Calling all Assateague Island photographers! AIA is excited to offer the People's Choice Photo Contest to result in a 2026 calendar to showcase Assateague Island's year round beauty. Your image can be among those selected to represent a month of the year and displayed in a digital gallery at the Assateague Island Visitor Center. New for 2026, AIA is offering PRIZES for the 1st, 2nd, and 3dr place winners. A $10 donation entitles each participant to submit three images through a link that will be sent via email following payment. Images may be submitted through June 30th.
We are so grateful to all the talented photographers who offered their work to this great fundraising effort in the past! We couldn't do it without your help! Calendars will be available for presale in October and all proceeds support Assateague Island Alliance's mission to promote the awareness, education and stewardship of Assateague Island National Seashore's wildlife and natural resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations.
All photos submitted must meet the size requirements outlined below to be entered for blind judging by the Ocean Pines Camera Club. Any questions can be directed to the email in the release. Thank you all for your consideration! Please enjoy a selection of images from previous calendars for inspiration!
DISCLAIMER:
By participating in this contest, you agree to abide by the official contest rules below. You attest that your entry is an original photograph owned by you. You retain the rights to your photograph but grant the AIA and Assateague Island National Seashore royalty-free use of your photo(s) in the calendar along with calendar marketing and publicity materials in newsletters and all other media including social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). Winning entries will be showcased in the 2026 Assateague Island Calendar and in a digital display in the Assateague Island Visitor Center.
OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES:
- Categories: Assateague’s Horses, General Wildlife, Funny Photos, Landscapes, Seasonal and Silhouettes
- A $10 entry fee entitles participants to submit THREE images in any of the six categories or all in one category, entrants’ choice. Entrants will receive the upload link following payment.
- Deadline: June 30, 2025
- Anyone not employed by the National Park Service or a Member of the AIA board of Directors may enter the contest.
- Entries must be original photos captured by the submitting photographer.
- Entries must have been captured between January 1, 2024 to present. Images that were submitted or selected for previous AIA calendars may not be re-submitted for 2026.
- Entries must be received by 11:59 PM – June 30, 2025. Hard copies are not accepted.
PRIZES:
- 1st Prize – Assateague Island National Seashore Annual Pass, $50 AIA gift card, 2026 calendar
- 2nd prize – $50 AIA gift card and 2026 calendar
- 3rd prize – 2026 calendar
REQUIREMENTS:
- All participants must pay the entry fee in order to receive the upload link.
- Images must be submitted in jpeg format with the following file name format: last name-image title (e.g. Smith-pelicans) and uploaded to the proper contest category.
- Entries must be high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) photos in jpg format and the size dimensions of 2600Hx3300W MP. Make sure your smartphone is on HDR (high definition) or your digital camera is on its highest setting so that your photo can be reproduced at its best. Images will be re-sized to 11 x 8.5 inches to fit the calendar.
- Entries must be in horizontal/landscape form, suitable for a wall calendar design.
- The photo must include subject matter that fits the theme, Assateague’s wildlife and landscapes.
- The photo cannot include identifiable persons.
- Images should be of high quality: in focus, nice composition and lighting; etc.
JUDGING:
A volunteer panel from the Ocean Pines Camera Club will conduct blind judging for entries on image quality, originality, creativity and best representation of Assateague to determine the top three images for each theme. Community members will vote for the calendar cover image. Members of the AIA Board of Directors will not participate in judging. Photographers whose images were selected will be contacted once the judging is complete.
Please email us with any questions outreachAIA@gmail.com