Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Opens Its Annual Photo Contest

PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN | OHIOPYLE STATE PARK

Professional and amateur photographers alike have the chance to be featured in the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation’s photo showcase gallery.

The organization has opened submissions for its 2026 Annual Photo Contest, which invites photographers of all skill levels to capture the beauty, heritage and community of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests.

This year’s theme, “Freedom to Explore,” celebrates 250 years of Pennsylvania’s outdoor heritage. PPFF encourages participants to celebrate their experiences in a favorite place or spark an entirely new adventure in Pennsylvania’s ample wilds.

PPFF’s blue ribbon panel of experts will select a Judges’ Choice in each category prior to the photos being made available for public voting on the PPFF Facebook page. The top vote-getter among all submissions will be named the People’s Choice Best in Show.

Award winners may be included on PPFF’s website, Facebook page and other electronic and print communications. Award winning photographs may also be showcased in photo exhibitions at locations and times yet to be determined.

The organization has traditionally offered state park gift cards to our winning photographers and expects them to be available for 2026. The prizes are as follows:

•  Both Best in Show winners (People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice) receive a $75 gift card.
•  The People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice winners in each category receive a $50 gift card.
•  The runner-up in each category receives a $25 gift card.

Photographers may submit images under the following categories:

• Pursuit of Happiness: Joy, play, quiet moments, and relaxation in nature.
• Freedom to Belong: People of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities enjoying public lands; inclusive recreation.
• Voices of the Land: Stories of place — historic structures, cultural sites, Indigenous landscapes, CCC legacy, and ecological features.
• We the Stewards: Volunteers, conservation work, community caretaking, youth programs, and trail crews.
• Paths Through Time: Natural and cultural heritage; landscapes that have witnessed centuries of change; “then & now” recreation.
• Young Photographer (Ages 12–17): PPFF encourages young photographers to use the five main categories above to guide their submissions.

All photos must be taken in a Pennsylvania state park or forest, and each submission must be in .jpg form and be identified with your name, the category entered and the state park/forest in which it was taken. Each photo can only be entered into one category. For additional rules and information, visit the organization’s website.

All entries must be received by Sept. 30.