Residents of the Town of Cortlandt are setting out to capture American history through their own lenses for the town’s photography show celebrating the 250th anniversary of independence in the United States.
Organized by Croton-on-Hudson residents Eleanor Kwei, a professional artist, art curator and book designer, and Carolyn Whiting, a hobby photographer, the contest aims to bring people together over a shared heritage.
“The goal of organizing this is to celebrate our beautiful heritage as a nation, and to bring us together as people, as residents, as citizens, and to share the wonderful history of our country through photography,” said Whiting.
The two women met each other while serving on Croton’s 125th anniversary committee in 2023.
The women proposed the contest to Cortlandt Supervisor Dr. Richard Becker, who got an enthusiastic response from the town’s 250th anniversary committee.
The competition is open to anyone who lives or works in Cortlandt, with placement in both youth and adult categories. Whiting emphasized that neither U.S. citizenship nor long-term residency are required to participate, and everyone’s perspective matters.
Images may include historical landmarks and moments, people, statues, or July 4th fireworks from any location across the United States. There are no camera restrictions or requirements, meaning participants don’t need professional equipment to share their perspective.
“With the invention of smart phones, everyone became a photographer,” said Kwei. Whiting added: “This is not about being a professional. It’s about sharing your views and your thoughts and your experience. It’s not just the quality of the photo. Although that’s important, it’s about the view, and what you see, and why it meant something to you. Each person’s view of history is important.”
Two judges with photography experience, Jose Pelaez and Jim Christensen, will select the winners. Submissions will be evaluated for composition, timing, choice of subject matter and the relevance to the historical theme. In the event of a tie, Whiting will decide on the winner.
The deadline to submit for the youth category is August 21. The adult category deadline is August 31. Entries must be submitted using the form on the town’s website, found here.
Submissions must include the photographer’s name, phone number, and email address, the photo title, where the photo was taken, and a written description. Entry is free, with a limit of two submissions per person.
The winning photographer’s pieces will be on display at either the Cortlandt Town Hall from Oct. 26 to Jan. 15, 2027, or the Cortlandt Youth Center from Sept. 19 to Nov. 6, 2026. Display space is limited, so photographs not selected will be featured in a digital gallery on the town’s website.
For detailed competition rules and questions, email [email protected] or visit the town of Cortlandt website here.
