Guidelines
- Open to all - amateur or professional!
- Photographs must be taken in the Taunton River Watershed within the last five years and be the sole property of the submitting party
- Photos should be conservation minded and include at least one of the following:
- Wildlife
- Scenery
- Recreational Activities/people enjoying the watershed (including at TRWA events)
- Agriculture
- Seasonal Features
- History and Archaeology
If you use photo editing software, please adhere to these specifications:
- Image size 3100 x 2400 pixels. Aspect ratio 1.33 or 1.66
- Image resolution of 220 dpi or greater, 300 dpi is preferable.
- File size must be at least 1MB, but please no larger 16 MB.
- No watermarks, stamps, or screen shots.
- Limit AI photoediting to a minimum, touch ups only, do not add or subtract elements. Photographs shot with HDR & long exposures are OK.
A note on AI assisted photo editing vs. AI content manipulation:
The TRWA embraces the amazing photo editing technology that is now widely available, especially as it allows everyday casual observers to capture the amazing beauty of the watershed. However, as this is a contest with the theme of showcasing the watershed, we are looking for photos shot in the spirit of seeing the scene as the photographer experienced it with no alterations to its "content."
Which means the photograph should depict the subject matter/location as it appears. If the scene has trash or a lot of vines, we really do want to see the Taunton River Watershed as it is, the good, the bad, the vines and the trash. Please keep photo editing to a minimum—adjusting exposure, color correcting, boosting focus, cropping, straightening a horizon line is acceptable. Do not add AI generated content, even if you own the digital elements you wish to combine/add. Please do not remove elements either. If the contest organizers find evidence of extreme image manipulation, your submission may be disqualified.
Other reasons for image disqualification: Our print on demand software cannot print photos shot in Panoramic lens mode or extra wide lens mode. Nor can it print photos shot vertically (portrait). We find that photographs taken through a social media ap like Snap Chat are not of a high enough resolution. Please use the phone camera and not a social media ap to take the shot. And remember, turn the phone sideways!
Photographs (maximum 5 per photographer) must be submitted in electronic .jpg file. Submissions will be judged in September with notification of acceptances at the end of the month. Thirteen winning photographs will be featured in the calendar. Photographers will be awarded one free copy of the final calendar.
Teen entrants who are under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian sign the calendar contest entry form.
Deadline for image submission is September 2, 2026.
Questions? please email TRWA calendar coordinator at trwacalendarcontest@savethetaunton.org
