A picture can be worth even more than a thousand words. Good photographs can lend a helping hand to numerous projects: they strengthen publicity for a fund-raiser, make a newsletter more appealing and reveal the beauty of wetlands to elementary students. To recognize individuals who use this tool effectively and creatively, NACD and the NACD Auxiliary join forces to host an annual Photo Contest.
2013 Contest Information Below
2012 Winners
2011 Winners
2010 Winners
2009 Winners
2008 Winners
2007 Winners
2006 Winners
2005 Winners
The NACD/Auxiliary Photo Contest is open to amateur photographers who are residents of the United States or its territories. Participants can enter as many as five photos total each year. Each photo has to fit in one of the four natural resource or conservation photo categories listed below. Please note changes in process for submission of jpegs of photos via email.
NACD has provided required entry instructions that provide a complete description of how to submit photographs, accepted photo formats, judging, use of the photos and prizes. Please follow these instructions and guidelines carefully to ensure eligibility in the contest.
If you have any questions, please contact Susan Schultz at 317-326-2952 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Before taking your photos or submitting them for the contest, please review the following detailed explanation of the photo categories. Judges reserve the right to determine if a photograph is appropriately categorized and change a photograph's category accordingly.
Photo Contest Category Explanations and Examples - For detailed explanation of the photo categories and for a list of examples for your photo entry.
Contest Categories | PDF |
Contest Overview | PDF |
One winner will be selected for each category and age division. Persons age 19 and over as of December 1, 2013 will compete in the adult age division. Persons age 18 or younger will compete in the youth age division. Each national first place winner will receive a $50 cash prize. Honorable mention award winners will also be selected for each category, but will not receive a monetary award. Winning photos will be displayed at NACD's Annual Meeting, which will be held in February in San Antonio, TX. Checks will be issued by the NACD Auxiliary following the February meeting.
Complete and Submit Entry and Photo Release Form for each photo entered.
The deadline to enter the 2013 Photo Contest is December 1, 2013. All entry forms must be postmarked by December 1, 2013. Participants can enter as many as five photos total each year. Only amateur photographers are eligible to compete. An amateur photographer is one whose majority of income does not come from photography.
In order to be eligible for the contest, entries must follow the guidelines below:
If you intend to enter more than one photo (maximum of five photos per participant), you must complete an entry form and photo release form for each photo. Any photo without its own entry form and release form will not be considered for the contest.
Photos must be submitted in electronic format (jpeg or tiff files only) to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
. No printed photos will be accepted. Each photo must be named and emailed according to the photo file name guidelines below.
Photo files must be named by category, age division, last name, state and photo number. If you are submitting only one photo in a category, your photo number is 1. Additional photos in the same category should be numbered consecutively.
Name each photo file for entry as follows:
For example, John Smith, a 16-year-old from Texas, wishes to submit three photos, one in the Close Up Conservation category and two in Conservation in Action. His file names would read as follows:
Your photo must be labeled or named as outlined above to be eligible. TIP: To rename or label a photo, right-click the photo and choose Rename.
For each photo submission, the subject line of the email must be the category you are entering (categories listed below):
Do not add anything else in the subject line.
Do not attach entry and photo release form to jpeg email. Photo release should be emailed separately or sent through the postal service.
Minor digital enhancements for cropping, red-eye removal, filters and corrective functions are permitted, but images that have been judged to be altered in any significant manner will be disqualified. Contestants are not permitted to place borders, frames or backgrounds around their images or to place watermarks, dates, signatures or copyright images onto photos.
Do not send photo reproductions from a printed publication. Previously published photos are not eligible for the NACD Photo Contest.
All entries become the property of NACD, and NACD reserves the non-exclusive right to use all photographs in publications or for promotional purposes. The photographer retains rights to their photo.
Completed signed forms must be received for entry to be eligible for contest.
Photos will be judged on technical merit and composition. For technical merit, judges may check to see if the photo is well-framed, properly exposed and sharp and clear. For composition, judges determine if the photo features a recognizable center of interest, action and imagination and creativity.
Contest Overview | PDF |