DEVILS RIVER CONSERVANCY’S 2026 PHOTO CONTEST

FEBRUARY 13-28

Help Devils River Conservancy showcase the breathtaking beauty of the Devils River through its wild landscapes, star-filled dark skies, vibrant flora, diverse fauna, and crystal-clear waters. We want to see the Devils River through your lens!

Keep reading to learn more about the contest and how to submit your photos. The link to enter the contest is at the bottom of this page.

Western diamondback rattlesnake on Dolan Creek Rd. Credit: Romey Swanson

CONTEST TIMELINE

  • February 13, 2026: Contest opens

  • February 28, 2026: Contest closes (11:59 pm CST)

  • March 2-6, 2026: Judging period

  • March 9, 2026 : Winners notified

  • March 10, 2026: Winners announced

GUIDELINES

  • Each entry must be participant’s original work.

  • Images must be taken within the Devils River watershed (see map below).

  • There are no date or time restrictions on when the image was captured.

  • There are no restrictions on the type of camera used.

  • Use of AI to alter the content of an image is strictly prohibited.

  • Limit 5 photo entries per person.

  • Submissions are accepted through a Google form, which limits file size to 10 GB. If you have a larger file or cannot access the Google form, please contact Natalia at natalia.kauffman@devilsriverconservancy.org to request a link to a personal Dropbox folder.

  • Each entry must be accompanied by the date and location of the photo, along with a brief description of the image. Sensitive locations may be designated by county rather than more specific data.

  • Image titles are welcome, but not required.

Please adhere to responsible photography practices, for your safety and wellbeing and that of your subject matter. DRC reserves the right to disqualify images if evidence of unethical practices becomes evident.

DEVILS RIVER WATERSHED MAP

Images must be taken within the watershed, indicated by the diagonal shading on the map.

For sensitive locations, please indicate the county in which the photograph was taken. If the location is not along the Devils River but is close to a specific tributary, that is also helpful information.

EVALUATION

Entries will be evaluated based on visual impact, technical quality, composition, creativity, and storytelling. The subject should involve elements of nature. Entries may also include people and other anthropogenic subject matter, though we ask that images of modern humanity convey a theme of conservation or stewardship.

All entries will be evaluated anonymously by a panel of judges using standardized criteria.

SHOWCASING YOUR WORK

We are excited to share your photos with the Devils River Advocate community! Please note that submission of photos to the contest provides DRC permission to feature the work on our digital and print communication platform with appropriate credit, regardless of the results of the contest.

Our purpose for this contest is to both celebrate the work of photographers who capture the essence of the Devils River Basin and support DRC’s future communications in conveying the ecological and cultural significance of the Devils River Basin. We sincerely appreciate your contributions to that effort!

PRIZES

First, second, and third place photographs will be featured on DRC’s social media and email platforms on March 10th. They will also be displayed prominently at DRC’s Wild Devils Gala on October 22, 2026 at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, TX.

Additionally, each winner will receive the following:

FIRST PLACE:

  • CHOICE OF ONE:

    • One complimentary ticket to the 2026 Wild Devils Gala on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at the Witte Museum in San Antonio

    • OR a DRC Family Membership for one year, and complimentary registration for up to 4 people to the 2026 Devils River Member Retreat (May 15-17).

  • AND: A swag package including a DRC cap and a DRC Columbia button-down or pullover of choice, a Devils River Advocate YETI Rambler Koozie, a Devils River Paddler’s Bandana, and a full collection of (3) stickers

SECOND PLACE:

  • A custom DRC Poncho button-down, to be ordered during the upcoming Spring 2026 preorder

  • A swag package including a DRC cap and a DRC Columbia button-down or pullover of choice, a Devils River Advocate YETI Rambler Koozie, a Devils River Paddler’s Bandana, and a full collection of (3) stickers

THIRD PLACE:

  • A swag package including a DRC cap and a DRC Columbia button-down or pullover of choice, a Devils River Advocate YETI Rambler Koozie, a Devils River Paddler’s Bandana, and a full collection of (3) stickers

Please read all of the contest rules before submitting your photography. Our judges look forward to reviewing all entries!

ENTER THE CONTEST

The photographer getting just the right angle of his subject. Credit: Dani Miller