Celebrate Nature through Art
The National Audubon Society is named after John James Audubon who was a great artist as well as a naturalist, who documented many birds with paintings, in the 1800s. We realize many folks who love nature are also artists, often in different mediums.
Prairie Hills Audubon Society thus has an objective to “celebrate nature through art” and below we let you know of some contests related to nature & art and about an opportunity to share photos for science..
Here is a hyperlink to J.J. Audubon’s “Birds of America” plates – that show many of his paintings. These posted images are a little faded in color relative to the originals:
https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america
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Endangered Species Coalition – Chalk Art Competition
ESC normally has some art related events each year related to
Endangered Species Day. Endangered Species Day in the third Friday in
May (every year) and Prairie Hills Audubon Society and other western SD
groups will host a face-to-face celebration or Zoom meeting or other
events around May, 15th and/or May, 16th 2025. We hope to integrate some art events related to endangered species this spring (2026) into our yearly spring celebration of endangered species.
CHALK ART COMPETITION – DRAWING ENDANGERED SPECIES
Each year the Endangered Species Coalition (ESC) have a
chalk art competition – where folks draw endangered species in chalk on
sidewalks or elsewhere. For 2025 competition’s details – https://www.endangered.org/endangered-species-chalk-art-event/ . The Endangered Species Coalition is planning this competition again in 2026.
Prairie Hills Audubon Society has applied to the National Audubon Society for a $1,000 grant to buy chalk to distribute free, establish a new prize category and help defray costs of any events we plan, related to creating chalk art. We hope to have some chalk drawing events to participate in this contest of the Coalition, but we wait till early January to see if we get the grant. If anyone is a teacher, recreation
leader, Art Guild member, or other person interested in helping children/adults to compete in this competition, contact Nancy at 605-787-6466 or 787-2806 (cell) or phas.wsd@rapidnet.com. If we don’t get the grant we may still do some activities, just no at the scale, we will do if we get the grant award.
We give you data below on other historic Endangered Species Coalitions
art events – Competitions for art work created in traditional media – a competition held in 2022, & in 2023. They did not have this competition in 2025 and substituted a “Collaborating For Biodiversity” Art Contest instead. Here is link to 2025 announcement of that: https://www.endangered.org/collaboratingforbidiversity/
Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest
The Endangered Species Coalition (ESC) announcement of old historic Art events/contests – that were discontinued.,
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What Is Nature Photography Day?
June 15
Each year, June 15 is designated by
the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) to promote the
enjoyment of nature photography, and to explain how images are used to
advance the cause of conservation and protect plants, wildlife, and
landscapes both locally and globally.
Audubon’s Annual Photo Contest Entry Period (recycles every year)
National Audubon Society has a photography contest every spring, which
entry period normally starts some time in January –
In 2026 it starts January 15th, 2026 at 12 pm ET : https://www.audubon.org/photoawards-entry
Subject to Official Rules available on 01/15/26.
In 2025 it started on January 15th, 2025 and might have ended March 5th..Last years rules:
https://www.audubon.org/photography/awards/official-contest-rules
This event recycles every year, in a similar time frame & mode. – you were able to submit photos/videos between January 10th, 2024 at 12 pm-February 28th, 2024 at 12 pm. https://www.audubon.org/get-outside/audubon-photography-awards-2024-official-rules
Judges awarded eight prizes to photographers and videographers in 2023: the Grand Prize, Professional Prize, Amateur Prize, Youth Prize, Plants for Birds Prize, Fisher Prize, Female Bird Prize, and Video Prize.
Prizes in 2024 included :
Grand Prize: $5,000 USD
Professional Prize: $2,500 USD
Amateur Prize: $2,500 USD
Plants for Birds Prize: $2,500 USD
Video Prize: $2,500 USD
Female Bird Prize: $1,000 USD
Birds in Landscape: $1,000 USD
Fisher Prize: $1,000 USD
Youth Prize: Six days at Audubon’s Hog Island Audubon Camp for Teens during the 2024 season
Previous Years winners
There are some very nice photos to look at.
The winning photos were already sent out in Audubon’s magazine
https://www.audubon.org/section/audubon-photography-awards
View 2025 award winning photos:
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/2025-audubon-photography-awards-winners
2024 winners
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/2024-audubon-photography-awards-winners-and-honorable-mentions
2023 winners
https://www.audubon.org/news/2023-audubon-photography-awards-winners-and-honorable-mentions
2022 winners
https://www.audubon.org/news/the-2022-audubon-photography-awards-top-100
2021 winners
https://www.audubon.org/news/the-2021-audubon-photography-awards-top-100
2020 winners
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2020/the-2020-audubon-photography-awards-winners
2019-2017 winners
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2019/the-2019-audubon-photography-awards-top-100
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2018/the-2018-audubon-photography-awards-top-100
https://www.audubon.org/news/the-2017-audubon-photography-awards-top-100
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Roger Tory Petersen Institute (RTPI) is proud to host the first exhibition of
current and past winners of the Environmental Impact Award. Roger Tory Petersen is the author of birding guides, that we think, historically were all that was available – in the old days. Award winners featured include:
https://rtpi.org/exhibitions/knowing-where-to-stand-nanpa-environmental-impact-award-winners/
About RTPI – https://rtpi.org/about/
RTPI mission is to foster an appreciation for Nature through exhibitions of Art that Matters to the Planet.
RTPI’s Vision:
Through exhibitions and programs, the Roger Tory Peterson Institute will be an epicenter for harnessing the power of art to illuminate the beauty of nature, to raise awareness of the critical environmental challenges of our time, and to inspire preservation of the earth’s diversity of life.
Home to the largest collection of Roger Tory Peterson’s original artwork and related archival materials, RTPI will nurture the next generation of nature artists through exhibitions and artist residencies.
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Snapshot South Dakota
Snapshot South Dakota is a SD Game Fish and Parks department sponsored contest that is focused on capturing the beauty of our outdoor resources in South Dakota. https://gfp.sd.gov/pages/snapshot-south-dakota/
We think SD GFP offered this contest for a couple of years, took one year off & they have restarted it in 2024 and 2025. Deadline to submit photos for the summer period will be November 14, 2025. Voting for People’s Choice will begin in early December.
2025 Categories
- State Park Scenes
- Water Recreation
- Four-Legged Friend
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
-
For further questions about Snapshot South Dakota, please contact Allie Ellingson at Allie.Ellingson@state.sd.us.
SDGFP Tatanka photo contest – the 2025 deadline is past
https://gfp.sd.gov/tatanka-photo-contest/
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North American Nature Photography Association
Quote – “Today, boasting 2,500 members, NANPA provides
information, education, inspiration, and opportunity for all persons
interested in nature photography through tools and principles that
include ethics, conservation, advocacy, education, and networking.
NANPA acknowledges excellence in the field
through a robust awards program, which includes its Environmental Impact
Award. This award honors a photographic project undertaken by an
individual or a team that addresses an important and urgent regional or
global environmental problem.
The National Wildlife® Photo Contest!
The 2026 contest runs January 14 through March 22, 2026. – https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/Photo-Contest
National Wildlife magazine’s 54th annual photo contest is closed (1/15/25- 4/6/25). All entries support the conservation mission of the National Wildlife Federation, which is dedicated to saving wildlife species and habitats. Amateur and professional photographers alike are encouraged to share their best images of wildlife and wild lands, from around the world and their own backyards. Good luck!
You can submit images in any of these nine categories:
• Birds
• Mammals
• Baby Animals (young of any species)
• Other Wildlife (underwater life, reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders, macro and more)
• Landscapes & Plants (from broad vistas to single blooms)
• People in Nature (responsibly enjoying wildlife or the outdoors)
• Mobile (entries taken with phones or tablets)
• Portfolio (up to 10 images built around a common theme related to nature or conservation)
• Young Nature Photographers (ages 13 to 17)
The grand prize winner will be honored with the National Wildlife Nature’s Witness Award and receive $5,000. The winner of the portfolio category will receive $750. In each of the eight additional categories, first place wins $500, and second place wins $250. Photo contest entrants are also eligible for the People’s Choice Award. Anyone 13 years of age or older can get in on the fun and vote! Winners will be announced in a press release, featured on NWF social media channels and published in print and/or online.
Now entering its 54th year, the prestigious National Wildlife Photo Contest celebrates wildlife, habitats and the natural world, with an emphasis on conservation and ethical photography honoring the well-being of animals in the wild.
Modest entry fees support the National Wildlife Federation’s conservation work and your photos inspire our millions of members and supporters to care about wildlife and to act on its behalf.
SEE THE WINNERS https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2026/Winter/PhotoZone/2025-Photo-Contest
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Endangered Species Coalition – Chalk Art Competition
Endangered Specie Coalition (ESC) normally has some art related events each year related to Endangered Species Day. . Endangered Species Day in the third Friday in May (every year) . The ESC plans to have a Chalk Art Competition again in 2026. For 2025 Chalk Art competition’s details (drawing endangered species with chalk) – https://www.endangered.org/endangered-species-chalk-art-event/
We give you data below a historic Endangered Species Coalitions (ESC) art event – for a 2025 ESC sponsored a competition > “Collaborating For Biodiversity” Art Contest instead. Here is link to 2025 announcement: https://www.endangered.org/collaboratingforbidiversity/
It is not decided is this competition will happen in 2026.
Saving Endangered Species Youth Art Contest
The Endangered Species Coalition (ESC) announcement of a historic Art events/contests,
Black Hills Photography Club
periodically has photo contests at their monthly meetings on themes related to nature & also periodically sponsors field trips to photograph together outside. Check out URL links below.
https://www.blackhillsphotographyclub.com/
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Festival in the Park, Spearfish, SD: July 18-20, 2025
The Festival in the Park is one of the largest outdoor summer arts and music festivals in the upper Midwest. The Matthews Opera House & Arts Center of Spearfish, SD, organizes this popular festival. It serves as the largest fundraiser for our non-profit organization each year. The proceeds benefit arts outreach in our community and beyond.
Spearfish City Park on Canyon Street
Over 25,000 people attend the festival, held every third weekend in July. The 2025 festival features 185 fine art and craft vendors with an emphasis on handmade and original products.
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iNaturalist.org
iNaturalist is a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. On this web site folks can share their photos of species with others. Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. The sponsors share your findings with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data.
All you have to do is observe & submit.- visit – https://www.inaturalist.org/
They also have “bio-blitzes. Here is a list of BioBlitzes, but most on the list, are past in 2023. https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/calendar
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