Summer Photo Contest

Our Summer Photo Contest Is Back For Another Year!

Show us how you connect with nature! North County Land Trust is inviting photo submissions that celebrate the beauty of our natural lands and the special moments you experience outdoors here in north central Massachusetts. Whether it’s a stunning landscape, a favorite trail, or local wildlife, we want to see it.

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Winners will be selected for each of the five categories by a panel of judges. The categories are:

• Landscapes
• People in Nature
• Plants and Fungi
• Wildlife
• Pets in the Wild

Additionally, one photo will be selected as the “People’s Choice” winner, determined by the results of public online voting from September 1-15. Winners will be announced online and recognized at the Annual Gathering on October 15, 2026, 5:30-7:30pm at Wachusett Mountain with their winning photo(s) on display and for silent auction.

Timeline

• June 1: Photo submission window opens.
• August 15: Photo submission closes.
• September 1: Voting opens at noon ET.
• September 15: Voting closes at noon ET.
• Mid to late September: Winners are announced online
• October 15: Winners recognized at the Annual Gathering.

Terms

Here you will find everything to know about entering the contest.

Who Should Enter

The NCLT photo contest (the contest) is open to photographers of all skill levels, and ages, with the exception of North County Land Trust employees, board members, and their immediate family members.

What to Enter

We are seeking digital photographs that highlight the beauty and diversity of the wildlife, plant life, and landscapes in beautiful north central Massachusetts. We are also seeking photos of people enjoying nature. In order to qualify, photographs must be taken in the North County Land Trust region. That includes the following cities and towns in Massachusetts:

• Ashburnham
• Ashby
• Ayer
• Fitchburg
• Gardner
• Hubbardston
• Lancaster
• Leominster
• Lunenburg
• Princeton
• Shirley
• Sterling
• Templeton
• Townsend
• Westminster
• Winchendon

Each entrant may enter a maximum of 10 photographs across all categories. Photos may have been taken at any time prior to or during the Contest. If any photograph was taken on a property managed by North County Land Trust, please let us know in the photo’s description.

Images submitted must not be obtained by harassment or disturbance of wildlife, damage to the environment or wildlife by the photographer, or infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person. This includes relocating and disturbing nests, feeding wildlife, and handling wildlife. Please refrain from sending images of captive or pet animals.

Note: A signed release from any recognizable people in your images is required, and you must be able to provide copies of those releases to North County Land Trust upon request.

Digital Alterations & Screen Captures

Please submit the original photo. Any screen captures of images or AI generated images will not be accepted, including screen captures of images from social media platforms.

All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization may not be entered. Standard optimization is defined as removal of dust, cropping, minor adjustments to color and contrast, etc. Multiple exposures that have been combined to produce a single “High Dynamic Range” image are acceptable.

Image Size & File Type

Because we would love to be able to feature the winning photos in our publications, we ask that you use the highest setting on your camera. Entries should have a resolution of at least 2272 x 1704 pixels (ie 4 megapixels or greater). Resolution can be bigger as long as the total file size does not exceed 15 MB.

Entries must be in JPEG format. They may originate in any format, including—but not limited to—digital files, digital prints, slides, transparencies, color prints, or black and white prints; however they must be submitted electronically.

Categories: Landscapes

Submit your captivating images of landscapes in north central Massachusetts! We especially love photos taken at NCLT conservation areas. Images submitted must not be obtained by harassment or disturbance of wildlife, damage to the environment or wildlife by the photographer, or infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person. This includes relocating and disturbing nests, feeding wildlife, and handling wildlife.

Categories: People in Nature

Share your images of people enjoying the outdoors! Note: A signed release from any recognizable people in your images is required, and you must be able to provide copies of those releases to North County Land Trust upon request.

Categories: Plants and Fungi

We want to see your pictures of wild, non-invasive flowers, plants, and fungi found in north central Massachusetts. Images submitted must not be obtained by harassment or disturbance of wildlife, damage to the environment or wildlife by the photographer, or infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person.

Categories: Wildlife

Share with us your favorite images of birds, bears, fish, or any other animal you find in north central Massachusetts! Please refrain from sending images of captive animals or pets. Images submitted must not be obtained by harassment or disturbance of wildlife, damage to the environment or wildlife by the photographer, or infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person. This includes relocating and disturbing nests, feeding wildlife, and handling wildlife.

Categories: Pets in the Wild

Share with us your favorite images of dogs, horses, or other pets out on the trails or enjoying the great outdoors in north central Massachusetts! Images submitted must not be obtained by harassment or disturbance of wildlife or pets, damage to the environment or wildlife by the photographer, or infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person.

Winners

One winning photo will be selected for each category by a panel of judges during the month of September. In addition, one photo among the five categories will be selected as the “People’s Choice” winner based on the results of public voting. Winners will be announced online and recognized at the NCLT Annual Gathering on October 15, 2026 with their winning photo(s) on display.

Judging

Winners for each category will be selected by a panel of judges selected by NCLT staff based on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit. Judges shall determine eligibility with sole and absolute discretion. All decisions made by the judges are final.

Voting

All photos submitted in any category will be eligible for the public voting period between September 1-15. The photo that receives the highest number of votes overall will be recognized as the People’s Choice winner. A photo may be recognized as both the winner in one of the contest categories as well as the People’s Choice winner.

How To Enter

Each entrant may enter a maximum of 10 photographs. They can be entered at the same time, or over the course of the contest. All submissions, regardless of original format, must be submitted online at the link above.

Rights

By entering the photo contest, you hereby grant to North County Land Trust (i) non-exclusive, worldwide, irrevocable publication rights for your photos in all North County Land Trust publicity materials, print or electronic, and (ii) the right to use your name, city, state, and country of residence in such publications. This includes the right to use your photos on our website, in print and electronic advertisements and promotions, for fundraising purposes, and in our saleable merchandise. All photographs will be credited with the caption “© Person’s Name.”

Previously Published Material

Previously published material of which non-exclusive rights were granted may be entered as long as you still maintain the right to grant us a license (see “Rights”). You must be able to disclose to North County Land Trust when and where the photo appeared previously upon request.

Questions?

Any questions regarding the Contest can be sent via email to info@northcountylandtrust.org.