“Birds of Oklahoma” Photo Contest

The Payne County Audubon Society is looking for photos (possibly yours!) to be highlighted in our annual “Birds of Oklahoma”’ wall calendar.

Proceeds from both the contest and calendar sales will help PCAS support research, schools, libraries, and various educational programs.

If submitting more than one photo to pay use either:

  • PayPal: PCAS PayPal link (please choose “Photo Contest Entry Fee” when checking out).
  • Check: Make payable to Payne County Audubon Society, PO Box 82, Stillwater, OK 74076

Prizes

For each selected photo, photographers will receive a free calendar ($20 value), with the option of purchasing additional calendars at a discounted rate.

Cost of Entry

  • First photo entry is free of charge!
  • Photos 2-9 are $5 per photo.
  • 10 photos: $40 (+ $5 for each additional photo up to 19)
  • 20 photos: $75 (+ $5 for each additional photo up to 29)
  • 30 photos: $100 (+ $5 for each additional photo)

How to Enter

Step 1: Label your file(s) using the following convention: “Last name_first initial_number.” Thus, if Joan Smith submits two photos, they would be labeled: “Smith_J_01” and “Smith_J_02.”

Step 2: Email your photos to paynecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com. Please include location the photo was taken (such as certain parks/lakes, or if taken at private residences, provide the county/city), as well as dates if possible.
Don’t forget to include “Photo Contest Entry” in the subject line!

Deadline for all submissions is September 30.

Questions?

Email any questions to paynecountyaudubonsociety@gmail.com. Please include “Photo Contest Question” in the subject line.

Contest Rules

The purpose of this photo contest is to raise money for the Payne County Audubon’s annual endeavors (including grants and conservation efforts), as well as showcase great photography to feature in the annual PCAS “Birds of Oklahoma” wall calendar. We are excited to highlight local photographers photographing local birds — and special surprise visitors! Complete contest rules may be found below.

Location & Timeline

Please only submit photos that you have taken in Oklahoma in the past three years. Note: The calendar will include a certain number of bird photos specifically taken in Payne County, but we wanted to open the submissions to bird lovers statewide and showcase the wide variety of feathered friends we get to enjoy here in Oklahoma.

Photo Resolution and Format

Photos should be high resolution, jpeg file-types, and free of names, watermarks, text, logos, borders, etc.

NOTE: The finished calendar is 12 x 9″ — so please make sure to crop the photo horizontally (landscape) to fit that ratio.

Copyright remains with the photographer. By entering, photographers agree to allow PCAS administrators to publish their images on the website, on social media, and to use them in promotions for this and future contests with appropriate credit. Each image must be the work of the person entering it. By submitting a photograph to PCAS you warrant that you are the sole copyright holder of the image.

Photo Modifiers

Photo may be modified to make slight adjustments for color, contrast, brightness, and sharpness; remove dust spots; cropping, etc. Filters, composite images, AI generated elements or heavy editing that would alter the natural look of the bird and/or habitat should not be used.

Judging

An independent panel of judges will rate photos on their aesthetic beauty, composition, overall impact, originality, style, depiction of species/landscape and relevance to birding in Oklahoma and/or Payne County.

Judging Criteria

  • Visual Appearance/storytelling: does it have a “wow” factor, overall artistic impression, unique setting, rare bird or hard-to-capture species.
  • Technical aspects: focus, correct exposure, generally free of noise.
  • Composition: relatively free of distracting elements, properly cropped, lighting/shadows used effectively, key elements are not cut off.
  • Natural/Ethical: the bird appears in a natural setting without evidence of baiting, bird doesn’t appear in distress, no invasive use of flash photography, excessive use of retouching/editing is avoided.