Each year our contest seeks creative photographic images ranging in style and technique from traditional to avant-garde, symbolizing the many different world communities that need to come together to overcome today's daunting environmental challenges. Images selected for prizes and exhibition successfully educate, motivate, or passionately move audiences to engage in preserving our environment!


In addition to valuable prizes awarded to the best photograph in each category (plus the Grand Prize and People's Choice award), images are seen by regional, national, and international audiences of collectors, curators, writers, and others from the environmental community. We strive to give winners and selected finalists numerous opportunities to be recognized for their accomplishments by showcasing their work in a variety of locations and publications.

Winning images will be exhibited at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, Colorado; featured on our website and social media; and promoted through press releases and partner publications.

In our continuing partnership with the Denver Theatre District, select winning and finalist images (those that will display the best in this unique format) will be projected on the Daniels & Fisher Tower in Downtown Denver as a part of Night Lights Denver during February of 2022.

These unique opportunities give photographers extraordinary exposure, help to spread our powerful message, and significantly expand our audience.


Set up an account and submit your photos to the competition between 12:00:00 AM (Mountain Time) on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 and 11:59:59 PM (Mountain Time) on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Photos have to be entered one at a time for an entry fee of $5 each, but there is no limit to the number of images or categories you may enter in the contest. Photographers retain ownership of their images and grant a license for use in contest related publication and promotion. Please read our official rules for image sizing requirements and conditions of entering the contest.


Photo entries for all categories are judged independently by a professional photographer who chooses Category Winners and the single best image for the Grand Prize. Photographs will be judged on overall impact, creativity, composition, and technical excellence. Photographs can be presented as captured or dramatically altered using computer software. (Online voting has no impact on the judge's decisions.)


Encourage your friends and family to vote for their favorite image. Votes are purchased for $1 each which helps us raise revenue to support our programs and ensures that the votes you do receive are truly meaningful. (Voting fees may be tax deductible. Be sure to check with your accountant.)

The image with the highest number of online votes wins the People's Choice Award.


The winning images will automatically be included in the Exhibition, and other recognition and publication opportunities. The highest scoring images from both the professional judge and the public voting will be selected, on a case by case basis, for inclusion or publication based on the availability of space for each opportunity. For example, the Exhibition includes 26 images total (The 8 Winning images, 6 images with highest number of online votes - one per category, and 12 additional images selected by the judge)

All Contest Entrants will receive a Virtual Gift Bag with content and/or special offers from our Partners and Sponsors.

Please see our rules and prizes page for all the categories and details.


Facility rentals, awards receptions, signage, advertising and now because of the pandemic, brand new online platforms are all essential components that help us reach new audiences and attract award winning filmmakers, photographers, and directors to our annual festival.


Award programs for both filmmakers and still photographers recognize the outstanding achievements of established and emerging talent providing recognition, sales avenues, marketing assistance, and other forms of artist support.


Through interactive environmental education programs, partnerships with other non-profits and eco-friendly businesses, volunteer opportunities, and touring events, we inspire audiences into awareness and action. Additionally, we provide free participation opportunities to qualifying, under privileged individuals from our local communities as well as developing countries.


Scholarships are awarded to promising young students in order to inspire and support the next generation as they explore their interest in film, photography, and the environment.

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Questions? Contact Cheryl Opperman at photocontest@ceff.net or 303-829-9453