Outdoor Photographers Wanted

If you're the kind of person who always carries their camera on fishing trips, campouts, hikes, picnics and even casual drives, your local department of natural resources may be looking for you. Many agencies hold annual photography contests that showcase the state's splendor, and they're looking for stunning images.

Winners come away with a variety of prizes that vary by region. In some cases the top photographers receive a check and in others their images are included in the state's annual calendar or magazine.

In Alabama the contest is being conducted by the state wildlife agency's magazine, Outdoor Alabama, and prizes are awarded to the first-place winners in each category and certificates issued to the top three finishers in each. The most stunning photos will be published in the magazine.

For the 2007 contest categories include: birds, mammals (pets and livestock are excluded), reptiles and amphibians, other native wildlife including insects, scenic, nature-based activities and native flora. Entry deadline for the annual contest is Oct. 31.

Arizona holds a similar photo contest, although its deadline is much earlier in the year--July 6 for 2007. The theme this year is "Wildlife Being Wild," and the winning photos will be published in the Arizona Game and Fish Department's annual calendar. In all 12 winners will be selected and be awarded $250 each.

The Lake Erie Commission is sponsoring a contest in Ohio that is accepting entries that show the beauty of Lake Erie. The 2007 deadline is July 19 and winning photographs will go on exhibit. The theme is "Life on Lake Erie."

Entry deadline for North Carolina's third annual contest is Sept. 14 and awards will be given out in 10 categories: birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, invertebrates, wild plants, outdoor recreation, peaks, valleys and plains, animal behavior, youth photographer 13-17, and youth photographer 12 and under.

The grand-prize winner will have his or her photo published on the cover of the January 2008 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina and will receive a check for $200. All winning photographs in the North Carolina contest will be published in the January 2008 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina and go on display North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. First-place entries in all categories will receive $100, second place $75, and third place, $50.

Ohio's rules dictate: "All photo entries must have been taken between August 4, 2006 and July 9, 2007. Black and white, as well as color photographs, will be accepted. All contestants must be age 18 or older." North Carolina's contest has a little more latitude: "Only photographs taken in North Carolina in the past five years are eligible for the competition." In Alabama the photos must have been taken in the past two years.

So if you love photography, and your region's natural resources, visit your state game and fish department's website to see if they're holding a photo contest. Who knows, your next outing could be featured on the front cover of a magazine, on display, or even net you a hefty check--just for getting outdoors.