49th 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

All entries must be submitted both as a print, matted and ready to hang (NO GLASS FRAMES PLEASE), and as a digital file.

Only registered symposium attendees, onsite or virtual, may submit photographs. All entries must be submitted digitally by 5pm PST Monday February 19, 2024. And the prints received by 10am PST Wednesday February 21, 2024.

Photograph Submission

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 (see below)
• 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
• contestant’s social media tag/handle, if available

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 PST Monday February 19, 2024.

Mounted prints must be under 8 x 10 inches.

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, phone number, and email

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

Mounted prints must be dropped off at the registration desk by 10am PST Wednesday, February 21.

If you will attend virtually and cannot find someone to bring the print to registration, please mail it carefully, by Monday Feb 12.

Mail prints to:

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

If you need assistance, please email email hidden; JavaScript is required and we will try to help you.

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 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 onsite on ballots provided in the registration packets. Each attendee may vote only once. Winners will be announced, and their awards provided at the symposium banquet.

Prints/Digital Photos

Photographers and/or participants are welcome to collect their photos at the end of the event to take home with them. Digital prints will be displayed on the website. The Desert Tortoise Council shall have the right to use all virtual file submissions 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. Photos from the contest have proven to be very successful outreach tools on our virtual platforms and aid our organization in fundraising efforts, advocacy, and networking.