Entries are currently being accepted for the contest which showcases the unique landscape in and around the village. The theme of this year's contest, "Elsah - A Hidden Surprise" has two categories: "Elsah Proper" and the "Surrounding Area".

Entries are encouraged to recognize places of interest in the Elsah landscape and to celebrate and foster an appreciation of the beauty and unique qualities of the area in every season. The first place winners in each category will receive $150 purchase prizes. The first place winner in the Elsah Proper category will also receive an overnight stay for two at the Green Tree Inn.

Winners will be chosen by photographer/artist and photography professor Janice Nesser-Chu.Works submitted for the purchase prize will be judged on the following criteria:

Expression of the theme, Quality of the photographic composition, and Quality of the photographic reproduction.

Each year the Village of Elsa Museum chooses a theme designed to bring out a different aspect of Elsah's surroundings.

All entries will be exhibited at the Village of Elsah Museum beginning Saturday, April 11. An opening reception will be held to announce the winners from 1 to 4 p.m. that day.

The exhibit will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays through Sundays through Aug. 2. Visitors to the exhibit will also find other exhibits covering the varied architectural styles found throughout the town, Principia College, nearby New Piasa Chautauqua, and tools and other implements used by past residents.

The 2014 The Village of Elsah purchase prize was awarded to Carolyn Schlueter of St. Charles, Missouri for her work titled, "Red Wood in Woods." The work was a digitally taken and digitally printed photograph of a restored barn structure in Elsah made of old wood formerly painted with red paint, but now is a soft, but dark patina of red. The judge made the purchase prize award because the work best expressed both the theme and purpose of the exhibit along with the quality of the composition.

The greatriverroad.com purchase prize was awarded to Jeffrey Vaughn of Alton, Illinois. The title of his work is "Ravine in Fog." A medium format camera with transparency film created the image. The photograph, 11 X 11 inch edition, is a digital chromogenic print of a bluff ravine with woods and a leaf strewn ground in misty fog. The composition invites the viewer into the place of mystery, yet it is a very familiar, beautiful bluff scene. The square format adds to the containment of the image and viewer's attention.

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