The American Landscape 2020 Contest Winners

Grand Prize: Gary Grossman
Title: Dawn's Early Light
“The photograph was shot at daybreak in early February 2020 at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Washington. The refuge is on the Pacific Flyway and is part of a diverse chain of habitats extending from the arctic to the tropics. As pink highlights appeared on the clouds, a flock of geese broke from their nightly roost and flew overhead with many of them reflected in the wetland pond.”
Canon 6D Mark II, Canon EF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM at 40mm. Exposure: 1/40th sec., f/11, ISO 1000.

Second Place: Thomas Gibson
Title: Mesquite Dunes #2
“This image was shot at sunrise in Death Valley National Park. My favorite time of day to photograph the sand dunes is at sunrise because it never disappoints and always provides some surprises. The light was starting to get specular, so I started my trek back to the car but then stopped to take another look back at the dunes. What I saw was the different layers of dunes and I was inspired. It was the last shot I got that morning before the light was completely flat.”
Nikon D810, Nikon 200-500mm f5.6 lens at 240mm, Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod, Markins Q-ball ballhead. Exposure: 1/125 sec., f/13.

Third Place: Don Pelliccia
Title: Cypress Cove
“During a late fall photography trip, a couple of friends and I kayaked through what looked like an enchanted forest of amazing cypress trees. At one point, I paddled off to explore an area thick with trees and I could see that there was an interesting cove a little farther ahead of me. As I navigated closer, the morning light began to break through the cypress, illuminating their leaves with a bright orange glow. The water at this location was about a foot over my tripod, so I quickly had to shoot this image handheld from the kayak before the amazing colors from the light disappeared.”
Sony a7R III, 70-200mm f/4 lens at 200mm, polarizer. Exposure: 1/160 sec., f/6.3, ISO 1000.
Check Out The American Landscape 2020 Contest Finalists
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Prizes

Grand Prize
- $1,000 USD Cash Prize
- One (1) Tamron SP 15-30mm ƒ/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens
- One (1) Haida M15 Kit for Tamron SP 15-30mm G2 Lens
- One (1) Haida M15 Magnetic CPL
- One (1) One-year Outdoor Photographer VIP Membership
- One (1) Inclusion in Bayphoto Finalists and Winners Book
- Placement as Outdoor Photographer Facebook Cover Photo
- Publication in a special multi-spread feature in an issue of Outdoor Photographer
- Publication in the Outdoor Photographer online Winners’ gallery

Second Prize
- $500 USD cash prize
- One (1) Tamron 17-35mm ƒ/2.8-4 Di OSD
- One (1) One-year Outdoor Photographer Plus Membership
- One (1) Inclusion in Bayphoto Finalists and Winners Book
- Publication in a special multi-spread feature in an issue of Outdoor Photographer
- Publication in the Outdoor Photographer online Winners’ gallery

Third Prize
- $250 USD cash prize
- One (1) One-year Outdoor Photographer Plus Membership
- One (1) Inclusion in Bayphoto Finalists and Winners Book
- Publication in a special multi-spread feature in an issue of Outdoor Photographer
- Publication in the Outdoor Photographer online Winners’ gallery.

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:
- The name of the contest (2020 The American Landscape Photo Contest)
- Your username
- The image ID # (if applicable)
- The exact nature of your problem
Question: Who may enter?
Contest is open to individuals over the age of 18 and are residents of the U.S or Canada (excluding Quebec).
Question: How do I enter?
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.
Question: In what format should I submit my photos?
Each photograph must be submitted in .JPG format and cannot exceed 4 MB in size.
Question: How many photos may I enter?
You may enter as many times as you like. The entry rate is $25 for a single photo submission, and $35 for two photo submissions. You may purchase either submission package as many times as you’d like.
Simply visit the entry page at https://www.outdoorphotographer.com/photo-contests/the-american-landscape/ and the system will determine your order status.
Question: Can I pass the word on this competition to my friends, classmates, Facebook/Twitter followers, etc.?
Yes, please! The link to the contest portal is https://www.outdoorphotographer.com/photo-contests/the-american-landscape/
Question: Do I have to print or mail in my photos?
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?
Entries must be a single image as captured by the camera, with adjustments limited to standard photo processing such as color and exposure adjustments and basic retouching such as spot removal or noise reduction.
Images must not be “composite images” that combine subjects or elements from different scenes—replacing a background or sky, for example.
Exceptions include the use of HDR exposure stacking, focus stacking or similar techniques used for a single composition where the camera was not moved. As part of the judging process, our judges at their discretion may request the original RAW file or JPEG capture for review.
Question: Can I watermark my photos?
While we prefer you do not use watermarks on your submitted images because they can muddle the judging process, we understand that you want to protect your work. You may use a small watermark in the corner of your image, but we ask that you refrain from using a substantial watermark that covers a large portion of your photograph.
Question: When will the winners be notified?
August, 2020.
Question: When will the winners be announced?
All winners will be announced online in August, 2020.
Question: What are the prizes?
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?
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 accidentally submitted duplicate photos, or there was some sort of error while submitting and I wasn’t able to complete my description. What do I do?
Send us an email at [email protected]. In your email, please indicate:
- The name of the contest (2020 The American Landscape Photo Contest)
- Your username
- The image ID # (if applicable)
- The exact nature of your problem (please include the name(s) of your submission(s)
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.
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:
- The name of the contest (2020 The American Landscape Photo Contest)
- Your username
- The image ID # (if applicable)
- The exact nature of your problem
Outdoor Photographer The American Landscape 2020 Official Rules
ELIGIBILITY:
Outdoor Photographer’s 2020 The American Landscape Photo Contest (“Contest”) is open only to individuals who are over 18 years of age and who are residents of the U.S. and Canada (excluding Quebec). 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 February 4, 2020 at 7:00 AM PDT, and end on May 15, 2020 at 11:59 PM PDT (the “Contest Period”). After May 16, users can still submit photos from May 16, 2020 at 12:00 AM PDT until May 21, 2020 at 11:59 PM PDT (the “Extension Period”) at an increased price.
HOW TO ENTER:
Click the submit your images button above to submit. All entries must be received by May 19th, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. PDT to be eligible. Each photograph must be submitted in .JPG and cannot exceed 4 MB in size. Entry fees during the Contest Period are $25 for one submission and $35 for two submissions. Entry fees during the Extension Period may increase.
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 in August, 2020 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: $1,000 (U$D) cash prize;
One (1) Tamron 15-30mm G2 Lens (ARV $999); One (1) Haida M15 Kit for Tamron SP 15-30mm G2 Lens (ARV $210); One (1) Haida M15 Magnetic CPL (ARV $220); One (1) One-year Outdoor Photographer VIP Membership (ARV $99.88); One (1) Inclusion in Bayphoto Finalists and Winners Book; Placement as Outdoor Photographer’s 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 $2,528.88
Second Place Prize: $500 (U$D) cash prize;
One (1) 17-35 Tamron Lens (ARV $599); One (1) One-year Outdoor Photographer Plus Membership (ARV $59.88); One (1) Inclusion in Bayphoto Finalists and Winners Book; 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 1,158.88
Third Place Prize: $250 (U$D) cash prize;
One (1) One-year Outdoor Photographer Plus Membership (ARV $59.88); One (1) Inclusion in Bayphoto Finalists and Winners Book; publication in a special multi-spread feature in an issue of Outdoor Photographer (ARV priceless); Publication in the Outdoor Photographer online Winners’ gallery.
Total Third Place ARV: Approximately $319.88
Current total ARV of all prizes: approximately $4,007.64
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, the 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 https://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 August 2020), send a separate, stamped, self-addressed envelope to: OPH 2020 The American Landscape Photo Contest Winners’ List, Attn: Marketing Department, 25 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 404, Braintree, MA 02184, to be received by September 30, 2020.
SPONSORS:
Madavor Media, 25 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 404, Braintree, MA 02184
Tamron, 10 Austin Blvd., Commack, NY 11725
Haida, Room 1304, Building B7, Smart Park, 99th North Xiangyun Road, Hi-tech District, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Bayphoto, 920 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066