Lens on Litter Contest

Since 1984, PRC has sponsored an annual Gene Capaldi Lens on Litter Photo contest, not to glorify litter but to bring attention to the litter problem in communities across Pennsylvania. Exposure leads to prevention!

Participants from across the state have submitted thousands of photos over the years.  Contestants are eligible for monetary prizes up to $500. All submitted photos may be used by PRC at their discretion.

Contest dates run from January 1 to October 31 each year.

pictured is a 2022 first-place winning entry

Lynn Armel, Erie, “Great Lake Garbage Patch” (adult category)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL 6 WINNING ENTRIES

Prizes

Contestants are divided into two categories: Adults and Students (through Grade 12). Each category will be awarded the following prizes: First prize, $500; second prize, $250 and third prize, $100.

Sponsors

Current Sponsors

 

Anti-Litter Champion

Carolyn Capaldi

Robert & Mary Capaldi

 

Anti-Litter Advocate

 

Anti-Litter Supporter

 

Join us as a Lens on Litter sponsor and become an:

  • Anti-Litter Champion — $1,000
  • Anti-Litter Advocate — $500
  • Anti- Litter Supporter — $250
  • Anti-Litterbug — $100

Contribute by visiting:

https://prc.networkforgood.com/

OR

Make Checks Payable To:

Pennsylvania Resources Council

Send To:

Pennsylvania Resources Council (Lens on Litter)
1671 N. Providence Road
Media, PA 19063

Rules

Photos submitted to the Lens on Litter Photo Contest should help to heighten litter consciousness by showing how litter threatens public health and safety, scenic beauty, property values, the environment, pets, or wildlife.

Each photo will be judged on 6 criteria:

    • Anti-litter message
    • Originality of photo
    • Photographic technique
    • Quality of photo
    • Originality of title
    • Severity of the Litterbug’s crime

Photo Rules

  1. Photos must be taken in Pennsylvania by Pennsylvania residents.
  2. Photos may be black-and-white or color.
  3. Printed photo entries must be no smaller than 4×6 inches and no larger than 8×10 inches.
  4. Digital entries must be submitted in high resolution. (This will improve the quality of the printed photos.)
  5. Only one winning photo per entrant.

Photo Submittal Requirements

  1. Each participant may submit up to 5 photos.
  2. Each photo must include the following:
    • Contest category (adult or student)
      • Students must also include age, grade, and school name
    • Photographer’s name, address, email and phone number
    • Title of composition
    • Location of composition
    • How you heard about the contest
  3. Optional but encouraged: Extra points are awarded for entrants that coordinate clean-up of the subject area and submit a “before and after” photo as evidence of your clean-up efforts.
  4. Digital entries should be submitted via the form on this page or by emailing [email protected]. Please include all required information listed above in your email.
  5. Mail-in entries should be posted by October 31 and sent to:

PRC/Lens on Litter
1671 N. Providence Road
Media, PA 19063

Photos submitted that do not meet all requirements and rules above will not be considered. 

Important disclosure: By submitting a photographic image in the Lens on Litter Photo Contest, entrants agree to allow PRC to use the photos at its discretion.

Questions? Please email [email protected]

Online Submission Form

2022 Lens on Litter Winners

The 2022 Gene Capaldi Lens On Litter Winners Announced:

   

STUDENT CATEGORY (left to right)
1st PLACE ($500 prize):  Madeline Whited, Lancaster, Penn Manor High School, “Nature Show”
2nd PLACE ($250 prize):  Jacob Karpinski, Bushkill, East Stroudsburg North High School, “Alice’s Viaduct”
3rd PLACE ($100 prize):  Kinley Manges, Valencia, Mars Area Elementary School, “Drowning in Pollution”

 

   

ADULT CATEGORY (left to right)
1st PLACE ($500 prize):  Lynn Armel, Erie, “Great Lake Garbage Patch”
2nd PLACE ($250 prize):  Karen Morris, Sewickley, “Bad Habits, Best Friends”
3rd PLACE ($100 prize):  Larissa Gula, Carnegie, “License and Litter, Please”

2021 Lens on Litter Winners

The 2021 Gene Capaldi Lens On Litter Winners Announced:

   

STUDENT CATEGORY (left to right)
1st PLACE ($500 prize):  Zoe Broyles, Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel Area High School, “Rachel Carson’s Dream”
2nd PLACE ($250 prize):  Brendan Davis, Columbus, Corry Alliance Academy, “Junk Exhaustion”
3rd PLACE ($100 prize):  Brianna Smithwick, Swissvale, Turtle Creek Elementary STEAM Academy, “Let’s Snap Up Litter!”

 

   

ADULT CATEGORY (left to right)
1st PLACE ($500 prize):  Richard Oberndorf , Wexford, “Teach Your Babies to Respect Our Waterways!”
2nd PLACE ($250 prize):  Nancy Furbee, Sewickley, “Barreling Along to Remove Trash on the Shenango”
3rd PLACE ($100 prize):  Carye Bye, Pittsburgh, “Happy un-Earth Day!”

2020 Lens on Litter Winners

 

The 2020 Gene Capaldi Lens On Litter Winners Announced:

 

Click on each photo to view the entire composition.

2019 Lens on Litter Winners

The 2019 Gene Capaldi Lens On Litter Winners Announced:

2018 Lens on Litter Winners

The 2018 Gene Capaldi Lens On Litter Winners Announced: