11th Annual
NATURE! Photo Contest
ENTER THE CONTEST STARTING FRIDAY, AUGUST 25th - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th
The 2023 photo contest finalists will be presented at First Friday Downtown at Mountain Chalet on October 6th from 5:00-9:00 pm with in-person voting for the Grand Prize Winner, drinks, and entertainment!
NATURE! Photo Contest
Categories
(R)estoration: Protection of our public open spaces relies on the people who selflessly serve as stewards of the land, repairing damage caused by fires, floods, and heavy recreational use. Capture these wonderful people and/or projects in action!
(M)ountains: If there’s one thing we have in Colorado, it’s mountains! Showcase the beauty of the state with your best photos of Colorado’s majestic landscapes.
(F)lora/Fauna: Colorado is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. Send us your best photos of plants and wildlife that make our landscapes so beautiful.
(I)nteraction: How do you connect with nature? Show us your best photos that capture the beauty of people interacting with the natural world around them.
**Photographers 17 years old or younger are invited to submit photos under the Youth Entry from any of the categories. (Please indicate in your submission that it should be considered in the Youth Category.)

How to Enter
2023 Submissions
Submissions Open Friday, August 25th
Submissions Close Monday, September 25th
1. Submit your entries via email to [email protected]. All photo files must be a minimum of 300 dpi. Please indicate which category each of your entries will represent (categories listed above).
2. Donate the corresponding entry fees ($10/jpeg or 3 jpegs for $25) through RMFI's Donation page below!
Judging and Prizes
Judging will take place shortly after the contest ends on Monday, September 25th. Two images from each of the 4 categories, plus a ‘Youth Entry’ (taken by those 17 or younger) will be selected as finalists by a panel of local professional photographers and artists.
Photos selected as finalists will be printed and mounted and displayed at Mountain Chalet for our First Friday event on Friday, October 6th from 5:00-9:00 pm (drinks, snacks and entertainment!) with in-person voting for the Grand Prize Winner!
A Grand Prize Winner will be selected by public vote available online from October 1st through October 6th at 9:00 pm (MST) and in-person voting at First Friday.
All finalists will receive a prize from our contest sponsor Mike's Camera!
Courtesy of Mike's Camera, the Grand Prize winner will receive:
A $100 gift card to Mike's Camera and RMFI gear!
Silent Auction
Please note, finalist photos are printed and mounted at no expense or effort of the photographer and will belong to RMFI and used in a silent auction fundraiser during the RMFI Annual ShinDIG. Proceeds from the photo silent auction will go towards our ecological restoration efforts in Southern Colorado! Photographers will, of course, be credited for their works.
Photo Release
By submitting photographs to RMFI's NATURE! Photo Contest, you give RMFI permission to utilize the photograph(s), with photographer credit, in future marketing and outreach materials specific to RMFI.
Have Questions?
Please contact (719) 471-7736 ext. *# or [email protected] with any questions. Good luck!
Thank you to our photo contest sponsors!