“Ding” Darling-Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest (US)

Prize Information

• Cash prizes are awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
• First Place (valued at more than $1,500):
  • Top-of-the-line camera with case and accessories ($1,000 value)
  • One-year subscription to Adobe photography software
  • One-year pass to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
  • “Ding” Darling gift bag and ShopDingDarling.com gift card
• Second Place:
  • One-year pass to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
  • “Ding” Darling gift bag and ShopDingDarling.com gift card
• Third Prize:
  • “Ding” Darling gift bag and ShopDingDarling.com gift card
• Honorable Mentions:
  • ShopDingDarling.com gift card

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to all high school students in Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, & Hendry co.

Judging Criteria

• There are three judges:
  • A Refuge staff person, a professional photographer, and a resident of the five county region.
• Technical excellence (sharpness, lighting, composition, ex exposure)
• Creativity
• Explanation of photograph (minimum of 100 words)

Application Requirements

• Only digital images are accepted and may be taken with any camera, including smartphones.
• Images must be submitted in JPEG format and must have a resolution of at least 2000 x 1500px or 2 MB.
• The photograph must be taken of nature and/or wildlife in the open outdoors in the state of Florida, which may include parks, refuges, backyards, and other open spaces.
• Panoramic photos are NOT allowed.
• Filters, cropping, enhancements, and borders are permitted. However, adding any elements not existing in the original scene will not be allowed. Judges, at their discretion, will disqualify any photos that appear to be manipulated beyond these guidelines.
• Each participant may enter up to two (2) photos but is eligible to win only one award.

For more information, visit “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society.