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2025 PWC Parks Summer Photo Contest

The PWC Parks Summer Photo Contest is open to the public July 15 - August 15, 2025. This contest is open to any photographer, amateur or professional.

Prince William County Department of Parks & Recreation ("PWC DPR") invites you to submit up to three of your favorite images per category captured within Prince William County parks.


Categories

• Wildlife - must show wildlife in Prince William County Parks taken during entry period only. Excludes captive animals.

• Landscape/Scenic - must show scenic landscape and/or native flowers, trees or plants in PWC Parks taken during entry period.

• People - subject may include people participating in nature-based recreation taken in PWC Parks during entry period.  This includes people attending PWC Parks events and/or PWC Parks & Recreation programs.

• Active - subject may include people or wildlife running, swimming, exercising or depicting movement taken during the entry period within PWC Parks.

• Youth (Ages 17 & under) - For aspiring photographers who are 17 years old and younger. Subject may include wildlife, nature or people participating in nature-based recreation (including PWC Parks Events/programs or similar) taken during entry period. Photographer must be 17 years or younger to qualify.


How to Enter

  1. All participants must fill out and submit this Photo Contest Entry Form and enter the required fields including name, email, location(s) where photo(s) were taken, and photo submission information.
     
  2. Photo(s) can be uploaded by clicking the "Browse" button on question #9 of this form. Once you've uploaded your image(s) and reviewed your answers, click the blue "Next" button at the bottom of the form to submit.
     
  3. You may submit up to three (3) photos per eligible category. One submission form can be used for all entries as long as total file upload size is limited to 1GB.
     
  4. Please name your photo file (the file you upload from your computer to the submission page) in this manner:

    First Initial Last Name - Category Name - Title (e.g. JSmith_Wildlife_The Red Fox.jpg).

Contest Rules & Eligibility
 
  • Photo(s) must be taken at a Prince William County Park or Recreation Facility (Please note: Leesylvania State Park and Prince William Forest Park are not managed by Prince William County Parks & Recreation). A full list of eligible parks and facilities can be found at pwcrecmapper.com. Parks and facilities not listed here are not managed by Prince William County Parks & Recreation. Images taken outside of Prince William County parks or facilities will not be considered.
     
  • Photo(s) submitted after August 15 will not be entered into the contest
     
  • Photo(s) must include the name of the park or facility
     
  • Photo(s) must be your own
     
  • Photographers may submit up to three images total per category into the contest; Entries must be clear, high-resolution and at least 1080x1920 pixels. Maximum file size is 50 MB per image.
     
  • By submitting images, you are confirming that you have all legal rights to the image, and you understand that submitted images may be used by PWC DPR in printed materials, websites and on social media. PWC DPR offers no compensation for any images or videos.

Ineligible Photos
  • Photos that violate another person’s rights, including but not limited to copyright
  • Photos that contain sexually explicit, nude, obscene, violent or other objectionable or inappropriate content
  • Photos taken outside of Prince William County Parks
  • Photos taken outside of Entry Period
  • Images that involve the willful harassment of wildlife or the environment by the photographer
  • Images that violate any local, state or national wildlife law or regulation
  • Images the involve putting any individual or animal in danger

Voting

Voting will open to the public on Friday, August 22, 2025 and close on Friday, August 29. The link to vote will be shared in a separate email sent on Friday, August 22 (Sign Up to receive emails from us and be sure to check your spam/junk folders) as well as the PWC Parks' Facebook page. Black and white and color photos will be accepted. All black and white and color photos entered in the same category will be judged together.

Winners for each category will be determined by the greatest number of “votes” on an image during the specified timeframe (July 15 - August 15). If there is a "tie" in any category, both images with the highest number of votes for that category will be selected as winners and will receive recognition.


Winners

All winners will be announced via social media (@pwcparks) and in the September issue of Park Bench (PWC Parks' monthly e-newsletter on or around September 1, 2025. Sign up here to receive our newsletter.) Winners will be notified via the contact information provided at time of entry.

Winners will receive:
  • A PWC Prize Pack full of park goodies
  • Free Mini Golf & Paddle Boat Passes
  • Recognition on PWC Parks social media
  • Recognition in Park Bench (PWC Parks' monthly e-newsletter - sent to 40k+ contacts).
9. Upload Your Photo(s) - You can submit a maximum of three images per category. Submissions must be high-resolution/clear and at least 1080x1920 pixels. Maximum file size is 50MB per image.

Please remember to name your file(s) using the following convention: 
First Initial Last Name - Category Name - Title (e.g. JSmith_Wildlife_The Red Fox.jpg).

Once you are finished uploading your image(s), click the "Next" button at the bottom of this form to ensure your submission. *This question is required.
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