CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Photographers visiting West Virginia’s state parks, forests, and rail trails this autumn have until November 6 to enter a statewide photography contest for a chance to win a resort stay and other prizes for images that capture the season’s changing colors.
The West Virginia State Parks Foundation invites amateur and professional photographers to submit up to three photographs featuring fall foliage in qualifying recreation areas. Winners will receive prizes, including a free two-night stay at a West Virginia resort state park, and recognition in the Foundation’s publications and on social media.
Brad Reed, the foundation’s executive director, said the photography benefits the state park system and the foundation’s efforts to support parks.
“We recently wrapped up our summer photo contest,” Reed said. “We received hundreds of incredible submissions that showcased our state park areas as true four-season destinations.”
Photographs must be taken in West Virginia state parks, state forests, or rail trails managed by the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources. Eligible subjects include landscapes, wildlife, outdoor recreation, families, pets, and park features, as long as the scene shows autumn color.
Read also: The story behind the Glade Creek gristmill at Babcock State Park
“As our fall weather approaches and the leaves begin to turn, visitation from both residents and tourists increases significantly,” Reed said. “We encourage park guests to enjoy everything these special places have to offer—and to capture those unforgettable moments through photography to share with others.”
How to enter the fall photography contest
According to the foundation’s guidelines, photographers may submit up to three original images by emailing them to info@lovewvstateparks.com before the November 6 deadline.
The contest has one award category, fall color, although photographs may feature a variety of subjects and activities within qualifying recreation areas.
Minor photographic adjustments are permitted, but heavily manipulated images, excessive saturation, watermarks, and substantial alterations to exposure or contrast are prohibited.
Entrants whose photographs include identifiable people must obtain written permission from those individuals and submit the permission with their entries.
Foundation and division representatives will judge submissions based on photographic quality, composition, content, originality, creativity, and overall appeal.
Photographers retain ownership of their images but grant the foundation and the division a perpetual, nonexclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce and use submitted photographs, including for promotional and commercial purposes, and will provide photographer credit when feasible.
The contest follows a summer photography competition that attracted hundreds of submissions and is intended to encourage visitors to explore West Virginia’s public recreation areas throughout the year.
The West Virginia State Parks Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that supports improvements to state parks through fundraising, advocacy, and partnerships with local park foundations.
The foundation’s official website has complete entry requirements and contest rules.