About

Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest

Thank you to those who entered the first annual Garden for Wildlife™ Photo Contest!

Take a look at the 2018 contest winners and gallery of honorable mentions.

About the Contest

The Garden for Wildlife™ Photo Contest seeks to illustrate the faces of Garden for Wildlife through striking, colorful images showcasing the impact of habitat gardens on wildlife and people–in urban, suburban, and rural settings, and on land, in the air, and in water. (Check out the full gallery of photographs submitted in 2018.)

For details on the next contest, please check back in summer 2019.

Photographs may be submitted in one of the following four categories:

People in the Wildlife Garden

Close-Up Native Plants and Their Wildlife Visitors

Wildlife Observed Where People Live, Work, Play, Learn, and Worship

Wildlife Garden Habitat Features and Landscapes

Photo Contest Winners

Grand Prize (one winner): $1,000 cash prize
Runner-Up (one winner): $500 cash prize
Category Winners: One winner from each category will receive a bird feeder and a copy of Wildlife Gardening: Tips for Four Seasons.

Young Habitat Photographer: Photos taken by youth (age 18 or younger) may be submitted by a parent or guardian on their behalf in any of the categories above to be eligible for this prize. One winner will receive a bird feeder and a copy of Wildlife Gardening: Tips for Four Seasons.

Garden Photography Tips

• Try not to use a flash. Natural light is best! 
• Use shade to your advantage, especially when the sun is high, to help diffuse bright spots and glare.
• Overcast weather is best to help reduce shadows.
• Use a tripod for close-up shots to help avoid the blur caused by camera shake.

Want more? Check out 10 tips to improve your wildlife photography.

Supporters

Many thanks to our promotional partners and supporters, dedicated to helping more Americans plant with a purpose by promoting the first annual Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest!