Scenic Virginia invites all photographers to enter our 2026 Virginia Vistas Photo Contest. Please read the following Rules, Terms, and Legal Conditions before submitting any photos.

WHAT TO ENTER: We are looking for beautiful digital images of Virginia’s scenic vistas. (Entries may originate in any format -- including but not limited to digital files, digital prints, color transparencies, color prints, or black and white prints -- but must be submitted electronically.)

Our 2026 Photo Categories and accompanying Category Codes are as follows:

• Cities & Towns: CI

• Coastal & Chesapeake Bay: CO

• Farms & Open Spaces: FO
  Highways & Byways: HB

• Mountains & Valleys: MV

• Rivers & Waterways: RW

• Scenic Trees: TR

• Vistas with Wildlife: WI

HOW TO ENTER: Each photographer may submit up to five entries total.

(These can be entered in one category or divided among multiple categories.) Please include all required information, as incomplete entries cannot be considered.

Important: Photo files must be named using the following protocol: Category Code – Photo Name – Photographer Last Name.

(For example, Theo Smith’s photo “Spring Along the Blue Ridge” would be named: HB – Spring Along the Blue Ridge – Smith)

NOTE: Improperly named photo files are subject to disqualification.

KICKOFF AND DEADLINE: The 2026 Contest kicks off on Wednesday, April 1st. Photo entries must be submitted to Scenic Virginia’s Photo Contest webpage by 11:59 pm on Friday, May 15th, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY AND JUDGING: Previously published material for which non-exclusive rights were granted may be entered as long as you still maintain the right to grant us a license. (See “Your Rights” below.) The photographer must be able to disclose, upon request, when and where the photo appeared previously.

Images will be judged on scenic beauty, originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit. The judges will also follow these guidelines:

• Images should represent views and vistas in (or of) Virginia that are clearly identifiable and publically accessible.

•  Images should represent vistas, scenic areas, or panoramas. Close-ups and interior shots will not be accepted.

• Winning images will be featured in notecard sets and public exhibitions. Accordingly, some consideration will be given to the compatibility of images as a set.

Photographs that have been significantly enhanced or altered will not be accepted in this contest. Minor changes to an image, including spotting, dodging and burning, sharpening, contrast adjustment, and slight color change are acceptable, as are high dynamic range (HDR) adjustments and stitched panoramas. Images that violate these rules will be disqualified.

Scenic Virginia shall determine Winner eligibility at its sole and absolute discretion. All decisions by the judges are final. The Photo Contest is not open to Board Members and Staff of Scenic Virginia.

WINNING PHOTOS: A panel of judges will select a Photo Winner in each of the categories, as well as an overall Best in Show. Each winning photograph will be showcased as follows:

• Special full-color feature revealing the 2025 Winners in the Richmond Times-Dispatch Sunday Culture section (print and online)

• Articles in local newspapers and media

• Scenic Virginia’s online Photo Gallery

• Numerous social media platforms.

Each winning Photographer will receive two sets of note cards -- one set of 2026 Virginia Vistas photo winners and one packet of her/his winning image – as well as a one-year membership in Scenic Virginia.

PHOTOGRAPHER RIGHTS: Each photographer retains all rights to any photographs submitted -- including ownership, if applicable -- other than those rights licensed in the next sentence:

By entering the 2026 Virginia Vistas Photo Contest, you hereby grant to Scenic Virginia the following: (i) a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license to reproduce, distribute, and publicly display the photographs you submit to Scenic Virginia, and (ii) the right to use your name, city, state and country of residence in promotions and other publications.

All photographs in media publications will be credited with the caption "Photo Name by Photographer Name - Courtesy of Scenic Virginia" whenever used. All photographs used on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) will be credited with the photographer’s name. Scenic Virginia has final approval of any language that appears on its website with any of the photos.