Northwest Exposure Photo Contest 2025 Rules
Washington Trails Association’s annual Northwest Exposure Photo Contest gives photographers the chance to highlight the people, landscapes and living beings of all kinds found on Washington's trails.
Contest Rules
An official entry form must be completed for each photograph submitted. The photo submission form will become available on August 11 when the contest opens and until October 6 when the contest closes. All photographs must be taken in Washington state.
Leave No Trace
All photos must be taken while following Leave No Trace principles. This includes staying on trail, keeping dogs leashed, pitching tents only on durable surfaces and photographing wildlife from a safe and respectful distance. Photos that show people not following Leave No Trace principles, or appear to have been taken off trail, are ineligible to win the photo contest or be featured by WTA.
Drone photography
Due to the complexity of permitting and restrictions on public land, drone/aerial photography is not accepted.
Artificial intelligence
Images must be taken without the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) image generation software.
Categories
Main Categories
Photographers may submit five photos in each of the following main categories.
- Trailscapes: Show us the stunning landscapes from your winter, spring, summer or fall hikes and the trails that brought you there.
- Stay on trail
- Hikers in Action: In camp or on trail, capture the wide range of activities, adventures and emotions you and fellow hikers experience on trail.
- Photographers must have permission to submit the photo from any person whose face is shown.
- Flora and Fauna: Woods, wildflowers and all things four-legged and furry! Share your best photos of Washington's native plants or animals found while out on trail—from pikas to bears, from trilliums to lupine.
- Give wildlife plenty of space and take advantage of zoom to capture the best possible shot. Never feed wild animals, no matter how much they beg for your lunch.
- Images of captive animals photographed in game farms or zoos are not eligible.
- Once finalists in this category will be selected by judges and the winner will be selected via public voting on social media.
- Trail Family: Show us the faces of the people you love to hike with.
- Photographers must have permission to submit the photo from any person whose face is shown.
Bonus Categories
Photographers may submit any number of entries to the following bonus categories:
- Instagram: Show us how you hike by following @washingtontrails and using the tag #nwexposure2025. See special Instagram rules below.
- Random Acts of Kindness: This year we want to see the kindness you witness, give or receive on trail. We find in trying times, the more you look for the good, the more often you’re able to see it. We can’t wait to see the love you share and spread on the trail!
- Here are a few ideas for inspiration:
- Picking up liter
- Thanking a park ranger
- Reaching out to a loved one you haven’t seen in a while to go for a hike
- Offering a helping hand to someone on trail
- Sharing snacks, sunscreen or a water filter with a fellow hiker
- Here are a few ideas for inspiration:
The contest is open to all photographers except for Washington Trails Association employees, contest judges and their families. WTA reserves the right to verify, in its sole judgment, entrant eligibility. Photographs must be taken in Washington. Photographs will be judged on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit. Awards will be selected by a panel of judges and all decisions are final.
Submitting photos
Entries must be submitted electronically via the submission, which become available on August 11, 2025.
- Submit digital photos in JPEG format only. Higher resolution photos are encouraged.
- Entries are due no later than 11:59 p.m. PT on October 6, 2025.
- One submission is allowed per main category. Unlimited entries are welcome in the bonus categories.
- Winners will be notified by email.
- WTA staff and their families can enter but will not be eligible to win.
Bonus Category rules
Instagram: The Instagram category is judged the same as the main categories, though entrants are allowed to enter as many photos as they would like. This is an open category for all hiking related photos. We ask that entries follow the same guidelines as other categories in that photos follow Leave No Trace principles and are taken from a trail or in camp. To enter, follow @washingtontrails and tag your hiking photos with #nwexposure2025 between August 11, 2025 and October 6, 2025.
Random Acts of Kindness: This year we want to see the kindness you witness, give or receive on trail. We find in trying times, the more you look for the good, the more often you’re able to see it. We can’t wait to see the love you share and spread on the trail!
PRizes
Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in the main contest categories alongside a grand prize. One winner will be selected from each of the two bonus categories. Winners will also be featured in our annual calendar and online.
WTA is not responsible for lost or damaged prizes.
Prizes will be mailed to winners after receiving updated shipping information at the time of selection. Prizes may be subject to change based on availability.
Terms of use
All entrants agree to allow Washington Trails Association to publish any submitted photograph in its magazine, website or other materials to help support WTA's mission to promote and protect Washington’s trails and public lands.
Photos entered are bound under a non-exclusive license, which means you still retain ownership of your image and can use it how you would like. WTA will never sell your image, but your photos may be used in our promotional materials to help us with our work. WTA credits photographers for all image usage on our website and printed materials.
Photographers must have permission for photos to be published of any person whose face is shown and recognizable in their photos. If a person is featured in your photo but their face is not shown, we strongly encourage you to gain their permission before submitting. Photographs submitted must be taken by the photographer entering the photo.