2018 Photo Contest – Submission Deadline is December 31st!

Photographers Wanted!
Valle de Oro NWR invites photographers from all levels of expertise and age groups to enter the 2018 Valle de Oro NWR Photo Contest. The contest is open to all visitors—public, employees, Friends and volunteers.

Highlight your local Refuge!
We are looking for striking images of Valle de Oro—on the ground, in the air, or any perspective. Images should capture the beauty of the refuge highlighting its wildlife, landscapes and visitors.

Categories
Photographers should choose the most appropriate category to enter each image in:

Wildlife/Plants
Images of any wildlife or plants on the refuge, including mammals, birds, insects, plants, fungi etc.

Landscapes
Images of landscape, habitat or generalized wildlife, such as a field of geese on the refuge.

People
Images of visitors enjoying the refuge, connecting people and nature, children, staff, volunteers, or farmers.

Restoration
A special category for 2018! Images of construction and restoration work happening at the refuge.

All photos must be taken on Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge property. Each participant may submit up to six (6) photographs total.
Images will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit.

Prizes will be awarded by the Friends of Valle de Oro NWR. Winning images will be displayed as part of a travelling exhibit throughout Albuquerque.

Your entries must be an electronic submittal at 300 dpi, images
should be no smaller than 5×7 inches and no larger than 9×12 inches.

Email your entries to Hannah Redwood at valledeoro@fws.gov.

Deadlines for email submission is December 31st.

Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization (removal of dust, cropping, adjustments to color and contrast, etc.) will be disqualified. This includes the digital addition or deletion of objects and high dynamic range images.

All images will become the property of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and may be made available as public domain images on the web or other publications. Entrants retain the right to use their photos for any other purpose. Submission of your entries automatically waives any rights to your submittal and provides public domain rights to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Entrants must not infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person, submit images that involve the willful harassment of wildlife, damage to the environment, or trespass on tribal or private property.

Winners and their images will be announced January 2019.

Email any questions and inquiries to valledeoro@fws.gov.
Give us your best shot!