Then & Now Photo Contest Honors Putnam’s History
It’s time to take out your camera and take pictures for the Putnam County Then & Now Photo Contest. The contest is being sponsored by the Hudson Valley Trust and is an official Putnam County Bicentennial event.
To enter the contest, people must find an old picture of an event or place in Putnam County and then take a current picture of the same event or place. People can find old picture on postcards, in newspapers or in family albums. Older pictures, and photograph documentation of the changes make the best entries.
“There have been dramatic changes in Putnam County over the past two hundred years, and what better way than to show the changes than with an old photograph side by side with a new photograph of the same event or place,” said Dr. Larry A. Maxwell, president of the Hudson Valley Trust.
Photography was not around in public use when the county was founded in 1812, but had become very popular by the 1860’s and the Civil War.
“Even old photographs from 50 years ago, compared with today, can make great subject matter,” Dr. Maxwell said. “Old parades, town days, businesses, homes and schools, taken 50 to 150 years apart at the same location, are very interesting.”
There are three age groups for the contest: Under age 12, Ages 12-19, and Age 20-120.
Those desiring to enter must make a display with the old picture, next to their 2012 picture. There is no cost to enter and multiple entries are welcome.
A digital image of the old and new picture must also be submitted for possible publication. It has been suggested that a booklet of the entries would make a great piece to put in the county’s new time capsule.
Gift Certificates to local businesses will be awarded to the winners. Any business interested in offering a gift certificate for a prize should contact the Hudson Valley Trust.
Entries must be brought to the Hudson Valley Trust Building at Patriots Park on the corner of Routes 164 and 311 by 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 16. A public display and judging of the entries will be held Tuesday. Sept 18 at 7 p.m. at the Hudson Valley Trust. Winning entries will be display at the Putnam County Bicentennial Fall Harvest Dance, Saturday. Sept. 22 at Thunder Ridge Ski Lodge.
For more information about the contest, people are encouraged to contact Dr. Maxwell at the Hudson Valley Trust, at PO Box 563, Patterson, NY 12563, or at his office 845-878-4160 or visit HudsonValleyTrust.com.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
