Rules & Regulations

Rules & Regulations

Friends of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Photo Contest
Rules & Regulations

 

Entrant Categories, Fees & Awards*

Adult Entrants: 

  • Open to both professional and amateur photographers aged 18 and older (as of October 1, 2023).
  • Fees: $30 for the first three (3), $10 for each additional photo.  Maximum of six (6) photos total.  
  • Awards in each photo category: 1st Place- $100, 2nd Place- $75, 3rd Place- $50, 3 Honorable Mentions.  Certificates will be issued to all awardees.
  • Each photo can only be entered in one category and each entrant is eligible to win only one award.

Youth Entrants: 

  • Open to photographers from 13 to 17 years of age (as of October 1, 2023).
  • Fees: Free to enter using the code YOUTH2023.  Maximum of 3 photos total. 
  • Awards in each photo category: 1st Place- $50, 2nd Place- $25, 3rd Place- $15, 3 Honorable Mentions.  Certificates will be issued to all awardees.
  • Each photo can only be entered in one category and each entrant is eligible to win only one award.

 

Adults and Youths who have placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd will be invited to provide a matted and framed picture, no larger than 16”x20”, to be displayed at the BNWR Visitor Center for a period of one year.  Awardees will be contacted in early February 2024.  The deadline for delivery of the artwork to the refuge will be February 20th so that the artwork can be displayed during the Eagle Festival. Delivery and pick-up of the artwork is the responsibility of the photographer. All accepted work must be framed in a professional manner; wired and ready to hang.  The wire must be securely attached to the frame, not the backing.  Metal, acrylic and canvas prints are accepted.  Image tags must be attached to the back of the artwork.  The organizers of the exhibit will have the right to disqualify an image based on the quality of the print, frame and mat.

 

Every precaution will be taken in handling all artwork.  However, neither the Friends of Blackwater nor Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge can assume any responsibility for damage, loss, or theft during the exhibit.

 

*BNWR staff and their family, as well as FOB board members and their family, are not eligible to submit entries.

 

Photo Categories & Eligibility

Photo Categories

  • Wildlife (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, etc.)
  • Flora and Macro (plants, fungi, spiders, insects, etc.)
  • Landscapes and waterscapes

Eligible Photos 

  • Photos must be taken between January 1, 2022 and December 1, 2023 (the final submission date of the contest). 

   Ineligible Photos 

  • Photos from drones or the use of drones is prohibited on the refuge
  • Photos of captive or rehabilitated animals
  • Photos from the wildlife cameras on the FOB website
  • Photos with people who are recognizable

 

Judging Criteria & Digital Editing

Judging Criteria*

  • Images must accurately represent BNWR as the goal is to showcase the refuge
  • Technical excellence (sharpness, lighting, composition, exposure)
  • Originality/creativity
  • Interest

Digital Editing**

  • Both color (sRGB color profile) and black and white image conversions are acceptable.
  • All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. 
  • Minor manipulation of images can be used only to produce a more natural looking photograph. Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization will be disqualified. 
  • For this contest, a photographic image is an image captured on a light-sensitive device or surface. A photo created with artificial intelligence (AI) is not a photographic image and will not be accepted. AI renderings generated via text prompt may not be used in whole or part in the creation of a submitted image
  • Acceptable are adjustments to color, contrast, brightness and sharpness; vibrance, removal of dust and scratches; cropping; and use of HDR (high dynamic range imaging).
  • Not acceptable are photo composites (combination of two or more photos, not of the same scene); the addition, duplication, deletion or moving of objects in the photos; or the use of artistic digital filters and effects.
  • Judging will be anonymous. Images may not contain any watermarks, signatures, copyright information, text, logos, borders or other identifying marks.

*Judges, at their discretion, will disqualify any photos that appear to be taken at locations other than those described under Eligible Photos.

**Judges, at their discretion, will disqualify any photos that appear to be manipulated beyond these guidelines.  

 

Image Submission

All files must meet the following criteria:

  • Image capture between January 1, 2022 and December 1, 2023
  • Submitted in JPG/JPEG format.
  • Minimum of 960 pixels on the shortest side
  • Maximum of 4800 pixels on the longest side
  • Less than 4 MB in size.
  • Submit to 2023fobphotocontest.artcall.org beginning October 1, 2023 and no later than 11:59 p.m. (EST) on December 1, 2023.  

 

Photographer’s Rights

The photographer grants unlimited use of submitted photos by Friends of Blackwater NWR and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for publications, web pages, social media, presentations, exhibits, and other promotional, and educational products now and in the future.  Credit will be given to the photographer.  The photographer may continue to use the photos, however the photographer agrees not to sell or sign away the copyright to any other person or entity.  Neither Friends of Blackwater NWR nor U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are liable for copyright or other legal disputes that may arise from this competition.

 

 

Questions?  

Email fobphotocontest@gmail.com with a message and the contest team will get back to you as soon as possible.