Photo Contest
Seasons of Wild
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The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s St. Croix Wetland Management District is to protect, restore, and manage wetlands, prairie and oak savanna for the benefit of migratory birds and by doing so, for fish and other wildlife as well. The District includes 48 Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) spanning St. Croix, Polk and Dunn counties in Wisconsin.
WPAs are “wild” lands managed for wildlife and habitat. There are no designated trails and signage is minimal. For visitors, WPAs provide some extraordinary opportunities to witness the wonders of wildlife on nature’s terms.
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Starting on Jan. 1, photographers of all skill levels are invited to put their abilities to the ultimate test and submit photos for this contest. Get off the beaten path, trust your instincts, be open, be patient, persevere and capture that singular moment that showcases what Nature has to offer!
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Seasons of Wild - Photo Contest
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Date: Exhibition and Reception - February 6, 2027 (5:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
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Venue: 45th Parallel Distillery - 1490 Madison Ave., New Richmond, WI 54017
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​General Rules:
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• Photo submission deadline is 12 AM midnight, October 31, 2026
• You can enter as many photos in as many categories as you would like.
• The entry fee for each photo is $20.
• Photos must be made on a St. Croix Wetland Management District Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) between the dates of January 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026.
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Submission Guidelines:
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• Many crop ratios are accepted, but the image must be 8.5 in. @ 300 ppi (2550 ppi) max. on the long side
• Acceptable formats for uploading are JPG, JPEG
• Color space sRGB
• Specify your photo’s orientation and dimensions when submitting.
• All photos will be printed with minimum 1.25” white border.
• Photos will be printed at 300 ppi.
• Photos that are not 300 ppi will automatically be resampled and resized without any guarantee as to what the final result will be. If you are particular about how your photo looks, please make sure that it is cropped and sized prior to submission!
• Photos deemed offensive, advocating violence, or political may be rejected from the competition.
• You must be able to provide written permission obtained from any person(s) identifiable in your photos including from a legal guardian if the person(s) is younger than 18 yrs.
• All submissions must be uploaded through the contest website by the specified deadline.
• Each photo file must be named with the photographer’s first initial, last name, category, name of the WPA and title (e.g., “T.Smith_Fauna_EricksonWPA_HawkAtSunset.jpg”).
• No AI-generated or AI-enhanced images are allowed.
• No digitally composited photos are allowed.
• Photos made with a drone are not allowed.
• No borders, frames, signatures, or watermarks may be added to the images.
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Categories & Awards:
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Categories:
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• Flora
• Fauna
• Naturescapes (Landscapes, natural scenes, weather, etc.)
• People
• Trailblazers (Photos taken by children 16 yrs. and younger)
Awards:
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• Best in Show is awarded by a panel of judges who review all of the entries based on a set of technical, artistic and emotional criteria prior to the gala.
• Each category will feature a “People’s Choice” award as well as a 2nd and 3rd place winner. Awards are determined by public voting the night of the gala exhibition. Attendees may vote for their favorite image in each category, with one vote per person per category.
Best in Show Judging Criteria:
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Winner - Selected by judges
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• Technical Excellence (25%) – Sharpness, exposure, and composition.
• Creativity & Originality (25%) – Unique perspective and storytelling.
• Emotional Impact (25%) – Evokes emotion or tells a compelling story.
• Adherence to Theme (25%) – Relevance to the category.
Award Limitations:
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Best in Show Exclusivity
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• The winning Best in Show photo is not eligible to win any other category awards or People’s Choice awards.
• If the selected Best in Show photo was also the highest-scoring photo in its category, the next highest-scoring photo in that category will be awarded the category prize.
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One Award Per Photographer Per Category
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• Each photographer may win only one award per category (either the category award or People’s Choice, but not both).
• If a photographer has multiple high-scoring images in a category, only their highest-ranked image will be awarded. The next best image from a different photographer will be considered for other awards. • Their other images in that category may still be recognized as finalists or honorable mentions.
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People’s Choice Awards Limitation
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• Each photographer may win only one People’s Choice Award across all categories.
• If a photographer receives the most votes in multiple categories, only their highest-voted image will receive the award. The next highest-voted image from another photographer will win in the other category.
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Prizes:
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Best in Show – Think Tank Camera bag, $100 gift certificate, a Certificate of Recognition
People’s Choice in each category will receive a $75 gift certificate and a Certificate of Recognition
2nd and 3rd Place in each category will receive a $50 Gift Certificate and a Certificate of Recognition
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Usage Rights & Permissions:
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• By submitting, photographers grant the contest organizers non-exclusive rights to use images for promotional purposes (including social media, websites, and printed materials). Photographer attribution will be included.
• Copyright remains with the photographer.
• The Friends of the St. Croix Wetland Management District will not sell or distribute your work except for the purposes of promoting the FSCWMD and the Photo Gala. For example, winner’s photos are published (with attribution) on our website, in our members newsletter or on social media platforms.
• From time to time, a photo may have some educational value and the St. Croix Wetland Management District may desire to use that photo for educational purposes. In such a case, the SCWMD will seek permission to use the photo.
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