The Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail is hosting its second annual photo contest, “Shooting the Blueway.”

If you have an eye for photography, this is the perfect opportunity to capture the beauty of the waterways. Take a shot from your canoe or kayak on the Calusa Blueway in Lee County here along the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, and you could win prizes and possibly publication of your winning picture.

Here’s how it works:

Categories: The contest is divided into two different categories – one for pictures of paddlers on the trail and one for nature photography. All photos must be taken on Lee County, Fla., waterways.

Who can enter: Only amateur photographers’ work will be accepted.

Winners: Each category will have a winner plus two runners-up. Winners will receive an enlarged, matted and framed photo of their work. Selected entries may be featured on the blueway Web site, www.calusablueway.com, and on Lee County Parks & Recreation’s Web site, www.leeparks.org. Winning photos may also be published in newspapers, magazines or online.

Timing: Entries are due by Oct. 1, 2009. Winners will be announced at the fourth annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, which runs Oct. 23-Nov. 1 throughout Lee County. Find details at www.CalusaBluewayPaddlingFestival.com. A slide show of winning entries will debut at a location and time TBA during the festival.

Format and submitting: Submissions must be e-mailed as high-resolution photo jpg attachments. Submit one attachment per e-mail to gulfspirit@comcast.net. Maximum of three entries per person.

Entries must be accompanied with:
Photographer’s name
Mailing address
Phone number
E-mail address
Photo title
Location of photo

Note: A model release form is available at www.CalusaBluewayPaddlingFestival.com if a person in the submitted photo is identifiable.

Cost: Submissions do not require an entry fee.

Questions: (239) 433-3855. Or e-mail gulfspirit@comcast.net