Registration to enter the 11th biannual Wildling Nature Photography Competition, hosted by the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature in Solvang, is now open. The theme of this competition’s latest recurrence is Critters of the Tri-County Region, as applicants are encouraged to submit photos of all forms of wildlife—land and sea mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects—so long as they are found within the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, or Ventura.
“We are fortunate to have a wealth of local wildlife and we’re excited to highlight native species in the newest iteration of our photography competition,” Stacey Otte-Demangate, executive director of the museum, said in a press release. “We want to encourage our museum followers to find solace in nature during these uncertain times, and often there’s no better place to start than your own backyard.”
The competition is open to photographers of all ages and is divided into two categories: adult (ages 18 and over) and youth (ages 17 and under). Photographers in the adult category will compete for prizes of $250 (first place), $100 (second place), and $50 (third place). Winners of the youth category will receive $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and a family membership to the museum (third place).
Applicants may only submit five or fewer photos. The entry fee is $10 per photograph (Wildling membership holders may use one complimentary entry). The Wildling Museum’s board of directors and staff members are not eligible for entry. The deadline for submissions is July 6. Semi-finalists will be notified on July 26.
Although concrete scheduling will be contingent upon California’s COVID-19 reopening guidelines, the Wildling Museum hopes to display competition finalists on-site starting Sept. 12 (finalists and winners will be showcased online in September regardless). For entry forms or more info, visit wildlingmuseum.org or call the museum directly at (805) 688-1082.
This article appears in Apr 23-30, 2020.