Youth Photo Contest
2024 Submission Deadline 5/31/2024
Youth Photo Contest
2024 Submission Deadline 5/31/2024
Congratulations to the 2023 Steigerwald Youth Photo Contest Winners! Thank you to all our volunteers who supported the contest this year and for our amazing sponsors HD Aluminum Prints and Columbia Credit Union! You can view the winning photos on our Flickr Page here or on our Facebook Page here.
The winning photos will also be on display in the community at the following locations and months (check back for updates):
July 2023: Camas Public Library
August 2023: Cascade Park Public Library
September 2023: Vancouver Mall Library
Who is eligible
This contest is open to any youth, 10-18 years of age, who have visited Steigerwald Lake NWR, and have taken photos within the boundaries of the refuge during the time period between June 1st, 2023 and May 31, 2024.
Sponsors
The contest is created and sponsored by the Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards. Corporate sponsors include Columbia Credit Union and HD Aluminum Prints.
Division Categories and Prizes
Participants can enter a total of 5 JPEG formatted images to any of the following 4 categories:
Smartphone/Mobile Device Camera - This category has been created to include the most popular camera used by youth. Smartphone and/or tablet phone photos of any content taken within the confines of the Steigerwald Lake NWR are eligible, including, but not limited to, the other three categories.
Plants, Animals, and Fungi - This category is for photos of any life, other than people, identifiable at the refuge. It could be from micro to macro and include any animals, plants, fungi, algae, or other life form.
Landscape - This category is for any photo that is focused on the beauty and intricacies of the setting of the refuge. It could include shots from the refuge of scenery, like The Gorge and the Columbia River.
People in Nature - This category is for showing people and nature interacting with each other. It could be volunteers doing restoration work.
Winning Photos
Winners will be eligible for a maximum of two (2) prizes per contest year not including "peoples choice" awards.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes for each category include a high quality, up to 12x18”, metal print of photo, invitation to special nature photography walks, and photos displayed at different locations around Clark County for 1 year. Additional prizes include:
1st - $200 gift card and a one on one photo workshop at Steigerwald with an expert nature photographer
2nd - $100 gift card
3rd - $50 gift card
Honorable Mention (2) - Large print of photo on professional paper
Peoples choice award in each category - $100
Acceptance of prize constitutes consent for the Gorge Refuge Stewards and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 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 Steigerwald Lake NWR, and specifically by the youth individual submitting the photograph. Only photos taken from public trails are allowed, unless the owner of the photograph was a sanctioned volunteer participating in a restoration effort off trail. The eligible time period of photos taken can range from June 1st, 2023 and May 31, 2024. 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.
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 moderate 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.
Borders, signatures, or watermarks are not allowed to be added to the photos.
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. Entries must include a full name, an email address, and photo caption.
Only photos submitted by midnight of May 31, 2024 are eligible.
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 when they are activated on October 1st:
SmartPhone/Mobile Device Camera
Plants, Animals, and Fungi
Landscape
People in Nature
Your photo will be observed by a volunteer upon your submission, and if allowed, will be made visible in a gallery on the Gorge Refuge Stewards webpage within a short period of time. You may visit the gallery of entries for each category by following the link for submission and going to the gallery.
Photo Contest Winners Archive. Click the year to see the winning photos from that year.
Congratulations to the 2023 Steigerwald Youth Photo Contest Winners! Thank you to all our volunteers who supported the contest this year and for our amazing sponsors HD Aluminum Prints and Columbia Credit Union! You can view the winning photos on our Flickr Page here or on our Facebook Page here.
The winning photos will also be on display in the community at the following locations and months (check back for updates):
July 2023: Camas Public Library
August 2023: Cascade Park Public Library
September 2023: Vancouver Mall Library
Who is eligible
This contest is open to any youth, 10-18 years of age, who have visited Steigerwald Lake NWR, and have taken photos within the boundaries of the refuge during the time period between June 1st, 2023 and May 31, 2024.
Sponsors
The contest is created and sponsored by the Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards. Corporate sponsors include Columbia Credit Union and HD Aluminum Prints.
Division Categories and Prizes
Participants can enter a total of 5 JPEG formatted images to any of the following 4 categories:
Smartphone/Mobile Device Camera - This category has been created to include the most popular camera used by youth. Smartphone and/or tablet phone photos of any content taken within the confines of the Steigerwald Lake NWR are eligible, including, but not limited to, the other three categories.
Plants, Animals, and Fungi - This category is for photos of any life, other than people, identifiable at the refuge. It could be from micro to macro and include any animals, plants, fungi, algae, or other life form.
Landscape - This category is for any photo that is focused on the beauty and intricacies of the setting of the refuge. It could include shots from the refuge of scenery, like The Gorge and the Columbia River.
People in Nature - This category is for showing people and nature interacting with each other. It could be volunteers doing restoration work.
Winning Photos
Winners will be eligible for a maximum of two (2) prizes per contest year not including "peoples choice" awards.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes for each category include a high quality, up to 12x18”, metal print of photo, invitation to special nature photography walks, and photos displayed at different locations around Clark County for 1 year. Additional prizes include:
1st - $200 gift card and a one on one photo workshop at Steigerwald with an expert nature photographer
2nd - $100 gift card
3rd - $50 gift card
Honorable Mention (2) - Large print of photo on professional paper
Peoples choice award in each category - $100
Acceptance of prize constitutes consent for the Gorge Refuge Stewards and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 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 Steigerwald Lake NWR, and specifically by the youth individual submitting the photograph. Only photos taken from public trails are allowed, unless the owner of the photograph was a sanctioned volunteer participating in a restoration effort off trail. The eligible time period of photos taken can range from June 1st, 2023 and May 31, 2024. 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.
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 moderate 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.
Borders, signatures, or watermarks are not allowed to be added to the photos.
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. Entries must include a full name, an email address, and photo caption.
Only photos submitted by midnight of May 31, 2024 are eligible.
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 when they are activated on October 1st:
SmartPhone/Mobile Device Camera
Plants, Animals, and Fungi
Landscape
People in Nature
Your photo will be observed by a volunteer upon your submission, and if allowed, will be made visible in a gallery on the Gorge Refuge Stewards webpage within a short period of time. You may visit the gallery of entries for each category by following the link for submission and going to the gallery.
Photo Contest Winners Archive. Click the year to see the winning photos from that year.