Pictured is a photo titled “Black-Eyed Susan” by Gabby Congrove of Concord, N.Y., who was a finalist in a 2024 Youth category of the Audubon Community Nature Center’s 2024 Nature Photography Contest.

The Audubon Community Nature Center has identified the two judges who will choose the Adult and Youth winners and finalists in the 2025 Nature Photography Contest that will award a total of $1,600 cash.

This year’s judges are Sandra Rothenberg and Mark Evans. In addition to decades of experience in photography and multiple exhibitions, both have been recognized for their work and had it published. Details of their backgrounds can be found on the Judges page on the competition website.

Rothenberg and Evans will choose the winners and three finalists in both the Youth (ages 8-18) and Adult categories of Birds, Waterscapes, and Single Blooms.

In the Birds category, any wild birds will be accepted. Photos of birds in captivity, such as pets, zoo residents, or rehab/education animals are not accepted.

In the Waterscapes category, photographers can submit the photo of their favorite natural waterscape.

For the category of Single Blooms, submit a favorite photo of a singular bloom.

As well as the technical side of the photo (lighting, crispness, and framing of the photo), judges will be looking for images that are powerful, that touch them and draw them in. According to Evans, they are looking for photos that, if they were in a gallery, would make them go back two or three times just to look at them again.

All winners receive a $200 cash prize. ACNC will print the winners to exhibit in the Nature Center, and winners will be announced in a news release that is widely distributed, including to their local media when known. Winning and finalist photographs will be displayed on the contest website.

In addition, cash prizes of $200 will be awarded to the Adult and Youth photos receiving the most Community Choice votes online. A photo could receive both the Community Choice and a judged award.

Full details of the competition are at GoGoPhotoContest.com/ACNCPhotoContest2025, including an area to submit photos, vote on entries and see previous contest winners.

The sooner photographs are submitted, the longer the public can vote for them for the Community Choice awards. Photographers are reminded to encourage friends and family to vote for their photo(s). All the social media buttons are right there for postings.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, June 30.