The 2026 photo contest is now open. Each year, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites photographers to test their skills by capturing the most beautiful photographs of the state’s flora and fauna as they can.
Once again this year there is an additional opportunity for photographers to be noticed. Not only do you have the chance to be featured on our 2027 DNR calendar, but we're also looking for photos for our new DNR hard cards which can be purchased in addition to hunting and fishing licenses. So, while you're looking out for that amazing photo, keep your eyes open for action on the fishing and hunting fronts. There is no specific prize for a hard card winner but you'll get some great exposure.
Categories
We organize photos season: winter, spring, summer, and fall. First, second, and third place winners are selected for each seasonal category. A grand prize winner is selected from that group.
As this is a natural resources-focused contest, we offer the following subject matter subcategories within each season:
- Birds
- Insects
- Flora
- Recreation
- Landscapes
- Weather and Wonder
- Wildlife
Please name photos that reflect the category/subcategory/title/photographer. Example:
winter-landscapes-mountain-sunrise-justin-focus.jpg
There will be a “Fan Favorite” selected by popular vote on Facebook. The photo with the most “likes” will be printed in the calendar and will receive a Maryland state park pass and free calendars.
Rules
- An entry fee of $10 for up to three photos and $3 for each additional entry must be paid with your submission.
- All photos must be original.
- Winning photos will be published by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. For this reason, photographers must own the work they enter in the contest.
Photos (or parts thereof) owned by a third party are not eligible. Images you’ve shared on your own personal website are eligible.
- All photos must be landscape in orientation.
- Photos must be clear, with the highest resolution possible.
- Do not submit heavily manipulated/over-processed images. All images should accurately represent the subject matter. Images with heavy effects, including unnatural saturation, exposure, or contrast, will not be considered. Images with watermarks will be disqualified. Focus stacking (taking multiple photos at one time and place) that does not compromise the image’s character is accepted, but merging two different images or superimposing objects is not.
- AI generated photographs will not be accepted.
- Photographers from any state may participate, but all photos must be taken in Maryland. Employees of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and their immediate families are not eligible to enter.
- The department will make selections based on the quality, composition, content, originality, creativity, and mass appeal. Decisions are final and in sole and absolute discretion of the department.
- This offer is void where prohibited by law.
- Photographers authorize the department to distribute their image(s) for non-commercial purposes with photo credits—including but not limited to education and news purposes—to other media, print, digital, online services, and television for their use. Photographers retain copyright to these photos, the above agreed to permissions not withstanding.* *Per our terms, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources may post photos online—including the department’s website and social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Flickr—after the contest. Do not embed any nonessential personal data (metadata) into your files.
How to Enter
First visit the DNR Online store and pay your entry fee. Once you pay, you'll get a six digit code to enter into the photo submission form. Contest ends August 1, 2026. Submissions have to be in by NOON.
Prizes
Grand Prize Winner (Overall):
$700; one-year Maryland State Park Passport; five copies of the 2025 calendar with your winning image on the cover.
Three First Place Winners: (winter, spring, summer, fall, minus the Grand Prize Winner) $100; Maryland State Park Passport; five copies of the 2025 calendar.
Four Second Place Winners: (winter, spring, summer, fall) Five copies of the 2025 calendar.
Fan Favorite: Chosen by the general public on our Facebook page. One-year Maryland State Park Passport; 3 copies of the 2024 calendar.
2024 Results
Nearly 1,800 photos were submitted by 500 photographers in last year’s contest.
Read all about it and
check out the winning images.
