Winners in three categories — Landscape, Lifestyle, and Wildlife — are eligible for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, including a spot on a Down East Adventures photo workshop, Down East subscriptions and swag, and publication in the magazine. 

How to Submit 

Submissions and voting are open through September 8. You may submit as many photos in as many categories as you like; simply repeat the submission form after each submission. The entry fee is $10 per photo. Photographers retain the rights to their work. By entering a Down East photo contest, you accept our contest guidelines. Winners will be notified in September 2025, and their work will be published in the December 2025 issue of Down East. 

ENTER YOUR MAINE PICS

The Judges

Contest judges include veteran Maine photographers and Down East contributors Peter Ralston and Benjamin Williamson, and Down East photo editor Tara Rice. The judges will select a winner and a runner-up in each category. The contest sponsor, Natural Resources Council of Maine, will select the winner of its Maine Outdoors Prize, and our readers have voted for a Readers’ Choice winner in each category as well. 

The Prizes

  • Grand Prize: Publication, a one-year subscription, a swag bag of Down East goodies, and a $500 cash prize!

  • Runner Up: Publication, a one-year subscription, a swag bag of Down East goodies, and a $200 cash prize!

  • Maine Outdoors Prize: Publication, a one-year subscription, and a swag bag of Down East goodies.

  • Readers’ Choice: Publication, a one-year subscription, a swag bag of Down East goodies. Plus, one overall Readers’ Choice winner will receive a free 2026 Down East Adventures photo workshop!

Winning photographs will be part of a pop-up exhibit hosted by Down East magazine at Waterville Creates on November 7, 2025, in Waterville's First Friday Art Walk.

The Rules

By entering this photo contest, you confirm acceptance of the guidelines. Winners will be notified in September 2025, and their work will be published in the December 2025 issue of Down East

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Photo Gallery

 

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