{"id":106641,"date":"2026-01-05T19:55:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T19:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/106641\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T19:55:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T19:55:13","slug":"deadline-nearing-for-refuges-photo-contest-sanibel-captiva","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/106641\/","title":{"rendered":"Deadline nearing for refuge\u2019s photo contest – SANIBEL-CAPTIVA"},"content":{"rendered":"


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JULIANN DAVIS
\nJuliAnn Davis won first place last year with \u201cGreat Blue Heron on the Lake Side.\u201d<\/p>\n

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LEIA BUSBY
\nIn second place, Leia Busby submitted \u201cSunset.\u201d<\/p>\n

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SAVANNAH PATTON
\nLast year, third place was awarded to Savannah Patton for \u201cCalm as a Butterfly.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The deadline for submissions for the 13th annual \u201cDing\u201d Darling-Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest is Jan. 15. It invites high school students in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties to compete for cash, gift bags and other prizes, including $1,000 for first place.<\/p>\n

Contest namesake Cross, who lived part-time on Sanibel, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; advised the Johnson and Nixon administrations on anti-poverty programs; wrote the influential book \u201cBlack Capitalism,\u201d among others; played a prominent role in President Barack Obama\u2019s election; and created Birders United \u2014 a birding website that ranked legislators according to their record of bird protection support.<\/p>\n

Late in life, Cross indulged his love for birds and photography and traveled the world to collect stunning portraits and stories to chronicle his adventures. He shot often at the refuge on Sanibel and a number of the images in his book, \u201cWaterbirds,\u201d reflect his love for the refuge. Cross published the photographic book in 2009 at age 85; he passed away shortly after that in 2010.<\/p>\n

Digital image entries can be shot from any outdoor venue in Florida. A writing component to the contest requires entrants grades 9-12 to submit a 100-word description of the \u201cmoment\u201d captured and how it reflects what nature and wildlife mean to the photographer.<\/p>\n

The entry rules and guidelines are as follows:<\/p>\n

All entries and personal information must be submitted in digital format to ddhsphotocontest@dingdarlingsociety.org. Submit your full name, high school, grade and an original photograph that you took of nature and\/or wildlife in the open outdoors. Include a title for the photograph and a written description (minimum 100 words) of the \u201cmoment\u201d captured and how it reflects what nature and wildlife mean to you. You and your entry must comply with the following requirements:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Students attending schools in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades and Charlotte (Florida) counties in grades 9 through 12 may enter the contest.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Only digital images are accepted and may be taken with any camera, including smartphones.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Images must be submitted in JPEG\/JPG format and must have a size of at least 2000-by-1500 pixels or resolution of 2 megabytes.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The photograph must be taken of nature and\/or wildlife in the open outdoors in the state of Florida, which may include parks, refuges, backyards and other open spaces.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Panoramic photos are not allowed.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Filters, cropping, enhancements and boarders are permitted. However, adding any elements not existing in the original scene will not be allowed. Judges, at their discretion, will disqualify any photos that appear to be manipulated beyond these guidelines.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Each participant may enter up to two photos but is eligible to win only one award.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Judging will be anonymous. Do not put your name or anything that will identify you or your photograph.<\/p>\n

\u2013 There are three judges: a refuge staff person, professional photographer and resident of the five-county region.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Judging criteria: technical excellence (sharpness, lighting, composition, exposure); creativity; and explanation of photograph (minimum of 100 words).<\/p>\n

\u2013 All photos will become the property of the DDWS. Photos may be used by the society in any way with appropriate credit.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit www.dingdarlingsociety.org\/articles\/photo-contests<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For questions, contact ddhsphotocontest@dingdarlingsociety.org.<\/p>\n


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