The Voyageurs Conservancy Photo Contest is open to photographers of all ages and experience levels, except employees of Voyageurs Conservancy and their immediate family members.

All entries must be the original work of the person submitting the photograph and must have been taken within Voyageurs National Park.

Photos may have been taken in any year, but photographs previously submitted to a Voyageurs Conservancy Photo Contest are not eligible.

Photographs taken with traditional cameras and mobile devices are welcome.

Photos may have been taken in any year, but images previously submitted to a Voyageurs Conservancy Photo Contest are not eligible.

Basic image adjustments are permitted, including cropping and reasonable adjustments to exposure, contrast, color, white balance, sharpness, and noise reduction. HDR, panoramas, focus stacking, and exposure blending are permitted when used to represent the same scene as it was photographed.

AI-generated images are not permitted. Generative AI may not be used to create, add, replace, or substantially alter subjects or elements within an image. Standard editing tools, including AI-assisted noise reduction, sharpening, masking, and similar processing tools, are permitted when they do not materially change the content of the photograph. Adding, removing, or substantially altering elements in a way that misrepresents the original scene is not permitted.

Entries may be submitted in color or black and white. Please submit the highest-quality version of your image available. Voyageurs Conservancy may request an original or higher-resolution file from finalists before winners are announced.

Previously published photographs may be entered as long as the photographer retains the rights necessary to grant Voyageurs Conservancy and the National Park Service the permissions outlined in these rules.

Watermarks are permitted but should be small and unobtrusive. Selected photographers may be asked to provide a version without a watermark for publication.

Voyageurs Conservancy reserves the right to request additional information or original image files to verify eligibility and to determine whether an entry meets the contest guidelines.

Voyageurs Conservancy encourages responsible photography that puts the well-being of wildlife and the protection of park resources ahead of getting the photograph.

Entries must not involve the intentional harassment or disturbance of wildlife, damage to natural or cultural resources, or other irresponsible behavior in the park.

Photos captured using drones flown within Voyageurs National Park will not be accepted unless the flight was specifically authorized by the National Park Service.

Entrants are expected to follow applicable National Park Service regulations while creating their photographs.

Please photograph responsibly and help protect the landscapes, wildlife, and experiences that make Voyageurs National Park special.

If identifiable people appear in your submission, you are responsible for obtaining any necessary permission or releases from the individuals depicted.

For photographs featuring minors, the entrant is responsible for obtaining permission from a parent or legal guardian.

Entrants should only submit photographs they have the right to share and license for use by Voyageurs Conservancy and the National Park Service.

Entries will be reviewed by Voyageurs Conservancy and/or invited judges following the close of the contest. Photographs may be considered based on visual impact, creativity, technical quality, storytelling, and connection to Voyageurs National Park.

Up to 12 photographs may be selected as contest winners across the contest categories. Winners will be notified using the contact information provided with their entry and may be asked to provide a high-resolution or original image file.

Winning photographs may be featured on the Voyageurs Conservancy website, social media channels, print publications, and other communications.

Voyageurs Conservancy reserves the right to verify that an entry meets contest requirements before naming it a winner.

You retain ownership and copyright of the photographs you submit.

By entering the contest, you grant Voyageurs Conservancy and the National Park Service a royalty-free, nonexclusive, perpetual license to use submitted photographs in support of their missions, including on websites, social media, printed publications, educational materials, promotional materials, and other communications.

Voyageurs Conservancy and the National Park Service may retain and archive submitted image files for future mission-related use.

Voyageurs Conservancy will make reasonable efforts to credit the photographer when photographs are used.

Submission of a photograph does not transfer ownership or copyright to Voyageurs Conservancy or the National Park Service.

Voyageurs Conservancy reserves the right to determine whether an entry meets contest requirements and may disqualify entries that do not comply with these guidelines.

Voyageurs Conservancy may request additional information or original image files when necessary to verify an entry's eligibility or authenticity.

By entering the contest, participants agree to these contest rules and give Voyageurs Conservancy permission to contact them regarding their submission, contest results, and related contest communications.