National Conservation Photo Contest
Photo Contest
The National Association of Conservation Disricts (NACD) Photo Contest is open for submissions until December 1, with winners announced at NACD’s Annual Meeting in February. The contest is open to all amateur photographers in the U.S. and its territories, who may submit up to five photos in the following categories:
- Conservation Practices (CP)
- Close-up Conservation(CU)
- Conservation in Action (CA)
- Agriculture and Conservation Across America (AA)
Age Division
- Youth (Y)
- Adult (A)
Photos are judged on technical merit (framing, exposure, clarity) and composition (creativity, imagination). One winner from each category and age division (19+ for adults) will receive a $100 prize, while second-place winners will receive $50. Honorable mentions will also be recognized but do not receive a cash prize. Prizes are sponsored by NACD Auxiliary through proceeds from the Country Store and quilt project.
To enter, complete and submit the photo contest entry form for each photo in JPG, PNG, or TIFF format. Emailed submissions will not be accepted. Minor digital edits (cropping, red-eye removal) are allowed, but significant alterations may lead to disqualification. Photos must not include borders, watermarks, or previously published material.
Entries should be named by:
Division_Category_Last Name_Initials_State_Photo number (e.g., Y_CA_Smith_AM_TX_1).
Full instructions are provided on pages 9-11 in the contest guidelines. Minor digital enhancements for cropping, red-eye removal, filters, and corrective functions are permitted; however, an image judged to be significantly altered may 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. Previously published photos are not eligible for the NACD Photo Contest. All entries become the property of NACD. As such, NACD reserves the non-exclusive right to use submissions in official publications and for promotional purposes. The photographer retains rights and use to their photo.
Questions? Contact NACD at stewardship@nacdnet.org.