Santa Monica Mountains Fund
2024 Photo Contest

The 2024 Photo Competition is now closed for entries, thanks for your support!

Keep a look out for further announcements

Interested in becoming a sponsor of our Photo Competition?

FAQs 2024

  • All photos must be taken since the establishment of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in 1978 to present day. They must be taken within the boundaries of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: See Map of the area. They can showcase either the mediterranean-type ecosystem within the Santa Monica Mountains, or the interaction of people and nature. They can be landscape, seascape, events, flora or animal life. Any subject is welcome, as long as it represents your view of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

    We want to see YOUR view of the mountains. Please, to be true to the ethos of the mountains, AI generated photos should not be entered. 

  • Each person can enter up to 5 photos, using the entry form. The entry fee is $12 per photo and $50 for 5 photos. The entry fee supports the SAMO Fund’s efforts in education, science, research and stewardship in the Santa Monica Mountains. 

  • To enter, fill out the form when it is available (September 1st - October 15th 2024), and upload your photo(s). One entry form to be used per person.

  • Photo size should not exceed 10MB IN TOTAL, please submit as a JPEG. You will be contacted if a higher resolution photo is needed.

  • Entries must be submitted by Midnight on October 15, 2024.

  • Be aware that although non-native plants can be beautiful, they are harmful to our unique ecosystem. While the rules do not restrict photos with non-native elements, the judges may favor native subjects.  

  • The photographer must be at least 12 years old. The competition is open to the public as well as all Santa Monica Mountains park employees, partners and volunteers.

  • By entering the contest, you are agreeing to the use of your original photo for the SAMO Fund’s communication, website and public relations activities. All use will be credited.

  • The photos selected for the final judging will be displayed at the Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch.

    If your photo is selected, you will be invited to display your image at the King Gillette Ranch: Jan 15 - Feb 15, 2025 (Opening Hours 9 am - 4 pm, Wed-Sun).

    Winners will be announced at an event on SATURDAY JANUARY 18th 2025.

2024 Judging Panel

  • Judith Eichenbaum is the daughter of National Park Service ranger and the annual ‘Spirit of the Mountains’ photo contest coordinator Sheila Braden. “I was so thrilled to be involved in the photo contest as I know it was very dear to my mom's heart. We used to talk about it every year”. Having worked for the National Park Service herself and also a keen photographer, Judith is delighted to be involved in the contest and will dedicate an image in memoriam: The Sheila Braden Award.

  • Steven Friedman has had an interest in photography since his college days when he found he could share memories of hikes and backpacking trips into the backcountry. What was originally a way for him to share beautiful landscapes, Steve’s eclectic interest in photography broadened into many genres including landscape photography, astro-landscape photography, wildlife photography, photojournalism and the performing arts. Steve frequently volunteers for the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Fund and local charitable organizations. Steve is an active member of the Thousand Oaks Photo Group; serves on its Board of Directors and conducts the club’s monthly photo competition. He is also President of the Southern California Council of Camera Clubs, a consortium of 17 camera clubs throughout the Southern California Area, that serves the needs of these local organizations. Steve has received many awards for his photography at Photographic Society of America Exhibitions as well as local juried shows including the Ventura County Fair and past SAMOFund Photo Contests.

  • Dan Holmes travels the world exploring, discovering, and telling stories with light. He is a top tier landscape and nature photographer, with national and international awards. He teaches photography and leads photo workshops all over the world. Dan is currently Second Vice President of the Professional Photographers of California, past President of the Channel Islands Professional Photographers Association, a Fellowship member of Professional Photographers of California, and is a PPC California Master Photographer. He is a PPC Certified Image Competition judge, and has spoken to and judged for a wide variety of photographic groups, both regional and international.

  • Judge Coordinator

    Hutch’s life-long love of photography was inspired at an early age by the magic of his father’s camera and darkroom. The advent of more advanced film cameras in the 1980’s and digital photography in the 1990’s further stimulated and broadened his interest.  He primarily shoots for his own pleasure with work ranging across a broad spectrum of genre. He particularly enjoys landscape, action and abstract photography. Hutch is an active  member  of  the  Channel  Islands  Professional Photographers,  Professional  Photographers  of  California, Thousand Oaks Photography Group and serves on the Board of Directors for the Southern California Council of Camera Clubs.

  • Pete Scifres' main photography interest is landscapes (with a minor in wildlife!) and he has photographed throughout the American southwest. Landscape Astrophotography is a particular specialization. He likes combining his photography efforts with hiking and backpacking. He has conducted workshops and webinars at local photography clubs and at the Thousand Oaks Photography Group he served in a number of roles including president and field trips chair. In addition to publishing books, his work has been seen at local art shows and the Ventura County Fair.

  • Sadhana Sharma is a resident of Los Angeles and, as an educator for over three decades, her message is of the importance of building bridges with nature and community. The Santa Monica Mountains inspire her as an artist and photographer, and encourage her to build harmonious bridges with nature. Her photographs are journalistic in style and intertwine the essence of the moment to its back story. They invite viewers to add their own imagination to the inherent beauty of the subject. Sadhana's art and photographs have been showcased in local exhibits.

Photos

This year, instead of accepting just photos taken within the previous year, we are opening the competition to photos taken from the establishment of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in 1978 to present day!

The photo competition includes three special categories: Ocean And Beach; History Of SAMO; People In The Parkland.

Finalists will be exhibited to the public at the Visitor Center between Jan 15 - Feb 15, 2025

Map of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Judging

Judging is now underway, finalists will be notified soon.

Winners will be announced at an event January 18th, 2025, after the judging period.

Awards and Exhibit

The awards will be given during the photo at King Gillette Ranch January, 18th, 2025. Awards for:

  • 1st, 2nd and 3rd place

  • Honorable Mentions

  • Sheila Braden Award

  • Student Award

  • People’s Choice Award

  • Three special assignments:

    • Ocean and Beach

    • History of SAMO

    • People in the Parkland

Rules 2024

  • All images must originate as photographs made by the entrant. They may not incorporate identifiable images produced by anyone else (for example: clip art, replacement skies, or stock images).  

    We want to see YOUR view of the mountains. Please, to be true to the ethos of the mountains, AI generated photos should not be entered. 

    • Cropping, straightening and perspective correction. 

    • Removal or correction of elements added by the camera or lens, such as dust spots, noise, chromatic aberration and lens distortion. 

    • Global and selective adjustments such as brightness, hue, saturation and contrast to restore the appearance of the original scene. 

    • Complete conversion of color images to grayscale monochrome. 

    • Blending of multiple images of the same subject and combining them in camera or with software (exposure blending or focus stacking) 

    • Image stitching – combining multiple images with overlapping fields of view that are taken consecutively (panoramas)

  • Images created in whole or in part by image creation software (frequently called ‘AI’ images) are not allowed. Any person submitting or attempting to submit an AI generated image that does not begin with a light capture from the maker shall be disqualified from entry. 

  • A fundamental rule of this competition is that the welfare of living creatures is more important than any photograph. This means that practices such as baiting of subjects with a living creature and removal of birds from nests, for the purpose of obtaining a photograph, are highly unethical, and such photographs are not allowed. Under no circumstances may a living creature be placed in a situation where it will be killed, injured or stressed for the purpose of obtaining a photograph. Images that show live creatures being fed to captive animals, birds or reptiles are not permitted under any circumstances. 

  • There are also concerns about the use of aerial photography, drones, helicopters, low flying aircraft. These are not allowed within the park boundary. If used outside the park, they should not cause any interference with other individuals or animals which causes a disturbance in their normal activity or disrupt the way any individuals or animals interact with their environment. Entrants in this competition must comply with all relevant laws and regulations associated with aerial photography, in the jurisdiction in which the image was taken.