Nature in Focus
FOHR Photo Competition & Exhibition - 2026
The Friends of Heinz Refuge (FOHR) Nature in Focus Photo Competition opens Friday, May 15, 2026 and ends Saturday, August 1, 2026 for photo submissions.
Who May Enter
FOHR’s Nature in Focus photo competition is open to photographers of all ages and skill levels using any type of camera – film, digital, cell phone. Heinz Refuge employees, FOHR employees and current FOHR Board Members are not eligible to participate.
Age Divisions
- Children (12 and under)
- Teens (13 Thru 17 – 18 if in High School at time of contest entry
- Adults (18 and over.)
** Participants under 18 years of age must have their parent/legal guardian’s permission to enter.
Categories (In Each Division)
- Wildlife Photography – photos whose subject is a wild animal including birds, mammals, reptiles and insects.
- Nature Photography – includes a wide range of photography taken outdoors and devoted to displaying elements such as landscapes, plants, close-ups of natural scenes and textures.
Eligible Photographs
All photos submitted must be images captured within the confines of the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and must be the original work of the entrant. No domestic animals, pets, or ornamental flora are permitted and invasive plants & species may not be the central focus of the submitted photo (e.g. Phragmites, Swans, Snakehead fish).
Photos generated using Artificial Intelligence are prohibited. Normal processing of the original photo is acceptable including cropping, minor adjustment to color, white balance, tone, lighting levels and curves, shadows and highlights, saturation, contrast, sharpness, moderate dodging and burning, and reduction of noise.
Photographs that have been digitally or otherwise altered beyond standard optimization will be disqualified.
Borders, signatures or watermarks imbedded in the photograph are not permitted.
Photos taken with drones are prohibited. (Drone photography is legally prohibited at the Heinz Refuge.)
How To Enter
All entries must be submitted online through SmarterEntry.com. First, go to https://client.smarterentry.com/FOHR to create a user a Username and Password. Once registered, log-in and select the appropriate FOHR Nature in Focus Contest: Children, Teen or Adult and follow the directions for submitting your photos. Photos submitted must be jpegs no larger than 5 MB.
Children and Teens
Children may submit 1 photograph for free. FOHR will print and mount all photos accepted for the exhibition at no cost. All Children’s photos will be on display at the Visitor Center Exhibition. Photos may be claimed by the Child photographers at the conclusion of the exhibition.
Teens may submit up to 3 photos for free. FOHR will print and mount all photos accepted for the exhibition at no cost. Teen photos selected will be on display at the Visitor Center Exhibition. Photos may be claimed by the Teen photographers at the conclusion of the exhibition.
NOTE: Parents/Guardians must register at: https://client.smarterentry.com/FOHR on behalf of their Children and Teens as required by Child Online Protection Act (COPA).
Adults
Adults will be charged $30.00 for the first three photos and may submit additional photos for $10 each. There is no limit on the number of photos submitted. Adult photos selected will be invited to submit matted or mounted prints for exhibition at the Heinz Refuge Visitor Center.
Adults with current FOHR Memberships may submit the first 3 photos for free with a FOHR Membership Coupon Code.
The coupon code may be obtained at the FOHR Nature Store located in the Heinz Refuge Visitor Center or you may request the code by sending an email to info@fohrefuge.org.
Judging Criteria
The Judge will score eligible photographs using the following criteria:
- Technical Excellence
- Composition & Visual Impact
- Creativity & Originality
- Wildlife & Habitat Representation
- Emotional Impact & Storytelling
Selection Process
A selection of the top scoring photos in each Age Division Category will be invited to display their photos in the Nature in Focus 2026 Exhibition at the Heinz Refuge Visitor Center.
A panel of three judges will assess and rate all the photos submitted and select the top photos to be included in the Exhibition at the Heinz Nature Center. An Exhibition Judge will view the photos selected by the panel on display at the Heinz Nature Center and select the award winners as described below.
Awards
Children (12 and Under)
First Place – $50
Second Place – $35
Third Place – $25
Teens (13-17) – 18 if in High School when submitted.
First Place – $100
Second Place – $75
Third Place – $50
Adult (18 & Over)
First Place – $150
Second Place – $100
Third Place – $75
Best In Show – $200
Selected by the Exhibition Judge.
Best Wildlife Photo – $175
The best photo of an animal (Mammal, Bird, Amphibian, or Insect, etc.) Selected by the Exhibition Judge.
Best Nature Photo – $175
The best nature photo (Landscape, Plant, Flower, Etc.) Wildlife may be included in the photograph but must not be the primary subject. Selected by the Exhibition Judge.
People’s Choice Award – $100
This award will be based on voting of the viewing public. The public will be invited to vote for their favorite of all photos displayed at the exhibition in the Heinz Refuge Visitor Center.
Bill Buchanan Award – $150
Favorite photo in the Exhibition as chosen by the Refuge Manager.
Bill Buchanan Award
The Bill Buchanan Award honors Bill Buchanan in recognition of his lifelong dedication to photography, conservation, and public engagement. An avid photographer, Bill served for 12 years as Outdoor Recreation Planner and Public Affairs Officer at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, where he shared the refuge’s story through hundreds of media features and led impactful photography and education programs.
Before retiring from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2012, Bill also gave many years of service as a volunteer, writer, and photographer. His leadership and passion inspired countless people to connect with nature through the lens.
A recipient of numerous honors, including National Volunteer of the Year and Conservationist of the Year, Bill’s legacy reflects a deep commitment to conservation and community. This award celebrates his lasting impact on both the refuge and all those he inspired.
Photo Exhibition
The Nature in Focus Photography Exhibition will be on display at the Heinz Refuge Visitor Center in September. Awards will be announced at a reception to be held at the annual Heinz Refuge Fall Festival.
If your photo is selected for the Exhibition, you will receive an email with instructions for dropping it off at the Heinz Refuge Visitor Center. Children and Teen Photos selected will be printed and mounted on foam boards by the Friends of Heinz Refuge at no cost to the photographer. (Note: Optionally, Teen and Children photographers may print and mount or mat their own photos for the exhibition.)
Photos selected for the exhibition must meet the following standards:
- Photos may be either mounted on a foam board or matted, but not framed.
- Photos may be no longer than 14 inches on the longest side including the mat or border.
Questions/Help Requests
Any questions regarding the competition or requests for help may be submitted by email to: info@fohrefuge.org.
Competition Panel
Bernice V. Coles
Bernice V. Coles is an avid wildlife and nature photographer living in Southwest Philadelphia. Many of her photos are taken at the Heinz Refuge and can be viewed on the Fans of Heinz Refuge Facebook page. You can view her photos on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bernice_wildlife?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Gregg Gorton
Gregg Gorton has been birding for 32+ years and began leading bird-walks at Heinz 30 years ago.
He has been very active in the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC), having served on Council for eleven years and as past President in 2022 and 2023.
Recently, his in-depth obituary about James Carroll, the first Tinicum Environmental Center caretaker and first Black member of DVOC, was published in the club journal, Cassinia. You can read the obituary at: https://dvoc.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Cassinia79_86-89_Carroll.pdf
Gregg enjoys looking closely at bird and nature photos and appreciates people who devote time to their creation.
Rob Lybeck
Rob Lybeck is an established Center City Philadelphia Photographer, a current member of the Da Vinci Art Alliance and a contributing photographer to Hidden City Philadelphia.
Through Rob’s enjoyment of daily wanderings throughout the city, his awareness of his surroundings developed into a passion for photographically capturing Philadelphia’s architectural ornamentations. More recently, he’s expanded his sights to include cityscapes, landscapes, flora, and not least, high contrast B/W street photography.
Aside from a personal fascination with Philadelphia’s built environment, it is also Rob’s endeavor to capture the many facets of urban life against the metropolitan landscape. He particularly enjoys discovering geometric abstraction in buildings and street scenes.
In 2014, HarperCollins Publishers chose an image of Rob’s as the cover for Pulitzer-prize winning author Richard Ford’s novel Let Me Be Frank With You, published internationally. https://pictures.abebooks.com/inventory/30563903470.jpg. He was also honored to have an image of his selected for the archives of the Museum of the City of New York, with that image published in the “Lens” section of the New York Times. You can view his work online at: https://www.youtube.com/twostopsover and https://www.facebook.com/rob.lybeck.images
Competition Judge
Bobby Stormer
Bobby Stormer is an award-winning and published wildlife photographer based in northern New Jersey. Inspired by wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin, Bobby has been fascinated by animals since childhood. He has volunteered for wildlife rehabilitation rescues, dog rescues, and conservation efforts throughout his journey, and credits this experience as instrumental to his success in reading animal behaviors, tracking wildlife, and capturing those treasured moments. Through his work, Bobby hopes to make a positive impact on animal welfare across the globe, as well as inspire others to pursue their own passions.
You can view his photos on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/b.stormer/