MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The 2021 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest will begin accepting entries Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. This year’s contest is a joint project between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and the Alabama Tourism Department. The deadline to enter is Oct. 31, 2020.
A major change to the 2021 photo contest is a focus on traditional photography techniques and the use of hand-held cameras. No cellphone, smartphone, game camera or drone photography will be chosen as winning photos for nine of the 10 categories. Smartphone and tablet photos will be accepted in the Young Photographers category.
The photo contest is open to state residents and visitors alike, but qualifying photos must have been taken in Alabama in the past two years. Any amateur photographer not employed by ADCNR is encouraged to enter.
A total of eight photos per person may be entered in the following categories. You may enter all eight in one category or among several categories.
2021 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest Categories
- Alabama State Parks
- Birds
- Bugs and Butterflies
- Cold-blooded Critters
- Nature-Based Recreation
- Scenic
- Shoots and Roots
- Sweet Home Alabama
- Wildlife
- Young Photographers (ages 17 and under)
First, second, third and one honorable mention will be awarded in each category. Winning images will be featured online and in an exhibit traveling to various venues across the state during 2021.
Art teachers are encouraged to incorporate participation in the Young Photographers category into their art instruction this fall.
An exhibit of the 2020 winning photos will be on display at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort, Alabama, in early August 2020. To view the winning photos online, visit www.flickr.com/photos/outdooralabama/albums/72157712962216382.
For complete 2021 category descriptions and contest rules, visit www.outdooralabama.com/outdoor-alabama-photo-contest.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.
