeebled,” said NJAAW’s Executive Director Cathy Rowe, DrPH. “Additionally, there is limited diversity and the images do not represent classic New Jersey,” she said. “We’d like to have in-state photographers capture our own older residents engaged in what they love or are passionate about, in meaningful NJ places. Particularly welcome will be photos of older adults that portray diversity — including of physical abilities — in settings that are uniquely NJ.” The 24-year-old nonprofit will look most favorably on photos that relay a feeling, tell a story or capture the spirit of the person(s) and place represented, she said.
The overall winner, as selected by a panel of NJAAW staff and Board members, will receive a $100 Visa gift card. Two runners-up will each receive a $50 gift card. Winners will be notified in early June.
The winner, runners-up and selected other photographers will have their work printed and displayed, with their bio, at NJAAW’s 24th Annual Conference. The event, which draws hundreds of aging services professionals from around the state, takes place on June 13 at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick.
Selected submissions will also be spotlighted on NJAAW’s website at njaaw.org; on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn pages, and in other promotional materials.
There is no entry fee. Photographers may submit up to three original digital images along with the required submission form and a 100-words-or-less statement on why each image best represents “Aging Great in the Garden State.” All submissions must be sent to office@njaaw.org by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20, and have “Photo Contest” in the subject line.
Photographers must have permission from the subjects in their photos, who must be identified by name and age (60 and older only) and reside in NJ.