The upcoming 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act presents an opportunity to capture what decades of Gorge protection look like.
Thanks to decades of conservation efforts in the Gorge, your lens can capture a bounty of visual delights—astonishing landscapes, vibrant communities, diverse flora and fauna, and more—that inspires photographers the world over.
Showcase the best of your Gorge photos in Picturing Protection, Friends of the Columbia Gorge's sixth annual photo contest. Courtesy of contest sponsor Pro Photo Supply, you could win upgrades to your photography equipment.
2020 has been a year of uncertainty, but the brilliance of a protected Columbia Gorge remains dependable.
To take part in the contest, submit your photos using the form below. The entry period expires end of day Dec. 31, 2020.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for contest updates. If you post your photos on social media, use the hashtag #gorgephotocontest.
Questions/concerns? Email Digital Content Specialist Stan Hall, stan@gorgefriends.org.
Gorge Community Life: The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area includes 13 designated Urban Areas (Oregon: Cascade Locks, Hood River, Mosier, The Dalles; Washington: North Bonneville, Stevenson, Carson, Home Valley, White Salmon, Bingen, Lyle, Dallesport, Wishram), each with its own distinctive character and community life. Whether you live in the National Scenic Area or a visitor, we welcome your photos taken of and in Gorge communities.
Human Works: From the first Indigenous inhabitants through the road builders of the 20th century, people have left lasting evidence of their interactions with the Gorge landscape. Category could include petroglyphs and other art; infrastructure and examples of the sustainable built environment.
Scenic Eastern Gorge: (I-84 Exit 58 [OR] and Cook [WA] to eastern boundary [scroll down to second map] of the National Scenic Area) - Please note, Western or Eastern designation will be determined by location of photographer; it is especially helpful if you note this in photo description.
Scenic Western Gorge: (western boundary of the National Scenic Area to Viento State Park [OR] and Dog Creek Falls [WA]) - A breathtaking photo of the Gorge often says more than words about the need to protect this special place. This category includes vistas, waterfalls and anything else that constitutes a view of a natural Gorge landscape.
Wildflowers: Are you sitting on a bunch of great photos you took this spring and summer of some of the 800-plus types of wildflowers that bloom in the Gorge, more than a dozen of which grow nowhere else on the planet?
Wildlife: From birds and waterfowl, to migrating salmon and basking turtles, to elusive bears and pika, the Gorge is home to an abundance of wildlife. Can your camera capture that perfect image of wildlife in their element?
Youth Photographer: Instilling a sense of love and responsibility from a young age is important for developing future generations of Gorge protectors. This category includes photos of any subject submitted by photographers under 18 years old (please note age on photo submission form).
When taking photos, please stay on trails and practice Leave No Trace principles.
Be COVID safe in the Gorge! Please practice Oregon and Washington guidelines during your visit.
View the winning and honorable mention photos from Friends' 2019 photo contest.
The winning photographs will be publicly announced in spring 2021. Winners and honorable mentions will be contacted via email by Friends staff.
Grand Prize: $150 Pro Photo Supply gift card, large print of winning photo
Category Winners: $75 Pro Photo Supply gift card, large print of winning photo
The form uploads one photo at a time (refresh page after photo submission to enter more photos). Please read the rules below before entering photos. Each submission generates a confirmation email; check your junk or spam folder if you don't see it.
Copyright 2020 Friends of the Columbia Gorge