Annual Photo Contest

Photo by P. Duncan

Pasco Audubon Annual Photo Competition

Competition Overview

The Pasco Audubon Photography Contest invites photographers of all skill levels to showcase the beauty, diversity, and wonder of the natural world through their lens. Participants are encouraged to capture compelling images of birds, wildlife, native plants, landscapes, and conservation-related subjects that highlight the importance of protecting our environment. The contest aims to inspire appreciation for nature, promote environmental awareness, and celebrate the creativity of photographers who share a passion for the outdoors. Winning entries will be selected based on originality, visual impact, technical quality, and their ability to tell a meaningful story about the natural world.

Competition Rules

All entries must be original works, created from your own idea and operation of equipment. You must be sole owner of the copyright. You may not use any photos taken by any other person. Any digital editing must be your own.
All entries must conform to the stated theme, wildlife and nature of Tampa Bay. This may include animals in the wild (no captive animals from zoos, aquaria, or rescue/rehab facilities), plants in the wild, or natural landscapes taken in the Tampa Bay area (Pasco, Hernando, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sumter, Manatee, and Polk counties).
All entries must have been created within the past three years. Works previously exhibited at Pasco Audubon Art and Photography exhibitions cannot be exhibited a second time. Works that have won other contests may not be exhibited.
Digital modification of the original image is limited to cropping, light adjustments, color adjustments, sharpening, and removal of dust and scratches. No additions or removals of elements (other than dust and scratches) is allowed. All submitted images must reflect reality. No composite images (placing a subject on a different background, placing multiple subjects from multiple frames into the same frame, changing the sky, etc.), are allowed. Use of multiple images to create a single image is limited to HDR, focus stacking, or other techniques to allow extension of focal range or range of light.
Size and format: Photos must submitted digitally, no larger than 5MB. Please use your last name, first initial, and title of the piece as the file name (Ex: “Goldberg_P_Spoonbill_at_Dawn.jpeg”). If you have trouble with this let us know and we can help.
Submissions must remain anonymous for formal judging. Do NOT sign your work. Your name and title of the piece will be added when judging is completed.
Entry Fees: $15 for one image, $25 for two images, or $30 for three images. Exhibitors are limited to three entries. You are encouraged to submit at least one image that is in the “Nature (non-bird)” category and/or one image taken within Starkey Park to maximize your chances of winning! However, when you submit and pay for 3 entries you may submit an additional photograph to the Conservation category (see details on the entry form).
Submission: Digital images must be e-mailed to Halldor Sigurdsson (coordinator) at PascoAudubonPhotos@gmail.com. Payment may be made online through our PayPal link (Pasco Audubon Society, treasurer@pascoaudubon.com) or via check made out to “Pasco Audubon” and mailed to: Pasco Audubon, PO Box 1456, Elfers, FL 34680. Both payment and images must be received no later than close of business (5 pm) March 21, 2026 to allow for construction of the exhibit webpage and formal judging.
Decision of the judges is final and non-negotiable. Winners will be announced at the end of the event. Prize distribution will occur concurrently. One prize per person. Unclaimed prizes revert to Pasco Audubon.
Artist retains all copyrights. However, Pasco Audubon may use images of the event, which may include any entry, for promotion purposes, including an annual calendar production.

Entry and Deadline Details

The 2026 Contest has ended. Check back in January 2027 for information on the April 2027 contest. Sign up to receive updates about the photo contest and other Pasco Audubon Activities:

How to Enter the Competition

The 2026 Contest has ended. Check back in January 2027 for information on the April 2027 contest. Sign up to receive updates about the photo contest and other Pasco Audubon Activities:

Entry Fees

Download Entry Form

Judging

Entries will be evaluated by a panel of qualified judges with experience in photography, wildlife, and conservation. Photographs will be judged based on creativity, composition, technical excellence, visual impact, and relevance to the contest theme. Judges’ decisions are final, and all entries will be reviewed fairly and independently to ensure a transparent selection process.