The 14th annual “Ding” Darling–Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest kicks off on October 1, with entries due by January 15. Open to high school students across Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, and Hendry counties, the contest offers prizes including cash awards, gift bags, and a $1,000 grand prize.
The contest honors Theodore Cross, a Sanibel part-time resident whose remarkable life included marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., advising U.S. presidents on anti-poverty programs, and writing influential works like Black Capitalism. Later in life, he pursued his passion for bird photography, traveling the world and often shooting at the Sanibel refuge. His celebrated book Waterbirds was published in 2009, just before his passing in 2010.
Thanks to a grant from The Theodore Cross Family Charitable Foundation, the contest continues to inspire young photographers. “We are so happy to support a contest in my father’s name, one that encourages youth to experience nature through a camera lens,” said his daughter Amanda Cross.
Contest Details
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Open to students in grades 9–12 from Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades, and Charlotte counties.
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Submit up to two original digital photos of nature or wildlife taken outdoors in Florida.
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Photos must be JPEG/JPG format, minimum 2000×1500 pixels or 2MB resolution.
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Entries must include a 100-word description of the captured “moment” and what it means to the photographer.
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All submissions must be emailed to ddhsphotocontest@dingdarlingsociety.org with full name, school, grade, photo title, and description.
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Deadline: January 15, 2026.
Entries will be judged anonymously on technical excellence, creativity, and the written description. Winning images will become part of the refuge’s archive and may be used in future publications with credit.
For full guidelines, visit: dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/photo-contests.
