Florida’s Natural Beauty
2026 Juried Photography Contest & Exhibition
Mission Statement:
“Audubon of Martin County’s mission is to provide engaging experiences to help educate people about birds and the conservation of their native habitat.”
With over 70 years of protecting birds, their habitats and our local ecosystems, Audubon of Martin County continues to inspire nature stewardship through community involvement across the Treasure Coast.
Event:
Florida’s Natural Beauty ~ 2026 Juried Photography Contest & Exhibition is proudly presented by Audubon of Martin County (AoMC) and hosted by the Historical Society of Martin County (HSMC) and the Elliott Museum.
Eligibility:
· All amateur and professional photographers residing in the U.S. may enter. Please read all rules and regulations before registering to enter.
· All photographs and video content must be taken in Florida.
Awards:
· Best in Show: $300.00
· 1st Place in Each Category: $200.00
· 2nd Place in Each Category: $100.00
· 3rd Place in Each Category: $50.00
· Honorable Mention awards may also be awarded at the discretion of the judges.
Categories:
· Birds
· Wildlife
· Flora/Landscape
· Creative Category
· Video Category
· Cell Phone Photography
Criteria:
· All photos and video must be taken in Florida.
· Global adjustments only, such as making the overall photo lighter, darker, sharpening, adding overall contrast, saturation.
· Each image can be entered in only one category.
· Enter up to seven (7) images and videos per category.
· Birds: Includes migratory birds that call Florida home during our winter months.
· Wildlife: Non-invasive species of Wildlife.
· Flora/Landscape: Plants (non-invasive), landscapes, seascapes, architecture and habitats.
· Creative Category: The use of AI is NOT permitted. The Creative category includes any image with treatments, effects, selective masking, changed areas, added elements or manipulated beyond the allowed GLOBAL adjustments mentioned above.
· Video Category: Video content can be taken with a cell phone or camera. Content should fall into one of the categories above. Length should be two minutes or less. You can get creative with volume.
Video Step 1: Upload a still shot, screen shot or jpeg from the video to OnlineJuriedShows.com. Payment must be entered for your submission here. Videos will be viewed and judged from the links you provide in Step 2, with the judges entering their scores into OnlineJuriedShows.com
Video Step 2: The final 2-minutes or less video should be uploaded to Google Drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox, Youtube.com or other platform with full access given to jnelson.audubonofmartincounty@gmail.com.
Email the video link to jnelson.audubonofmartincounty@gmail.com
· Cell Phone Photography: Open to all cell phone camera users. Content must align with the above categories and rules. Must be an image. Video belongs in the video category.
Important Dates:
September 15 – December 1, 2026: Online digital submissions open. Log in and click Enter This Show above to begin.
December 2-9, 2026: Judging process. A panel of three independent judges, all of whom will be experts in photography, will review, score and select initial qualifiers in each category eligible for awards. These final scores will determine 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category, along with Best In Show and Honorable Mentions. All judging will be done on a blind basis without names of participants present.
December 11, 2026: Notifications of acceptance will be available in each artist’s account at https://onlinejuriedshows.com/Login.aspx?r=A
December 13, 2026 - January 13, 2027: Timeframe for out-of-town shipped photos to arrive at Audubon of Martin County.
Shipping Requirements: If you live outside the Treasure Coast (Florida) area, shipping of juror-approved accepted work is permissible. Shipping requirements are as follows: Photographers are responsible for all shipping arrangements and expenses. Round trip shipping expenses must be prepaid and a return shipping label must be included in your shipment. Any entries sent collect will not be accepted. All artwork must be packed in a reusable USPS, UPS or FEDEX approved package/box and all packing material must be sufficient for safe repacking and return (no plastic peanuts or shredded paper). Packages/boxes must be clearly and properly labeled for return shipment.
Must be shipped by FedEx, UPS or USPS to:
Audubon of Martin County
4096 SW Bimini Circle S
Palm City, FL 34990
Phone: 772-485-8129
January 13, 2027 (Wednesday): Local drop-off of all juror-approved photos between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm ONLY to:
Audubon of Martin County
621 SE Palm Beach Road
Stuart, FL 34994
Phone: 772-288-2637
January 21, 2027 (Thursday) Opening Reception, Awards Ceremony and Open Exhibit from
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Elliott Museum, 825 NE Ocean Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34996.
Suggested $10.00 donation at the door to help offset Museum costs.
Includes a special wildlife presentation by John Nelson of The Audubon Moment / Board Member for Audubon of Martin County.
January 22 – February 25, 2027: Photo Exhibit open to the public for viewing during Museum hours, 10 am through 5 pm, every day.
March 3 AND March 4, 2027: All photographs must be picked up from Audubon of Martin County between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm ONLY at:
Audubon of Martin County
621 SE Palm Beach Road
Stuart, FL 34994
Phone: 772-288-2637
Week of March 8th 2027: Return shipping of all out-of-town artists’ photos.
HOW TO ENTER:
· Starting September 15, 2026 you may upload your images. Log in and click Enter This Show above to begin.
· If it’s your first time, you’ll need to create an account before you can upload your images.
· All payments need to be made once images have been uploaded.
· VIDEO: The actual video is NOT to be uploaded to the OnlineJuriedShows.com platform. You will only add a frame capture from your video, or a jpeg from the video to OnlineJuriedShows.com and pay for your entry here. All videos, two minutes or less, are to be uploaded to Google Drive, WeTransfer, Dropbox, YouTube or similar platform with full access given to jnelson.audubonofmartincounty@gmail.com
Email the video link to jnelson.audubonofmartincounty@gmail.com
· IMAGES: Each photographer may submit (via digital upload) up to seven (7) photographs and videos in each category for the jurying panel to review and score. NOTE: This is NOT a digital-only exhibit. The uploaded photos are digitally judged, and all accepted images will need to have tangible museum-quality framed prints, canvas prints, acrylic prints or metal prints provided to Audubon of Martin County for display on the museum’s walls.
· Each image and video entered may be submitted in only one category.
· A non-refundable entry fee of $20 (for Audubon of Martin County Members in good standing through the duration of the show) and $25 (for non-members) will be charged for each uploaded photograph. Membership status will be verified.
· Digital file criteria: JPEG format, sRGB color space, 1920 pixels on the long side (horizontal or vertical) at 72ppi – not to exceed 4MB. Use your own file naming structure.
· Color, B&W or monotone images are acceptable.
· Photographs must not have been previously entered into an Audubon of Martin County Photography Contest.
· Photographs will be denied if the judges deem that a camera trap was used. Photographers must be present in the field and working to capture live action.
· Recognizable individuals pictured in photos must include a signed release.
· No nudity or pornographic content.
· If you receive this error along with a yellow screen during submitting your photos on the onlinejuriedshows.com platform, it means you have been idle too long: Server Error in '/' Application. You will have to log out and log back in again. It is a data safeguard in place.
· There will be no exceptions for deadlines, specifications or rules, and there will be no refunds.
· All decisions of the jurying panel and Audubon of Martin County are final.
· For help with your submissions, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351.
Accepted Entries – Preparing Your Photographs:
1. No signatures, names or text of any kind on the photograph.
2. With exception to size, your final print must be an unedited version of the juried digital submission.
3. Images printed on the following substrates are acceptable: Any quality photo, metallic or fine art paper. Canvas, aluminum, wood and acrylic are also acceptable.
4. Professional presentation is a must! Use industry accepted matting and framing techniques. It is understood that some nontraditional substrates, i.e., aluminum, wood, acrylic and gallery wrap canvas may be displayed without the addition of a finished frame assembly (matte, glass & frame). Non-gallery wrap canvas work requires a finished frame.
5. The minimum photo print size is 8” on the short side. Finished work must not exceed 20”x24” in height or width including outer edges of a frame.
6. All entries must be wired for hanging using picture hanging wire. No saw tooth hangers are permitted.
Metal prints:
For the back of the metal print, you must choose the option to include a picture hanging wire. Circular holes and rectangle cutouts that have a sawtooth finish on the rectangle’s upper edge are not acceptable for gallery hanging.
7. Print, fill out and tape one identification label to the back of each photograph. These labels will be provided in your “Accepted” email. Indicate the value of the piece for insurance purposes. Check the appropriate box indicating if the photo is for sale or not.
Photo Sales:
It is common for Museum visitors to purchase pieces in the exhibit. Payment structure for all photo sales is 75% to the artist and 25% to the Museum. The Museum handles transfer of the purchased photo to its new owner at the close of the exhibit and pays the artist directly.
Liability:
Audubon of Martin County, HSMC, and the Elliott Museum will exercise the best possible care in the handling of your submissions. But, neither the Audubon of Martin County, HSMC, or the Elliott Museum will be responsible for loss or damage of your submission due to fire, theft, vandalism, or any other cause. Entries submitted constitute agreement to the conditions set forth in this prospectus.
Photo Rights:
Artist maintains copyright with Audubon of Martin County limited use. The photographer grants the Audubon of Martin County, HSMC and the Elliott Museum permission to photograph the entries for archival purposes, publicity, website, or for promotional publications.
Contact:
Please forward any questions you might have to Sonia Sousa, Audubon of Martin County Photography Contest Lead, by email to soniasousa7@gmail.com.
For help with your entries, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351