Pacific NW Nature Photography both Urban and Wild
Vancouver Audubon Society (VAS), Backyard Bird Shop – Vancouver and HD Aluminum Prints are teaming up to bring you this year’s Youth Nature Photo Contest. This is VAS’s third year to host the contest, and its 13th year overall, previously hosted by The Gorge Refuge Stewards as the Steigerwald Youth Photo Contest. Our goal is that this contest will inspire families to consider getting outdoors into SW Washington’s rich natural spaces, look more closely, and share their most interesting frames in compelling photos.
Youths who are ages 8-18 years are invited to submit up to five nature photos taken within Clark, Skamania and Klickitat Counties. This year we are giving the participants ages 8-12 years their own two categories so they won’t be competing against the more experienced 13-18 year old teenagers. Age eligibility is determined by the contestant’s age the date the photo is submitted.
Division Categories and Prizes
Participants can enter a total of 5 JPEG formatted images to the following categories:
- Pacific NW Birds – This category is for showcasing the bird species of the Pacific Northwest. They can be taken in either backyard habitats or natural areas, such as wildlife refuges and green spaces. They can be taken up close of individuals or be zoomed back to include the habitat the bird is comfortable in and maybe what they eat.
- Pacific NW Nature – This category showcases species of wildlife, plants & fungi in natural areas. This could include people interacting with nature, but should not be portraits focused on the people. This category can also include outstanding scenic landscapes or up close macros of tiny creatures & flowers.
Winning Photos
Winners will be eligible for a maximum of three (3) cash prizes per contest year including “people’s choice” awards. If a participant wins more than three cash prizes, they will be awarded the three highest in total value, including the prints.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes for each category include a high quality 12×18” metal print of the photos that will be displayed at various locations around Clark County for the remainder of the year. Additional prizes include:
- 1st – $200 cash
- 2nd – $100 cash
- 3rd – $50 cash
- Honorable Mention (2 in each category) – Large print 12×18″ print of photo on professional paper
- People’s choice award in each category – $100. There are no restrictions for how participants muster votes for their photo, except each person is only allowed to vote once. Bring your best social media connection skills!
Entry of a photo and/or acceptance of a prize constitutes consent for the Vancouver Audubon Society to use winners’ names and images for editorial, advertising, promotional literature, publicity, fundraising and website purposes without further compensation, except where prohibited.
Eligible Photographs
All submitted photos must be taken within the boundaries of Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties, and specifically by the youth individual submitting the photograph. No photos will be allowed that are taken in locations where the public is not allowed. The eligible period that photos can be taken can range from June 1, 2026, and May 31, 2027. Single frame JPEG images submitted can be altered in the following ways in optimizing their presentation:
- They may be cropped and should be at a 3:2 aspect ratio (standard), approximately 2700px by 1800px or larger and 300 dpi.
- Minor adjustments may be made to color, white balance, tone, lighting levels of shadows, highlights, saturation, vibrance, contrast, and sharpness.
- Sensor dust spots may be removed, and noise reduction is allowed.
- Small annoying elements may be digitally removed, but no elements absent in the original can be added.
- Composite photographs (2 or more photos digitally combined), including sky replacements, are not eligible for this contest. Only single exposure frames will be allowed.
- Borders, signatures, or watermarks are not allowed to be added to the photos. Judging is done anonymously, so no identification should be visible in the photo.
- Originals of the photograph may be requested at any time during the judging, and/or during the preparation for printing the winners for public display.
- Only photos submitted by midnight of May 31, 2027, are eligible.
- Photos taken from drones will not be allowed if the location prohibits them, such as Steigerwald Lake NWR, Ridgefield NWR, and State Parks and natural areas within The Gorge Scenic Area. A drop pin link to the location the photo was taken from is required.
How to Enter
Photos should be submitted at the highest quality/resolution. Each photo you enter must be submitted separately into the category of your choice. You can follow the links to each category:
- Pacific NW Birds (ages 8-12)
- Pacific NW Nature (ages 8-12)
- Pacific NW Birds (ages 13-18)
- Pacific NW Nature (ages 13-18)
Your photo will be observed by a volunteer upon your submission to the contest. The gallery of submitted photos will not be visible to the public until the last week of the contest. Please submit your photo(s) throughout the contest period to allow volunteers time to determine if the photo(s) are eligible and contact you if there are questions.
Winner Notification
Winners will be notified by the submitted email address after approximately two weeks of judging. The awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 23, 2027, at Cascade Park Community Library community room from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m..
What are judges looking for?
You may find it helpful to see the top three photos from each category in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 contests, what the judges liked about them, and suggestions for taking them to the next level. We are all on a journey to improve our photography, so we hope you find this useful. Good luck!
Questions or Concerns?
Please direct your questions or concerns to Ken PItts (kenp@vancouveraudubon.org).
Photo Contest Winners Archive (Click the year to see the winning photos from that year):