Lake Erie enthusiasts who want to capture the essence of Lake Erie life on film – or on memory card in this digital age – can enter the Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) 2013 Life on Lake Erie photo contest. Deadline extended to Aug. 16, 2013.

The Life on Lake Erie photo contest is an opportunity for amateur photographers, age 18 and older, to reveal their passion for one of Ohio’s most valuable and dynamic natural features, Lake Erie. Photographs taken between Aug. 1, 2012, and Aug. 16, 2013, in and around the Lake Erie watershed can be submitted to the OLEC through Aug. 16, 2013.

Winning photographs will be displayed at various events and through OLEC social media. The photographs may also be used in commission publications to promote Lake Erie.

To enter, send a CD with the electronic image file and a completed entry form to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission, 111 E. Shoreline Drive, Sandusky, OH 44870. Entry forms are available at http://lakeerie.ohio.gov. Participants also may submit images and electronic form via email to lakeeriecommission@lakeerie.ohio.gov. Submissions must be the original work of the photographer. Black and white and color photographs will be accepted. Digitally altered photos will not be accepted.

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established for the purpose of preserving Lake Erie’s natural resources, protecting the quality of its waters and ecosystem and promoting economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency serves as the commission’s chairman. Additional members include the directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources.