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Pennypack Photo Contest 2026
The Annual Photo Contest has been showcasing the beauty of the Pennypack Trust since 2010. Each year, submitted photographs help support the Trust and are often featured in our publications and communications. Photographers of all skill levels are encouraged to participate using whatever camera they feel most comfortable with even a smartphone! Whether you're capturing your first great nature photo or you're a seasoned photographer, we'd love to see the Preserve through your eyes.
View 2025 Winners

2026 Contest Submission Deadline: February 28th, 2027 at 4:00PM

Photographers are invited to submit up to 7 photographs taken within the Pennypack Trust property anytime between January 1, 2026 and February 28, 2027.  As in previous years, we will have a Newcomers category, so photographers new to the contest are encouraged to participate. We post winners from each category on our website and pull from all submissions while creating content and marketing materials.  There will also be an opportunity to showcase your work in our Visitor’s Center after judging. See the details below. For any questions contact pennypackphoto@gmail.com.

2026 Photo Contest Reception - Summer of 2027

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2025 Photo Contest this past June. We hope you consider participating in the 2026 Photo contest where winners will be selected and showcased in 2027! Photographers who are selected as winners will have the opportunity to frame and display their work for purchase with a percentage donation going towards the Pennypack Trust. The artwork will remain on display and for sale over the course of the summer. All are welcome for this annual kickoff event where all submissions will be viewable as well. Check back for updated info for the event in 2027!

2026 Contest Categories

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    Capturing the nature of the preserve
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    Capture the beauty of winter on the preserve
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    Birds in their natural habitat
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    Includes standard black and white and infrared images
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    Any living animal other than birds or humans
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    Show us your friends, family or yourself enjoying all the Trust has to offer
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    Frame-filling images where the subject, if displayed in 8×10 format, would be larger than life size
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    Limited to new photographers or those who haven’t entered in the last 2 years

A contribution of $25 is required for participants which will go to the support of the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust. The Trust depends on the contributions of members to sustain its mission of preserving an area of exceptional natural beauty.

Donate Here
Rules and Registration

Image Submission Details

All images must be submitted as computer files in JPEG format. Please name each image in the following format:

category#-firstname-lastname-image#.jpg

For example, if John Smith were submitting two images for category #3 and one image to category #4 his image filenames would read:

3-john-smith-1.jpg
3-john-smith-2.jpg
4-john-smith-1.jpg

The maximum image size for email submissions is 20 MB. Judging is anonymous, so no watermarks or names on the actual images, please.

How To Submit Your Photos

You may submit up to 7 photographs and no more than 2 for any one category.

You can email your images to:pennypackphoto@gmail.com.

You may need to send files in separate emails due to size.

You can also drop off a thumb drive at the Pennypack Trust office or send it in the mail. If you mail it, remember we need to receive it by February 28, 2026. The mailing address is:

Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust
2955 Edge Hill Road
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006-5099

Judges for the Contest

2025 Photo Contest Guest Judge

The Director's Choice Award

Judged By:

Awards

Submitted photos will be judged by our expert judges who will select 1st, 2nd and 3rd place entries in 8 categories. Additional photos in each category may be selected for Honorable Mention.  In addition, Chris Mendel, Director of the Trust, will choose the Director’s Award.  Awards will be announced at a slideshow in the Spring of 2025 at the Visitor Center.  Our judges will be present at the slideshow to comment on the winning photos.

Winners

1st, 2nd, 3rd place photos will be displayed at a print show at the Pennypack Visitor Center in the Summer of 2026, beginning with a reception to meet the photographers.  All photographers entering the contest who are awarded a 1st, 2nd, 3rd place prize will be encouraged to frame and display their winning photos.  There will be an opportunity for non-awarded photographs to be displayed as matted images as well.  Displayed images will be available for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to the benefit of the Pennypack Trust.  Details will be provided prior to the show.

View Past Winners and Submissions