Attention amateur photographers! The deadline to submit your stunning nature and wildlife shots for the 33rd Annual “Ding” Darling Amateur Photo Contest is quickly approaching—Sept. 15!
Hosted by the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society – Friends of the Refuge, this contest is open to all non-professional photographers who capture the beauty of nature. This year’s cash prizes have been nearly doubled:
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$500 for 1st place
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$300 for 2nd place
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$200 for 3rd place
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$50 for honorable mentions
How to Enter:
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Entry Fee: $25 (includes a DDWS membership and covers two entries)
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Eligibility: Open to amateur photographers (no professional tax ID)
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Photo Requirements: Must be taken at the refuge within the last two years. JPEG file, minimum 3000 x 2400 pixels or 4MB. No panoramas.
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Submission: Send your photo electronically to ddamateurphotocontest@dingdarlingsociety.org by Sept. 15.
Judging Criteria:
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Technical excellence: sharpness, lighting, composition, exposure
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Originality/creativity
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Interest
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Reproducibility for publication
Additional Rules:
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Limited image manipulation allowed (cropping and minor edits for natural look).
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Photos that have won in previous DDWS contests cannot be resubmitted.
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Judging will be anonymous—don’t include your name on the photo.
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All submitted photos become the property of the DDWS and may be used for promotional purposes with credit to the photographer.
Prizes & Awards:
Winners will be announced in late October. The three judges will include a refuge staff member, a professional photographer, and a community member from Sanibel.
For entry forms, contest rules, and more details, visit dingdarlingsociety.org/photo-contests.
Submit your entries by Sept. 15—don’t miss your chance to showcase your talent and earn amazing prizes!
