Photo Contest Rules

General Description

The Port Royal Sound Foundation’s annual Photography Contest is open for submissions starting June 5th, and entries are due by July 31st! 

The Port Royal Sound Foundation’s annual photo contest is accepting entries from all photographers who want to showcase the natural beauty and culture surrounding the Port Royal Sound area, regardless of skill level and equipment. There is $2,750 available in cash prizes. Please review the categories section, and you are REQUIRED to read the rules before entering the contest. After paying the $15 fee, entrants may submit up to 6 photos to the contest.

Rules

All decisions about photo entries and whether they are suitable for this contest are up to the discretion of PRSF.

1. Photographers must be at least 13 years old to enter. Photographers between the ages of 13-17 must provide guardian information during submission.
2. Photos MUST represent the Port Royal Sound area and be taken within the watershed. For the purpose of this contest, the Port Royal Sound watershed is anywhere within Beaufort, Jasper, or Hampton County. If PRSF believes a photo does not represent the Port Royal Sound Area, they have the right to NOT include it in the contest.
3. Photos taken with a smartphone or mobile device camera ARE REQUIRED to be submitted to the Phone Category. These photos are not eligible within the Flora, Fauna, Culture, or Landscape Category. Only photos taken with a DEDICATED CAMERA (including but not limited to DSLR, mirrorless, point-and-shoot cameras, and digitally scanned photos taken with a film camera) are permitted to be submitted to those categories.
4. Photographs must be cropped to a 3:2 ratio and of high resolution to be printed at a 12”x8” scale, or 6”x4” for phone photos,  if the photo were to win. If photos are not in a 3:2 ratio, they are subject to being cropped.
5. Photography of wildlife must demonstrate ethical and responsible practices. For more information on ethical wildlife and bird photography, see sources such as Audubon or this article on Format. Any photo deemed to be unethical may be questioned and could be disqualified at PRSF’s discretion. 
6. After payment of a $15 fee, entrants may DIGITALLY submit up to SIX PHOTOS that comply with the rules. Multiple photos may be submitted in the same category. 
7. Photographs must be appropriate for viewing by children and the public. No photographs with obscene, defamatory, political, or sexually explicit imagery/themes will be accepted for contest entry. PRSF has the final say on what is considered appropriate.
8. While minor edits are permitted, major editing and manipulation of photos is prohibited. All images should accurately represent the subject matter. Prohibited effects include, but are not limited to, complete alteration of color, unnatural saturation, exposure, contrast, and use of AI. Black and white images are acceptable. IMAGES MUST NOT CONTAIN WATERMARKS, SIGATURES, OR BORDERS. If PRSF suspects alterations that are not in line with our guidelines, PRSF will ask for an unedited image file for comparison. Failure to provide this image will result in disqualification.
9. By submitting your photo entries, you agree to give PRSF the right to display in print or digitally, reproduce, or publish your photograph for PRSF use by any means to support the mission of PRSF with proper credit, regardless of whether your photos are selected as winners or not. Attribution will always be provided. You cannot revoke these usage rights from the PRSF at any time.
10. Photographs must be taken by the entrant and owned by the entrant.

Categories

• The contest is split into 5 categories. Each category is listed below with a description and a link to a sample rubric. This rubric will be used by jurors to score your photographs, and the two photos with the highest score among the jury will be First and Second Place winners. Note that all photographs taken with a phone must be submitted to the Phone Category. Only photos taken by a camera can be submitted to the other 4 categories (Landscape, Culture, Flora, and Fauna).
  • Phone Photography: Photographs taken with a MOBILE PHONE are required to be entered in this category. Photos much represent the NATIVE flora (plant life), fauna (animal life), landscape, or culture surrounding the Port Royal Sound watershed. Sample rubric here.
  • Landscape: Photographs taken with a DEDICATED CAMERA that share the richness of the landscape across the watershed. Sample rubric here.
  • Culture: Photographs taken with a DEDICATED CAMERA that represent the rich history and culture surrounding the natural resources of the Port Royal Sound watershed, including but not limited to food, festivals and gatherings, outdoor recreation, craftsmanship, historical sites, and the fishing industry. Sample rubric here.
  • Flora (plants & vegetation): Photographs taken with a DEDICATED CAMERA that celebrate the NATIVE trees and plants that characterize our ecosystem. Sample rubric here.
  • Fauna (animal life): Photographs taken with a DEDICATED CAMERA celebrating the animals of the Port Royal Sound. Examples for this category include but are not limited to NATIVE mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and aquatic or marine animals in their natural habitat. There is an expectation of respectful and ethical behavior in photographing wildlife. See Rule #5 below for more guidance. Sample rubric here.

Timeline

• Contest OPEN to Submissions: World Environment Day, June 5th, 2026
• Contest CLOSES to Submissions: Friday, July 31st, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT
• Juried Review for Selection of Winners: August 1st – August 15th
• Winners Announced: World Photography Day, August 19th
• Printed Photography Display in the Maritime Center: Early September 
• Public Reception at the Maritime Center: Thursday, September 10th, 3 – 7 PM

Prizes

• Each category will have a selected First and Second Place winner, juried based on the rubrics linked in the Categories section.
  • First Place: $300
  • Second Place: $150
• Each category will have a selected People’s Choice winner, based on the number of votes at the end of the contest.
  • People’s Choice: $100
• Cash prizes will be paid to the winner via check.
• Participating photographers can win ONCE per category, but photographers may NOT stack prizes within a single category. For example, a photographer may win one prize in the Landscape Category, and again in the Fauna Category, but they cannot receive First and Second place within the Fauna Category.

Questions?

Please direct any questions relating to the contest to Joanna Boney — jboney@portroyalsoundfoundation.org