If you enjoy outdoor photography and would like a chance to see your work in publication, you may be interested in the Sixth Annual National Natural Landmarks photo contest.
As the name suggests, this contest is limited to images of sites included in the National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program. What's that? I glad you asked. Although these sites may sound like yet another of those oft-confusing categories of national parks, they're quite different.
"The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program is administered by the National Park Service and was established in 1962 to identify and recognize outstanding examples of our country’s natural history. Sites which are included in the program represent "the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership."
"Approximately 52% of NNLs are administered by public agencies, more than 30% are entirely privately owned, and the remaining 18% are owned or administered by a mixture of public agencies and private owners."
"Site designations are awarded by the Secretary of the Interior following an extensive evaluation process and the landowner’s concurrence. The 586 National Natural Landmarks designated thus far range in size from less than four acres to over 900,000 acres; all of them possess scientific significance, educational value and exceptional scenic beauty."
The easiest way to find a NNL is to use an on-line directory, which allows you to search by states and then click on listed sites for more information.
Now, about the photo contest. You'll find a complete list of rules and an entry form on-line. As is true of any contest, be sure to read them before submitting your photos. Here are a few highlights:
• The contest ends on June 30, 2009. Entries can be submitted by e-mail or U.S. Mail.
• Each entrant may submit up to three photographs to the contest, but each photograph must be from a different NNL site.
• Digital, print, and slide photographs are eligible, although digital images are preferred.
• Thirteen winning photographs will be selected; winners will be announced in September 2009.Winning photographs will appear in the 2010 NNL calendar.
• Each of the winning entrants will receive five copies of the calendar; the overall first, second and third place winners will be recognized and will receive a NNL related prize in addition to the calendars.
Before you head out on a photo shoot, keep the following disclaimer in mind:
"NNLs are not National Parks. NNL status does not indicate public ownership, and many sites are not open for visitation."
A little more than half of the NNL's are in public ownership, so with a little planning, you shouldn't have any problem finding locations that are readily open to the public. Although many of these sites are not widely known, others are familiar destinations. The volcanic crater Diamond Head on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii; the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, and the Rancho La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles, California have been designated as NNLs.
Like to get an idea of the level of competition before you enter? You can view the winners of the 2008 contest at this link.
For more information about the NNL program, check the FAQ page on the program's website. If your photographic interest involves history rather than nature, stay tuned for a companion National Historic Landmarks contest to be announced later this year.
UPDATE: In response to questions about the photographer's rights to photos entered in this contest, I contacted the contest coordinator. She confirms that the NPS will retain the physical or electronic copy of all items submitted, but the photographer retains legal ownership of the image. Entry in the contest does grant the NPS a non-exclusive right to use the photo, as the agency sees fit.
Photographers will have to decide before entering if the potential national exposure of the winner's images is sufficient compensation. That would be a nice entry on a photographer's resume, but if you think your image has sales potential in a very competitive marketplace, you may want to forgo this and most other photo contests.
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Comments
Be sure to read the rules of the contest carefully. From the contest rules
"All entries become the property of the National Park Service and will not be returned to the entrant. Submission of an entry shall constitute the grant of a non-exclusive, royalty free license to the National Park Service, and its’ sublicensees, to reproduce, display, prepare derivative works, distribute to the public by sale or other transfer, and to utilize the photograph submitted for any governmental purpose, including but not limited to publication on the World Wide Web, interpretive publications, and commercial uses. Entrants further grant to the National Park Service the right of use and to publish their proper
name and state of residence on the World Wide Web and in print, or in any other media in connection with the Contest. Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for the National Park Service to use winners’ names and likeness for promotional purposes without additional compensation."
Make sure you're comfortable with these terms before entering the contest.
Sorry, I'm NOT comfortable with giving up the rights to my photos so I won't even consider entering.
Thanks for the comments. The previous two concerns are certainly valid, which is why I included the following information in the original story:
I'm not promoting this contest, and have no involvement in it, but as an avid photographer who has had the good fortune to sell a few photos, I will point out that the type of rights granted by entering a photo in this contest are similar to many similar contests for outdoor photos.
If I read the rules correctly, those entering the contest do give the NPS permission to use the photo as they wish, at no cost. Perhaps that's an issue only if you envision the possibility of selling the photo yourself elsewhere.
The trade-off is that winners will have the satisfaction of seeing their work in print on a quality calendar, and getting credit for their work. Whether that potential satisfaction (and nice entry on your photo resume) off-sets the possible loss of a future sale of the same photo is a personal decision for each photographer.
The one item that might be a point of confusion in the rules is the statement, "All entries become the property of the National Park Service and will not be returned to the entrant." I took that to mean the physical copy of the photo entered becomes the "property of the NPS..." because the organizers don't want the time and expense involved in returning all of the items entered to the submitter.
It appears that what you're granting is a NON-exclusive license to the NPS by entering your photo, which I understand means that you're still free to do what you please with the photo elsewhere. You aren't giving away your ownership of the photo, only a license to use it as described - that's a pretty significant difference. If it's published as a result of your entry in the contest, the photo's market value would probably be diminished, at least for similar uses.
I'll see if I can get clarification from the contest organizers, and will post any follow-up information as a comment to this story.
I'd be happy to have anyone with expertise in the area of contract law for photographers weigh in on this - and by all means, please correct me if I'm wrong :-)
As an intellectual property attorney, I agree with the way that Mr. Burnett is reading the rules. The actual physical copy is retained by the National Park Service and the photographer grants a non-exclusive, royalty free license to the National Park Service to use the photos. It is the only real way to rationalize the statements. Having reviewed the materials related to the National Natural Landmarks program, it is obvious that the NPS uses some of the same winning photos in other contexts, e.g. in brochures and other materials, and to announce the winners.
I personally don't see what the big deal is to "Chip, " as it does seem pretty similar to other photographic contests. But if "Chip" doesn't enter, that's OK with me because it will improve my odds.
John -
Thanks for the input and expert opinion.
I've requested clarification from the contest coordinator as well.