TOWA Youth EIC Photography Contest 2026 Rules and Guidelines
PURPOSE:
The TOWA Photography Contest encourages self-expression and allows youth to demonstrate skills learned in the area of photography, including the use of photographic equipment and processing of photographs. We are passionate proponents of the North American Conservation Model and have a mission to encourage young photographers to use their craft as a medium to communicate their appreciation of the Texas outdoors.
| Participation Grades | Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 as of September 1, 2025 |
| Photo Eligibility | All photos must be taken with a digital camera (smartphone cameras are included) in the year 2025. Photos must be taken and submitted by participants by March 15th, 2026. Each participant may submit three entries total, one per category. |
| Photo Format | Digital entries must be .jpeg, .jpg, or .png. Contestants may use any file naming structure. |
| Registration and Submission | Email: Email submissions with Subject Line “Youth EIC Contest “to TOWA@towa.org. You may submit via email in whatever format you prefer. Link to Google drive, jpeg, jpg, png, etc. Just make it easy on us and include the filled-out submission form from the link provided below. Digital signature is more than sufficient. Double-click on the submission form below. SUBMISSION FORM HERE |
| Deadlines & Entry Period | Registration opens: January 1, 2026 Registration Closes: March 15th, 2026 No late entries will be accepted by mail or email. |
| Event Name | 2026 TOWA Youth Excellence in Craft “EIC” Photography Contest |
| Ratio and Size | Size Ratio: any size ratio, except for panoramic, is acceptable. For this contest, panoramic is defined as a photo with an aspect ratio of 3:1 or 1:3 or wider/taller. Image Size: Photo must be a minimum of 1000 pixels on the longest side of the photo and a maximum of 5000 pixels. This is to ensure that the images are large enough for viewing on a monitor as well as making prints later.TIPS: Upload the highest resolution possible. Review your photo at 100% on a monitor before uploading. Check your photo’s file properties and/or metadata to ensure it meets the image size requirements. |
| Alterations | Color and Black & White photos are allowed in all categories. Although slight computer enhancements are allowed, such as cropping, minor adjustment of lighting, and red eye reduction; substantially altered photography, such as applying design styles, or using computer graphics will disqualify an entry. |
| Text on Photographs | Photographs must not contain camera or user placed text. This includes such things as date stamps, comments, watermarks, or titles. Text or wording that is part of the original photograph (i.e. photo of a street sign, etc.) is acceptable. |
| Original Work | The entry must be the original photographic work of the submitter and not a photo taken by family , others, or secured from any other printed/electronic source.others, or secured from any other printed/electronic source. |
| Awards and Recognition | 1st, 2nd, and Honorable Mention to be presented and awarded at the 2026 TOWA Annual Conference in Rockport, TX for each of the three categories: 1st Place prizes are $1,000 cash each 2nd Place prizes are $750 cash each Each category will also include an unpaid “Honorable Mention” with certificate |
| Judging and Results | For Quality Awards, each photograph will be judged against a set of judging criteria, and not against photographs of peers. Participants will be awarded based on total points awarded for each photograph. Volunteer judges will make those determinations and all decisions are final. |
| Content | Photos that are deemed obscene, vulgar, sexually-oriented, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violate any decency standards or laws are strictly prohibited. |
| Display and Future Usage Rights | By entry, the participant grants permission to the TOWA the use, and rights associated with the use of the photographic likeness, in promotional publications, and other media, without compensation. These photos may be used for TOWA programs and marketing uses. |
| Model and Property Releases | It is required that each participant have sufficient permission granted to both the photographer and TOWA to publish and use, as needed, any photo showing any recognizable locations or people photographed. |
| Possible Reasons for Disqualification | • Broken content rule. This includes inappropriate or unsuitable content. • Broken copyright rule. Photo is not the original work of the participant • Category: Does not meet category criteria, rules or guidelines. (see category descriptions) • Did not submit photograph by the deadline. • Extremely poor quality and/or low resolution causing the subject matter to be unrecognizable. • Manipulation of photo beyond what is allowed. |
| Categories | Category 1: People: Photos with an outdoor-related theme Category 2: Indigenous Texas Wildlife: Photos with an outdoor-related theme Category 3: Landscape: Photos with a natural outdoor landscape related theme |