Naturescapes Photography Contest

19th Annual Photography Contest & Exhibition

The unique beauty of the natural areas within San Marcos inspired the first Naturescapes Photography Contest. The contest includes photographs taken in greenspaces and natural areas throughout Hays, Blanco, Comal, Guadalupe, Caldwell, and Travis Counties.

Goals of the contest and exhibit include increasing public awareness of the importance of protecting our natural world and giving photographers at all levels of experience a chance to capture, share, and receive recognition for beautiful and inspiring images. Suggested subjects include natural scenery, wildlife, plants, and people and pets in the natural environment.

A $100 prize will be awarded for Best in Show, $75 for the best Youth photo, $75 for the best Natural Waterscape photo, and $75 for the best San Marcos Natural Area photo. Four $50 Awards of Excellence will be presented for the next most outstanding photographs. Four Awards of Merit will also be presented.

The Hays County Master Naturalists sponsor an award for the best photo of a Natural Waterscape. The photo must feature a natural water feature such as a creek, river, pond or lake.

We also have a special award, sponsored by the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, for the best photo taken in one of San Marcos’ six natural areas. They are Purgatory Creek Natural Area, Spring Lake Natural Area, Ringtail Ridge Natural Area, Schulle Canyon Natural Area, Blanco Shoals Natural Area, and Sessom Creek Park. You can find out more about them, including their locations, at https://smgreenbelt.org/natural-areas/. To be eligible for the SMGA prize, a photo must first be selected for the Naturescapes exhibition.

The Hill Country Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas is sponsoring two awards for the Outstanding Adult and Youth Native Wildflower photographs.

The contest is open to resident and visiting photographers of all ages.

This year we are pleased to have the contest juried by Michael Lustbader.