Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson is calling all shutterbugs to share their favourite photos of the city from this year.
“There is a new confidence among Edmontonians shaped in part by the stunning images citizens capture and share everyday,” he said.
“It’s inspiring to see our city from their vantage point.”
There are three categories: landscape, seasonal/weather, and unique perspectives.
To enter, simply share a photo on social media with the hashtag #yeg2017pics before Dec. 31.
Iveson reached out to some groups in the arts community for help running the contest.
“He feels like online communities really promote and uplift our city,” Brittney Punter, who runs the @yeggers_ social media accounts, said. “That’s what we love to do so we jumped on board and are really excited to see what photos people come up with.
“I think sometimes Edmonton can have a very negative opinion surrounding it. So, we like to break that stereotype and promote beautiful photography.
“Our city is a really beautiful place to live so we like to showcase that — so this is right up our alley.”
Two winners will be selected for each of the three categories. They will be announced early in the New Year.
Photographers will be invited for a coffee date with the mayor and their photos will be featured in his office.
“It’s nice to have someone that is in love with their passion of photography to have Don be like, ‘Hey, I love your photo, come hang out with me,'” said Glenda Decasa, the social media director for @yeggers_. “It’s a good way to kind of give hope to the creatives in Edmonton and maybe it will push other creatives to come forward and show us what they’ve got in terms of talent.
“There’s a lot of photographers in the community and I hope it brings out other creatives as well — somebody who does paintings, or somebody who makes jewelry, any type of creative — to come forward.”