Nature Photography Contest

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This contest is open to all nature photographers aged eight and older, with $200 prizes awarded separately to 8 – 18 year olds and ages 19 and up. Three of the categories (close-ups, wildlife in action, and ACNC outdoors) are judged by a panel of two judges. Additionally, a $200 community choice award goes to the youth and adult photo with the most votes.

Each photo entry costs $15. Photos must be submitted by midnight (11:59:59 PM Eastern Time) on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.


Prizes will be awarded in two divisions for each category:

• Adult: age 19 or older, or out of high school at the end of the contest.
• Youth: ages 8 to 18, or still in high school at the end of the contest.

1. Close-ups: This category celebrates the beauty of the "small stuff" that often goes unnoticed. These photos will use macro photography and tight crops that reveal intricate textures, patterns, and colors. Whether it’s the dew on a spiderweb, the complex structure of a wildflower, or the iridescent scales on a butterfly’s wing, these images should bring the viewer face-to-face with the hidden wonders of the natural world.
2. Wildlife in Action: This category is all about movement, behavior, and the pulse of life. These photos will show animals doing what they do best: a hawk mid-strike, a deer leaping through the brush, pollinators in flight, or a fox at play. Successful entries will capture a fleeting moment in time that tells a story of survival, instinct, or interaction within the animal kingdom.
3. ACNC Outdoors: This category is dedicated specifically to the beauty found within the trails, wetlands, and forests of Audubon Community Nature Center. These photos will capture the unique spirit of ACNC’s local landscape throughout the seasons. From the iconic Blue Heron on the ponds to the sunlight filtering through the hemlocks, these images should highlight the specific natural treasures that make ACNC a vital community resource.

This category is judged by the online community who can vote with $1.00 (U.S. dollars) per vote for the photos they like best. There is a $200 prize for the photo with the most votes in both the youth and the adult division. It is possible that a photo or a photographer will receive both the community choice award and win in another judged category.

1. Eight $200 Winners: One in each judged category for youth and adult, as well as one community choice award for youth and adult.
2. 24 photographs will be selected for Honorable Mention (3 youth, 3 adult in the three judged categories, as well as the top 3 youth and adults in the community choice category.)
3. Winning photographers will be notified through email and receive cash prizes in United States dollars via a check sent by United States mail. No cash transfers are available. Please make sure to check your junk email folder for notifications.
4. ACNC will print the winning photographs from the judged categories to exhibit in the Nature Center.
5. Winners and honorable mentions will be named in a news release that is distributed regionally. Winners will be highlighted in a release to their local media when known.
6.  All eight contest winners and 24 honorable mentions will be displayed on the contest website.