The entry forms for 2021 are now closed, but keep snapping and watch for next year’s contest!
Lepidoptera – meaning butterflies and moths – are some of our favorite insects and photographers of all ages love capturing their beauty through the camera. Enter your best images in the 2021 butterfly photo contest here!
There is no fee to enter the contest. Entries must be received by 5:00 pm (EDT) on Sunday, September 5, 2021. Winners will be notified by email and announced on the WBG website and Facebook Page by 5:00 pm (EDT) on Monday, September 6, 2021.
Read all the rules below, or download the printer-friendly PDF. Then send us up to 3 photos using the correct entry form for your age category. Note that the forms for minors include additional information and permission fields.
NOTE: Complete your entry form using a computer due to the image upload function. Attempting to upload images from a mobile device (phone or tablet) will result in an ERROR code and not allow you to complete the entry.
2021 BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL PHOTO CONTEST RULES
The contest is open to any photographer, amateur or professional, young or young at heart. WBG Board Members and the Butterfly Festival Planning Team are not eligible to enter. The following rules apply to all age categories:
- Photographs must be of Lepidoptera native to Virginia. This includes butterflies, skippers, and moths.
- Photographs may be of any stage of Lepidoptera life cycle, including egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, or adult.
- Photographs must be taken in Virginia.
- Photographs may not include people or other animals.
- Any type of camera may be used to create the photographs.
- Photographs must be submitted in digital form (JPG or PNG) using one of the three entry forms on the website. Each age category has its own entry form.
- Photographs must be a single, unique image. Multiple image composites are not allowed.
- Entrants may submit up to 3 digital images. File size is limited to 64 MB per file.
- The addition of text and/or a watermark or copyright is not allowed.
- Moderate image manipulation is allowed as follows:
- Cropping, resizing, and rotation are allowed. Sharpening is allowed. Noise reduction is allowed. Minor tonal adjustments to improve the natural appearance of the image such as saturation, white balance, contrast, brightness, hue, saturation and color balance are allowed. One-step enhancements, such as “Auto Fix,” “Quick Fix,” “Auto Levels,” etc. are allowed. Minor use of filters to sharpen, soften, blur, and/or despeckle is allowed. Dust spots may be removed.
- The addition or subtraction of elements from the image is NOT allowed
- Photographs that portray the harassment of wildlife or damage to the environment are not allowed.
- All entries must be received by 5:00 pm (EDT) August 31, 2021. DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 5 pm SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5. Winners will be announced by 5 pm on Monday, September 6.
- All entries must be the original work taken by the photographer named on the entry form. Submitted images must not violate copyright laws and must not infringe on any patent.
- All entries may be used, with or without photo credit, by the Williamsburg Botanical Garden for marketing and promotional purposes in any form it deems appropriate to further the mission of the Garden.
- By submitting images to this WBG Photo Contest, you affirm that you have read all the rules, that you understand the rules, and that you agree to abide by the rules.
Additional Information Regarding Minors
a) When photo credit is given to photographers under the age of 18, only the first name and initial of the last name, along with the minor’s age, will be published.
b) Entry forms for photographers under the age of 18 require the full name and email address of a parent or guardian.
Judging Information
a) Entries will be judged by members of the Butterfly Festival Planning Team. The decisions of the judges are final. WBG reserves the right to disqualify any entry that is deemed inappropriate or does not conform to stated contest rules.
b) Judging will take place between September 1 and September 5, 2021.
c) Images will be judged based on composition, visual impact, originality, and artistic merit.
d) Contest results will be announced on the WBG website and Facebook Page by 5 pm (EDT) on Sunday, September 5, 2021.
e) All entrants will be notified of the contest results by email.
By submitting photographic images to the WBG’s Photo Contest, you agree that any image may be used by the WBG, with or without photo by line credit, for advertising and marketing to promote the mission of the Garden. This may include the WBG website, its social media accounts, and any other promotional material as the WBG deems appropriate.
If you have questions about this photography contest, please email the WBG at butterflyfest@wbgvagarden.org.