National Association of Conservation Districts

National Association of Conservation Districts

NACD's mission is to serve conservation districts by providing national leadership and a unified voice for natural resource conservation.

Photo Contest

ForestA 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.

2008 Winners
2007 Winners
2006 Winners
2005 Winners


2009 NACD/Auxiliary Photo Contest

The 2009 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 stewardship@nacdnet.org.

* An amateur photographer is one whose majority of income does not come from photography.



Photo Categories
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.

  1. Conservation Practices
  2. Close Up Conservation
  3. Conservation in Action
  4. Agriculture and Conservation Across America

Photo Contest Category Explanations and Examples - For detailed explanation of the photo categories and for a list of examples for your photo entry. | PDF |


Awards
One winner will be selected for each category and age division. Persons age 19 and over as of December 1, 2009 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 2010 Annual Meeting, which will be held in February 2010 in Orlando, Florida. Checks will be issued by the NACD Auxiliary following the February meeting.


Entry Instructions


Entry Guidelines
The deadline to enter the 2009 Photo Contest is December 1, 2009. All entry forms must be submitted electronically or postmarked by December 1, 2009. 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. Or click here to download a copy of the rules and guidelines.

  1. Multiple Submissions
    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.

  2. Photo Format
    Photos must be submitted in electronic format (jpeg or tiff files only) to NACDphoto.conservation@picasaweb.com. No printed photos will be accepted. Each photo must be named and emailed according to the photo file name guidelines below.

  3. Photo File Names
    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:

    Conservation Practices
    Adult: CP-A-LastName-State-#
    Youth: CP-Y-LastName-State-#

    Close Up Conservation
    Adult: CUC-A-LastName-State-#
    Youth: CUC-Y-LastName-State-#

    Conservation in Action
    Adult: CIA-A-LastName-State-#           
    Youth: CIA-Y-LastName-State-#

    Ag/Conservation Across America
    Adult: ACAA-A-LastName-State-#
    Youth: ACAA-Y-LastName-State-#

    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:
    • CUC-Y-Smith-TX-1
    • CIA-Y-Smith-TX-1
    • CIA-Y-Smith-TX-2

    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.

  4. Photo Email Guidelines
    For each photo submission, the subject line of the email to NACDphoto.conservation@picasaweb.com must be the category you are entering (categories listed below):

    • 2009 Conservation Practices Adult
    • 2009 Close Up Conservation Adult
    • 2009 Conservation in Action Adult
    • 2009 Ag/Conservation Across America Adult
    • 2009 Conservation Practices Youth
    • 2009 Close Up Conservation Youth
    • 2009 Conservation in Action Youth
    • 2009 Ag/Conservation Across America Youth

    Do not add anything else in the subject line.

    Do not attach entry and photo release form to jpeg email. Photo release must be emailed separately and original signed form sent through the postal service.

  5. Digital Enhancement
    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.

  6. Previously Published Photos
    Do not send photo reproductions from a printed publication. Previously published photos are not eligible for the NACD Photo Contest.

  7. Photo Rights
    All entries become the property of NACD, and NACD reserves the non-exclusive right to use all photographs in publications or for promotional purposes.


Required Forms
Completed signed forms must be received for entry to be eligible for contest.


Judging Standards
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.