OFFICIAL RULES

Important: Please read these Official Rules before entering this online contest (the “Contest”). By participating in the Contest, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

1. The Contest. The Contest is a photography contest. Eligible participants are encouraged to submit photographs they have taken on federal public lands for a chance to win a prize.
2. Sponsor. The Sponsor of the Contest is The Wilderness Society (“TWS” or “Sponsor”). TWS is located at 1801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006, and its telephone number is 1-800-THE WILD (1-800-843-9453). TWS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization working to protect America’s wild places and public lands for the health of local communities, wildlife, and climate.
3. Eligibility. The Contest is open only to individuals residing in the United States of America, including its territories and possessions, who are at least eighteen (18) years of age (or the age of majority under the law of their residence) as of May 25, 2026. TWS Governing Council members, The Wilderness Society Action Fund board members, and their respective officers, and employees of Sponsor and any of the judges in this Contest, and any of their agents, professional advisors, consultants, advertising and promotional agencies, and the immediate family members (spouse, parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, sibling, stepsibling, and their respective spouses), and persons living in the same household (whether related or not), of each are not eligible to win a prize. To be eligible to win a prize, entries must be received by Sponsor in the manner described below. All applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.

IF YOU DO NOT MEET ANY OF THESE REQUIREMENTS, OR ANY OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES, YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO WIN A PRIZE, AND SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT NOT TO AWARD A PRIZE TO YOU.

1. Contest Period. The Contest Period will begin at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (“EDT”) on July 7, 2026, and will end at 9:00 a.m. EDT on August 31, 2026. Sponsor’s computers will serve as the official time keeping device. All Contest entries must be received during the Contest Period to be eligible to win a prize.
2. How to Enter. Eligible participants enter the Contest by submitting a twenty dollar ($20.00) nonrefundable entrance fee and completing the Contest Entry Form located at photocontest.wilderness.org during the Contest Period. The entrance fee is not tax-deductible and is not refundable. Participants must complete the entire Entry Form to be entered into the Contest. This includes, without limitation, (i) completing all required fields and providing all requested information regarding the photographer and the photos submitted; (ii) uploading a digital file of each photo submitted that meets the technical specifications stated in these Official Rules; (iii) affirming that each photo submitted complies with the requirements of these Official Rules, including, without limitation, editing, authenticity, and ethical standards; (iv) confirming that the participant took the photos submitted, owns the copyright rights to the photos submitted, and agrees to the license terms set forth in these Official Rules regarding the photos submitted; and (v) acknowledging that the participant has read, understands, and agrees to comply with the Official Rules.

Proof of entry will not be deemed to be proof of receipt of entry by Sponsor. All participants and entries are subject to verification by Sponsor. Each entry must include a valid email address. Entries that do not include all required information or are otherwise incomplete may be disqualified in the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Entries that do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified in the Sponsor’s sole discretion. Entries will not be acknowledged or returned.

Photo Submission Requirements.

1. Each eligible participant may submit only one Contest Entry Form.
2. Participants who try to submit more than one Contest Entry Form may be disqualified.
3. Each participant may submit up to three (3) photos with the Contest Entry Form.

Each photo submitted must comply with the following requirements:

1. All photo submissions must have been taken by the individual submitting the photo into the Contest, who must also be the copyright owner of the photo.
2. All photos must primarily depict U.S. federal public lands. Eligible locations include National Parks, National Forests, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, National Wildlife Refuges, federally managed National Monuments, federally managed National Recreation Areas, and other lands owned and managed by the U.S. federal government. Photos may be taken from publicly accessible locations adjacent to eligible federal public lands, provided the primary subject of the image is eligible federal public lands. Photos whose primary subject is private land, state or local public lands, tribal lands (unless federally managed and publicly accessible), or locations outside of the United States are not eligible. Contest participants are required to specify the federal public land depicted in each submitted photo. Entries that misrepresent the location or otherwise fail to comply with these eligibility requirements may be disqualified.
3. All photos must be submitted in a Contest Category (listed below). A participant may submit the same image in multiple categories if appropriate but submitting an image in more than one category will count as multiple photo entries. In other words, if a photo properly falls into two categories, it may be submitted in both categories, but that photo would count as two photos submitted out of the maximum of ten permitted. Photos that are improperly categorized may be disqualified from winning a prize.

The Contest Categories are:

1. Landscapes/Scenery: images of landscapes/scenery taken on U.S. public lands;
2. Wildlife: images of native species photographed ethically in their natural habitats on U.S. public lands;
3. Life Outdoors: images of people responsibly enjoying U.S. public lands (e.g., hiking, paddling, fishing, etc.);

All photos must be submitted as a JPEG file format (.jpg) and must be no larger than 10 MB. The minimum resolution is 3000 pixels on the longest side. Image quality must be sufficient for possible print reproduction.

1. All photo submissions must be an authentic representation of public lands and natural subjects. All images should maintain the integrity of the original scene and must not intentionally misrepresent natural conditions, wildlife behavior, or human activity. 
    
2. Permitted adjustments include standard photographic adjustments such as exposure correction, white balance and color adjustments, contrast and tonal corrections, dodging and burning, sharpening, cropping and straightening, stitched panoramas, focus stacking, HDR blending, and minor spot or sensor dust removal, provided such edits do not fundamentally alter the content of the image.
3. Prohibited edits include, by way of example, adding, removing, relocating, or substantially altering elements in the photo; compositing unrelated scenes or objects; using any AI-generated elements or imagery; using generative fill or synthetic content; or any other excessive manipulation of the photo that misrepresents the natural scene.
4. All photo submissions must comply with ethical standards. The participant is responsible for ensuring that the taking of each photo and the use of each photo do not violate any applicable laws, rules, or regulations.
5. Wildlife photography must not involve: harassing, baiting, chasing, or disturbing animals; interfering with nesting sites, dens, or sensitive habitats; or captive or staged animals.
6. Recreation photography must depict responsible, lawful behavior. Any photo submission showing unsafe, illegal, or environmentally harmful activity may be disqualified.
7. Any photo that contains obscene, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content will disqualify the participant in Sponsor’s sole discretion.
8. Drone photography must comply with FAA regulations and land management rules.

Sponsor reserves the right to request original RAW or unedited JPEG files to verify compliance with the requirements set forth in these Official Rules. Failure to provide such files upon request may result in disqualification.

Judging Criteria. All eligible submissions will be evaluated using a standardized scoring rubric. Judging will be conducted through a blind review process in which all identifying photographer information will be removed. Judges will include professional photographers, conservation leaders, a representative from The Wilderness Society, and/or others with expertise in photography and/or public lands.

Entries will be scored using the following weighted criteria:

1. Composition and Technical Quality (35%) -- Judges will evaluate overall visual strength and technical execution, including focus, sharpness, exposure, color accuracy, lighting, depth, framing, and use of perspective. Images must demonstrate a high level of clarity and quality suitable for both digital and potential print reproduction.
2. Originality and Creativity (30%) -- Submissions should present a distinctive or fresh perspective on the landscape/scenery of public lands, wildlife, or recreation. Judges will consider creativity of subject matter, timing, visual approach, and interpretation of the theme.
3. Emotional Impact and Storytelling (20%) -- Images should convey a clear mood, message, or narrative. Judges will assess whether the photograph evokes emotion, communicates meaning, or illustrates a compelling connection between people, wildlife, and public lands. Captions or descriptions are supplementary and can be used to provide supporting context but will not be part of the evaluation criteria.
4. Relevance to Category and Alignment with The Wilderness Society’s Mission (15%) -- Entries must clearly reflect the selected Contest category and demonstrate alignment with Sponsor’s mission to protect public lands for present and future generations.

In the event of a tie for any prize, the Judges will use the Originality and Creativity score of each tied submission to rank the submission. The submission with the highest Originality and Creativity score will be the winner of that prize. If there continues to be a tie after the Originality and Creativity scores are compared in determining a winner, the Judges will compare and rank the Composition and Technical Quality scores, the Emotional Impact and Storytelling scores, and the Relevance to Category scores, and the Alignment with The Wilderness Society’s Mission scores, in that order. If the scores of the submissions are still tied for a prize, the Sponsor will assemble a separate panel of judges who will review the tied submissions using the above criteria.

The decisions of the Judges and the Sponsor will be final. 

Prizes. Sponsor will award the following prizes:

1. Grand Prize. Sponsor will award the Grand Prize to the overall highest scoring photograph across all four categories based on the judging criteria stated above. The Grand Prize consists of $5,000 to be paid via check. In addition, the Grand Prize-winning image will be included in Sponsor’s 2027 membership calendar. The approximate retail value of the Grand Prize is $800.
2. First Place Prizes. Sponsor will award a First Place Prize to the highest scoring photograph in each of the three Contest categories (Landscapes/Scenery; Wildlife; Recreation;) based on the judging criteria stated above, after the Grand Prize-winning photograph has been eliminated. Each First Place Prize consists of $1,000 to be paid via check.  The approximate retail value of each First Place Prize is $1,000.     

Each participant is eligible to win only one prize. All prizes are awarded “AS IS” and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose).

1. Winners. Sponsor will contact the winners by email to the email address listed on the Contest Entry Form on or about September 26, 2026 – Public Lands Day, to let them know that they have won either the Grand Prize or a First Place Prize. Each winner must follow the instructions and comply with the conditions contained in their notification to claim their prize.
    

Any prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternative winner based on the above judging criteria from remaining eligible entries if (a) two (2) attempts to contact a winner by email message are not successful, (b) a winner does not complete all of the required steps by the deadline provided by Sponsor, (c) a winner is disqualified by Sponsor, or (d) a prize is otherwise not claimed. In the alternative, Sponsor may decide not to award all of the prizes. Prizes are not transferable. No substitutions or exchanges (including for cash) of any prize will be permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any prize. Limit one prize per person.
 

Representations and Warranties. Each participant represents and warrants, with respect to each photograph submitted, that:

1. The participant took the photo and owns the copyright rights in and to the photo;
2. The taking of the photo and the use of the photo as contemplated herein does not and will not infringe any copyright or trademark rights, violate any rights of privacy or publicity, or violate any other law, rule, regulation, or third-party right; and
3. The participant has obtained a signed written release agreement from all individuals whose images are in the photo that permit Sponsor to use the individuals’ images and likenesses for the purposes set forth in these Official Rules.

Sponsor reserves the right to request copies of all signed release agreements and other appropriate documents to verify compliance with the requirements set forth in these Official Rules. Failure to provide such documents upon request may result in disqualification.

1. License to Use Photos. By entering this Contest, each participant retains its copyright rights to the photos submitted and grants Sponsor a non-exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free and fully paid-up right and license to reproduce, distribute, publicly display, publish, and create derivative works of all photos submitted for: advocacy and conservation campaigns; fundraising and donor communications; educational and information materials; marketing and promotional materials; website, social media, digital publications, and email communications; and print publications, including reports, brochures, and membership materials, in any media now known or hereafter developed. This license includes the right to crop, resize, and make minor formatting adjustments as Sponsor deems appropriate. Sponsor does not need to obtain additional consent from participants relating to, or to notify participants prior to, the use of any photos submitted in this Contest. In addition, Sponsor does not need to provide any compensation to participants related to Sponsor’s use of the submitted photos. Sponsor will not authorize any third party to use any submitted photos without additional written permission from the participant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, as a condition of being awarded any prize, except where prohibited by law, winners may be required to execute a license agreement setting forth these terms. Sponsor shall use reasonable efforts to include a credit acknowledgment to the participant whenever feasible in connection with Sponsor’s use of the photos.
2. Publicity. Except where prohibited by law, entry into the Contest constitutes permission for Sponsor to use the participant’s name, hometown and state, voice, image and likeness, statements, photographs, biographical information, and/or prize information, without limitation, for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation. As a condition of being awarded any prize, except where prohibited by law, winners may be required to execute a consent to the use of their name, hometown and state, voice, image and likeness, statements, photographs, biographical information, and/or prize information, without limitation, for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation.
3. Use of Emails and Mobile Telephone Numbers. By entering the Contest, you consent to being placed on an e-mail mailing list to receive information from Sponsor and for other purposes in accordance with Sponsor’s privacy policy. By submitting your mobile phone number to Sponsor in connection with this Contest, you agree to receive automated and personalized text messages and phone calls from Sponsor at the cell number provided. In response to any message you receive, you can reply STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. View Sponsor’s privacy policy at https://www.wilderness.org/privacy-policy for more information.
4. Odds; Taxes. The odds of winning a prize depend on the number and quality of eligible entries received. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNERS.
5. Disclaimer. Sponsor, and each of its affiliated entities, and each of their directors, officers, consultants, professional advisors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) will not be responsible for: (a) any late, lost, misrouted, garbled, distorted, or damaged transmissions or entries; (b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer- or communications-related malfunctions or failures; (c) any Contest disruptions, injuries, losses, or damages caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor or by non-authorized human intervention; or (d) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest.
6. General Release. By entering the Contest, you release Sponsor and all Released Parties from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or delivery, mis-delivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses, and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.
7. Affidavit & Release. As a condition of being awarded any prize, winners may be required to execute and deliver to Sponsor a signed affidavit of eligibility and acceptance of these Official Rules, license agreement and release of liability, and any other legal, regulatory, or tax-related documents required by Sponsor in its sole discretion.
8. Winner List; Official Rules Request. For a copy of the winner list, send a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope between September 26, 2026 and September 26, 2027, to Sponsor at the address listed in Section 2, “Attn: Public Lands Photography Contest – Winner List Request.” To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, visit https://photocontest.wilderness.org or send a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope to Sponsor at the address listed in Section 2, “Attn: Public Lands Photography Contest – Official Rules Request.” Residents of Vermont may omit return postage.
9. Miscellaneous. The Contest and these Official Rules will be governed, construed, and interpreted under the laws of the District of Columbia without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s choice of law provisions. Participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Any provision of these Official Rules deemed unenforceable will be enforced to the extent permissible, and the remainder of these Official Rules will remain in effect. Sponsor reserves the right to change these Official Rules at any time, in its sole discretion, and to suspend or cancel the Contest or any participant’s participation in the Contest should viruses, bugs, unauthorized human intervention, or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control affect the administration, security, or proper play of the Contest, or Sponsor otherwise becomes (as determined in its sole discretion) incapable of running the Contest as planned. Participants who violate these Official Rules, violate any law, rule, or regulation in connection with participation in the Contest, tamper with the operation of the Contest, or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to Sponsor, the Contest, or any other participant (in each case as determined in Sponsor’s sole discretion) are subject to disqualification from entry into the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right not to award a prize to persons whose eligibility is in question or who have been disqualified or are otherwise ineligible to enter the Contest. Each participant acknowledges that they have read, understands, and agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and warrants that their entry complies with these Official Rules.
10. Questions. If you have any questions about these Official Rules or the Contest, please e-mail them to photocontest@wilderness.org, or send written questions to the address listed in Section 2.