2023 Annual Photo Contest

Each year we encourage our membership to submit their best wildlife and nature photographs for a chance to win cash prizes, as well as to aid the Desert Tortoise Council in educating the public and advocating desert conservation through photography.

How to Enter

Only registered symposium attendees may submit photographs. All entries must be submitted both as a print, matted and ready to hang (NO GLASS FRAMES PLEASE) and as a digital version.

Mounted Prints

There is no size restriction for mounted prints. All prints/photos must be labeled with the following information placed on the back:

• entry category
• the name for the photo
• common and scientific name (for flora and fauna subjects)
• location
• date photo was taken
• contestant’s name, address, and phone number

Do not place your name on the front of the print/photo.

If you will attend in person, bring your print to registration.

Mounted prints must be dropped off at registration by 10am MST February 23rd.

If you will attend virtually, and cannot find someone to bring the print to registration, please mail it carefully to:

Joe Probst
Desert Tortoise Council
3807 Sierra Hwy. #6-4514
Acton, Ca 93510

Mailed prints must be received by February 17th.

Digital Photographs

Digital photographs must be submitted, one photo per email, to email hidden; JavaScript is required. In the body of the email, include the following information about the photo:

• entry category
• the name for the photo
• common and scientific name (for flora and fauna subjects)
• location
• date photo was taken
• contestant’s name, address, and phone number

The filename should be formatted as category-name_photo-name.jpg — for example:

Other-Desert-Wildlife_Scub-Jays.jpg

Digital photographs must be submitted by 5pm MST February 21st.

Categories

Each contestant may submit a maximum of two prints/photos per category:

1. WILD DESERT TORTOISES
2. CAPTIVE (PET) DESERT TORTOISES
3. OTHER DESERT REPTILES
4. DESERT MAMMALS
5. OTHER DESERT WILDLIFE
6. WILD DESERT PLANTS
7. DESERT SCENES
8. TORTOISE CONSERVATION*

*This category covers a range of subjects, but must depict activities or subject matter important to the perpetuation of the species. Examples are research, impacts (i.e., raven predation), improvements (i.e., fencing), and environmental education.

With the exception of Captive (Pet) Tortoises, all mounted prints and digital photographs must be taken of wild (i.e., unrestrained and photographed in its natural habitat) subjects occurring within the geographic range of the desert tortoise species.

Awards

Winners will be awarded first, second, and third place in each of the eight categories.

• First Place awards will be $75.00;
• Second Place awards will be $50.00;
• Third Place awards will be $25.00;
• The ninth category, Best of Show, will receive $150.00.

Judging

Photographs will be judged at the Symposium by the attendees either onsite or virtually by a process that we will provide. Each attendee, on site or virtual, may only vote once. Winners will be announced, and their awards provided at the symposium banquet.

Prints/Digital Photos

Mounted prints and digital photographs will not be returned, except upon advance request, and will become the property of the Desert Tortoise Council. The Desert Tortoise Council shall have the right to use these photographs in its publications, educational programs, website, and social media platforms, as well as to assign such permission to others, with full credit given to the photographer.