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Nature’s Colors 2018 Contest Winners

Grand Prize: Alan Krakauer

Title: Tundra Slumber

The Land of the Midnight Sun may be most famous for its big bears and immense landscapes, but sometimes it’s the small quiet moments that leave a lasting impression. One day in late August while hiking over the spongy Arctic terrain near Toolik Lake in northern Alaska, I found a sleeping red fox snoozing on a bed of vibrant late summer tundra. This is one of my all-time favorite photos in part because of the gorgeous fall-like colors, but even more because I’m not sure I’ve ever captured a picture of an animal that seems so at peace in its surroundings. I got my photos and continued on my way, and left the fox to its dreaming.

Canon 6D, Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6L, ISO 800, Aperture f/5.6, Shutter Speed 1/500sec, No flash or tripod.

Second Prize: William Stekelberg

Title: Lake Martin Great Blue Heron

The photo was taken from a small boat on Lake Martin, Louisiana, near the town of Breaux Bridge. I was attracted to the way the late afternoon light was illuminating the heron while backlighting the foliage, which was in its “fall color” stage. The image has been cropped a little for compositional reasons.

Nikoin D850, Tamron 150-600mm G2, handheld.

Third Prize: Perri Schelat

Title: Moth Confetti

I created Moth Confetti last Fall, while walking along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, a stretch that forms the southwest boundary of Glacier National Park. In the Fall the water gets low making it possible to get down in the river and explore amongst pools and rocks. I took a walk in the river, hand holding my camera, which allowed more artistic freedom not being attached to a tripod. I came across a small pool of water wedged in between two boulders full of dead months floating on top of fallen aspen leaves. It was an interesting intimate scene almost an abstract. The water was slightly moving, light was low and I was hand holding. I used an higher ISO to get a fast shutter speed, which was complicated by the need for a small aperture to get greater depth of field from corner to corner. It was a challenge to get just the right balance and the result I wanted. In the end the image really spoke to my current interest and exploration of smaller scenes, while taking time to be more thoughtful and introspective in the field.

Nikon D810, Nikon 24-70mm with VR on F16, 1/160, ISO 1600, 70mm focal length, Global RAW file adjustments made in Lightroom. Basic local adjustments made in Photoshop.

Prizes

1st Prize

Grand Prize

  • $2,000 cash prize
  • SKB’s 3i-2011-7DL Camera Case
  • Cokin Nuances Extreme Filter Kit
  • Cotton Skout – Sling Style Harness
  • Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD
  • Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD
  • X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Photo
  • One-year membership to Outdoor Photographer’s VIP Membership
  • Expodisc 2.0
  • Loupedeck+
  • Hardcover, high-quality Bayphoto photo book featuring winners and all finalists
  • One-year digital subscription to Outdoor Photographer
  • Your image showcased in a special multi-spread feature in Outdoor Photographer magazine
  • Your winning entry as the cover image on Outdoor Photographer’s Facebook page
  • Featured in the Outdoor Photographer online winners’ gallery
2nd Prize

Second Prize

  • $500 cash prize
  • SKB’s 3i-1510-6DL Camera Case
  • X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Photo
  • Hardcover, high-quality Bayphoto photo book featuring winners and all finalists
  • One-year membership to Outdoor Photographer’s VIP Membership
  • One-year digital subscription to Outdoor Photographer
  • Your image showcased in a special multi-spread feature in Outdoor Photographer magazine
  • Featured in the Outdoor Photographer online winners’ gallery
3rd Prize

Third Prize

  • $250 cash prize
  • SKB’s 3i-1309-6DL Camera Case
  • X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Photo
  • Hardcover, high-quality Bayphoto photo book featuring winners and all finalists
  • One-year membership to Outdoor Photographer’s VIP Membership
  • One-year digital subscription to Outdoor Photographer
  • Your image showcased in a special multi-spread feature in Outdoor Photographer magazine
  • Featured in the Outdoor Photographer online winners’ gallery

Past Contests

Explore past winners, finalists and prizes from our previous contests.

View Contests

Frequently asked questions and official rules

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions. If your question isn’t answered here, please send us an email at [email protected] with the following details:

  1. The name of the contest (2018 Nature’s Colors)
  2. Your username
  3. The image ID # (if applicable)
  4. The exact nature of your problem

Question: Who may enter?

Answer:

Contest is open to individuals over the age of 18 and residents of the U.S.

Question: How do I enter?

Answer:

Click “Submit Your Images.” You’ll need to be logged in to your Outdoor Photographer account to enter. If you don’t have an account, click here to register for your free account. You may also log in using your Facebook account through the Connect With Facebook option.

Question: In what format should I submit my photos?

Answer:

Each photograph must be submitted in .JPG format and cannot exceed 4 MB in size.

Question: How many photos may I enter?

Answer:

You may enter as many photos as you like. Pricing is one (1) photo for $25 per entry, $35 for two entries.

Pricing For Submissions
Regular Entry Period (until 12/08/18)
1 Photo: $25
2 Photos: $35

There is no limit to the number of photos you may submit.

Simply visit the entry page at http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/naturescolors and the system will determine your order status.

Question: Is my credit card information secure?

Answer:

Absolutely! The payment form is hosted on our secure payment processor’s site and your credit card information (including your physical address) is submitted directly to the applicable credit card company through 256-bit encrypted pages. The header graphic is the only non-secure item on the payment page and only your email and the success/failure message of the transaction are submitted back to our site.

Question: Can I pass the word on this competition to my friends, classmates, Facebook/Twitter followers, etc.?

Answer:

Yes, please! The link to the contest portal is http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/naturescolors

Question: Do I have to print or mail in my photos?

Answer:

No. Please upload entries using the online entry form. Mailed submissions will not be accepted.

Question: Can I process my photos using Photoshop or another image-processing program?

Answer:

Yes.

Question: When will the winners be notified?

Answer:

Late January 2019

Question: When will the winners be announced?

Answer:

Late January 2019

Question: What are the prizes?

Answer:

See the contest landing page or the official rules for a complete list of contest prizes.

Question: When I try to enter online, I get an error message. What's going on?

Answer:

If your attempts at entering online aren’t successful, our system might be struggling. Try waiting a few minutes, then clear your browser’s cache and cookies—you might even try restarting your computer—and go to the online entry page again.

Additionally, title your photos with alphanumeric characters only. Please don’t use apostrophes, ampersands or any other character symbol, as doing so may cause errors during uploading.

Question: I've tried clearing my cache and cookies, and I even bought a new computer. The online entry form just isn't working for me.

Answer:

Double-check that the size of your images meets our requirements. If all else fails, send us an email at [email protected]. In your email, please indicate:

  1. The name of the contest (2018 Nature’s Colors)
  2. Your username
  3. The image ID # (if applicable)
  4. The exact nature of your problem

Outdoor Photographer Nature’s Colors 2018 Official Rules

ELIGIBILITY:
The Outdoor Photographer’s Nature’s Colors Contest (“Contest”) is open only to individuals who are over 18 years of age and who are residents of the U.S. Employees of Madavor Media, LLC, (“Sponsors”), and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and advertising and promotion agencies, and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child and sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and/or those living in same household of each, whether or not related, are not eligible to participate or win. Sponsors reserve the right to verify all eligibility requirements. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

CONTEST PERIOD:
The Contest will begin on September 4th, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. PT, and end on December 8st, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. PT (the “Contest Period”). Please Note: A non-refundable one-time entry fee of $25 per single (1) entry, $35 for two (2) entries is required to submit an entry in this Contest (“Entry Fee”).

HOW TO ENTER:
Click the submit your images button above to pay the non-refundable Entry Fee of $25 per single (1) entry, $35 for two (2) entries, (iii) and complete and submit the online entry form. All entries must be received by December 8st, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. PT to be eligible. Each photograph must be submitted in .JPG or .GIF format and cannot exceed 4 MB in size.
Please note: Entries submitted online will be eligible for (i) the Grand Place Prize (as described below), (ii) Second Place Prize (as described below), (iii) Third Place Prize (as described below), and (iv) Finalist Prize (as described below).
Entry must be the original work of the entrant and entrant must be the sole owner of the copyright of such entry. Entry must be in keeping with the Sponsors’ image and may not be inappropriate or offensive, as determined by the Sponsors in their sole discretion, nor can it defame or invade publicity rights or privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person’s personal or property rights or any other third-party rights. The Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify any entry they deem to be offensive, inappropriate, that is not in keeping with Sponsors’ image or that is otherwise not in compliance with the terms of these Official Rules. Entrant must have obtained express written consent to submit any entry that contains persons other than entrant or third-party elements not owned by entrant and, if requested to do so, produce such written consent from appropriate parties in a form and manner acceptable to the Sponsors.
By submitting an Entry, entrant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsors may obtain many Entries in connection with this Contest and/or other contests staged and/or promoted by the Sponsors, and that such Entries may be similar or identical in theme, idea, format or other respects to other Entries submitted in connection with this Contest and/or other contests sponsored by the Sponsors or submitted for other reasons or other materials developed by the Sponsors. Entrant waives any and all claims entrant may have had, may have, and/or may have in the future, that any Entry and/or other works accepted, reviewed and/or used by the entrant may be similar to his/her Entry, or that any compensation is due to entrant in connection with such Entry or other works used by Sponsors.

GRAND PLACE PRIZE JUDGING:
One (1) potential Grand Place Prize winner, one (1) potential Second Place winner, one (1) potential Third Place winner, and up to twenty-five (25) potential Finalists will be determined from among all eligible entries received by a panel of qualified judges, based equally on the following criteria: Adherence to Theme, Composition and Creativity/Originality (“Judging Criteria”). The entrants who submitted the entry receiving the highest scores, as determined by the Sponsors in their sole discretion, will be the potential winners and finalists respectively.
In the event of a tie for any prize, an additional “tie-breaking” judge will determine the applicable winner or finalists from among those tied using the Criteria. The Sponsors reserve the right to not award any prize if, in their sole discretion, an insufficient number of eligible and qualified entries are received. Decisions of the Sponsors and judges are final and binding.

WINNER NOTIFICATION:
Potential winners will be notified by telephone, mail and/or e-mail between December 4th, 2018 and January 12th, 2019, and will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and, unless prohibited, a Publicity Release, a W-9 Form and any additional documents that may be required by prize provider within fourteen (14) days of date of issuance. If any potential winner is an eligible minor in his or her jurisdiction of residence, prize may, at the Sponsors’ discretion, be awarded in the name of the parent or legal guardian, and such parent or legal guardian will be required to fulfill all requirements imposed on winners set forth herein. Noncompliance with this time period or with these Official Rules, or the return of any prize notification as undeliverable, may result in disqualification and, at the Sponsors’ discretion, the prize will be awarded to an applicable runner-up.

PRIZES:

Grand Place Prize: $2,000 (U$D) cash prize;

One (1) SKB 3i-2011-7DL Camera Case; One (1) Cokin Nuances Extreme Filter Kit; One (1) Cotton Skout Sling Style Harness; One (1) Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD; One (1) Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD; One (1) Expodisc 2.0; One (1) Loupedeck+; One (1) Hardcover, high-quality Bayphoto photo book featuring winners and all finalists; One (1) Exclusive V.I.Photographer Membership (ARV $129); One (1) One-year Zinio Subscription to Outdoor Photographer Magazine (ARV $10.50); Placement as Outdoor Photographer Facebook Cover Photo (ARV priceless); publication in a special multi-spread feature in an issue of Outdoor Photographer (ARV priceless); Publication in the Outdoor Photographer online Winners’ gallery.
Total First Place ARV: Approximately $4,000.00

Second Place Prize: $500 (U$D) cash prize; One (1) SKB 3i-1510-6DL Camera Case; One (1) Hardcover, high-quality Bayphoto photo book featuring winners and all finalists; One (1) Exclusive V.I.Photographer Membership (ARV $129); One (1) One-year Zinio Subscription to Outdoor Photographer Magazine (ARV $10.50); Publication in a special multi-spread feature in an issue of Outdoor Photographer (ARV priceless); Publication in the Outdoor Photographer online Winners’ gallery.
Total Second Place ARV: approximately $800.00

Third Place Prize: $250 (U$D) cash prize; One (1) SKB 3i-1309-6DL Camera Case; One (1) Hardcover, high-quality Bayphoto photo book featuring winners and all finalists; One (1) Exclusive V.I.Photographer Membership (ARV $129); One (1) One-year Zinio Subscription to Outdoor Photographer Magazine (ARV $10.50); publication in a special multi-spread feature in an issue of Outdoor Photographer (ARV priceless); Publication in the Outdoor Photographer online Winners’ gallery (ARV priceless).
Total Third Place ARV: Approximately $600.00

Current total ARV of all prizes: approximately $5,400.00

If, for any reason, the Sponsors do not feature any of the winning entries in Outdoor Photographer Magazine, no compensation or substitution will be provided; however, remainder of prize package will be awarded and the Sponsors will have no further obligation to winners. All prize details are at the sole discretion of the Sponsors. No substitution, cash equivalent or transfer of prizes permitted by winners. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) of comparable or greater value, in their sole discretion. All federal, state and local taxes as well as any costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being awarded are sole responsibility of each winner. Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied by the Sponsors. Limit one (1) prize per household.

USE OF ENTRY:
By submitting an entry, entrant grants the Sponsors and their designees an irrevocable, royalty-free, nonexclusive, worldwide perpetual license to use the entry and his/her name, city and state of residence for credit purposes in Sponsors’ online galleries, without further compensation, notification or permission, unless prohibited by law. In addition, each winner grants to the Sponsors and their designees an irrevocable, royalty-free, nonexclusive, worldwide perpetual license to use and distribute the entry (as submitted, or as cropped by the Sponsors), and his/her name, city and state of residence for credit purposes, in any and all media now or hereafter known, including without limitation in Outdoor Photographer, and any Madavor Media magazines for purposes of promotion of this Contest except as otherwise stated herein, without further compensation, notification or permission, unless prohibited by law.

USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Your personal information collected in connection with this Contest will be used in accordance with Madavor Media’s Privacy Policy (available at http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/privacy-policy) including, without limitation, for marketing and promotional purposes.

MISCELLANEOUS: Released Parties (as defined below) are not responsible for late, lost, garbled, damaged, incomplete, delayed, undelivered, or misdirected entries or photographs or for computer, technical, printing, typographical, human or other errors relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, inability to access any website associated with the Contest, errors which may occur in the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of entries, the announcement of the prizes or in any Contest-related materials. If for any reason the Contest (or any portion thereof) is not capable of running as planned, including infection by tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and, if terminated, at its discretion, determine winners from among all non-suspect, eligible entries received up to time of such action using judging procedure described above. By participating, entrant agrees (i) to be bound by the terms of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsors and judges, which are final and binding in all respects, and (ii) to hold the Sponsors and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, prize suppliers and advertising and promotion agencies, and the respective directors, officers, employees and agents of the foregoing (collectively, the “Released Parties”), harmless against any and all claims and liability arising, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, out of or in connection with participation in this Contest, acceptance and use of any prize or Released Parties’ use of any of the rights granted herein. Sponsors may disqualify (and void all associated entries) anyone from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that such person is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, deception or other unfair practices, or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrant or Sponsors’ representatives or who is otherwise not in compliance with the terms of these rules. ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

WINNERS’ LIST: For the list of winners (available after January 16th, 2019), send a separate, stamped, self-addressed envelope to: OP Nature’s Colors Photo Contest Winners’ List, Attn: Marketing Department, 25 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 404, Braintree, MA 02184, to be received by February 23rd, 2019.

SPONSORS:
Madavor Media, 25 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 404, Braintree, MA 02184
SKB, 434 West Levers Place, Orange, CA 92867
Cotton Carrier, 1849 Welch Street, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7P1B7, Canada
Expodisc, 121 Aviation Way, Watsonville, CA, 95076
Western Digital, 5601 Great Oaks Parkway, San Jose, CA 95119
SanDisk, 951 SanDisk Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035-7933
Cokin, 7642 Woodwind Drive Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Bayphoto, 920 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066