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Photo Contest

We want to see your best photographs that feature our lakes, streams, parks, wildlife, plants, recreation, or anything else outdoors that inspires you!

The Rules:

  1. Photos must be taken within the boundaries of the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District in the last 2 years
  2. Maximum 10 submissions per photographer
  3. Photographer must know the names and contact info of any identifiable people in the photo
  4. Images should accurately represent the reality of the photographed scene (No black & white or strong filters)
  5. Photographers agree to grant the RPBCWD photo license of all submitted photos
  6. Image requirements:
    • Digital image in TIF, JPEG, or PNG format
    • Horizontal orientation (to fit our calendar layout)
    • At least 300 dpi
    • Unaltered except for minor editing/corrections with no filters/effects  (e.g. black and white, soft blur)
       

Submissions are due September 30th, 2025 and will be judged by RPBCWD staff and its Citizen Advisory Committee. 

With questions or for alternate submission methods, contact Eleanor at emahon@rpbcwd.org.

 

2024 Photo Contest Winners

Snow-covered trees and a creek in a winter landscape.
Alyssa Essig, Staring Lake
A snowy landscape with a calm creek reflecting the bare trees and a bright sun in a clear blue sky.
Sharon McCotter, Lake Lucy
Northern Lights over a calm lake with silhouettes of trees and a starry sky.
Robert Bastian, Staring Lake
Lush green lotus leaves and blooming yellow lotus flowers in a serene pond setting.
Alyssa Essig, Red Rock Lake
A bird perched on a branch with red berries in its beak, surrounded by greenery.
Rajendran Thiagarajan, Eden Prairie
A serene lake reflecting a dramatic sky with fluffy clouds at dusk.
Matt Chirrick, Staring Lake
A swan preening its feathers by a body of water.
Alyssa Essig, Purgatory Creek
A heron stands in shallow water surrounded by reeds and plants.
Yoko Yamasaki, Purgatory Creek
A vibrant rainbow arches over a calm lake, with the sunset sky reflected in the water.
Jeremy Peyer, Duck Lake
A small stream with flowing water over rocks, surrounded by greenery and fallen leaves.
John Cuoco, Riley Creek
A forest with trees in vibrant autumn colors, lots of yellow and orange leaves covering the ground.
Pete Rose, Rice Marsh Lake
A woodpecker with a red head perched on a tree branch.
Diana Hall, Lake Lucy
Snow-covered trees and a creek in a winter landscape.
A snowy landscape with a calm creek reflecting the bare trees and a bright sun in a clear blue sky.
Northern Lights over a calm lake with silhouettes of trees and a starry sky.
Lush green lotus leaves and blooming yellow lotus flowers in a serene pond setting.
A bird perched on a branch with red berries in its beak, surrounded by greenery.
A serene lake reflecting a dramatic sky with fluffy clouds at dusk.
A swan preening its feathers by a body of water.
A heron stands in shallow water surrounded by reeds and plants.
A vibrant rainbow arches over a calm lake, with the sunset sky reflected in the water.
A small stream with flowing water over rocks, surrounded by greenery and fallen leaves.
A forest with trees in vibrant autumn colors, lots of yellow and orange leaves covering the ground.
A woodpecker with a red head perched on a tree branch.

2023 Photo Contest Winners 

A yellow bird perched on reeds with cattails.
Steven Harder, Kerber Pond
A robin perched on snow, looking over its shoulder with a blurred background.
Terry Maxwell, Minnetonka
A frost-covered landscape with trees, snow-covered ground, and a bright sun in a clear sky.
Josh Maxwell, Rice Marsh Lake
Five swallows in mid-flight above a wooden beam, with detailed wings spread showing motion.
Gretchen Haynes, Staring Lake
A mother duck swims with her ducklings in green water.
Steven Harder, Kerber Pond
Three white flowers with yellow centers against a background of brown leaves.
Gretchen Haynes, Riley Creek
Frost-covered dry grass in a cold, wintry setting.
Becky Cater, Bluff Creek Preserve
A serene misty meadow framed by leafy trees in the soft light of dawn.
Becky Cater, Bluff Creek Preserve
Sunset over water with a close-up of a wave crested by the sun's reflection.
Diana Rose, Lake Riley
A turtle on a log, with its shell and skin covered in moss or algae, blending with the environment.
Riley Connell, Lake Ann
A cluster of wild mushrooms with flaky caps, growing on forest floor.
Deneena Hughes, Riley Creek Conservation Area
Autumn forest with vibrant orange and yellow foliage under a blue sky.
Deneena Hughes, Riley Creek Conservation Area
A red cardinal bird perched amidst leafless branches.
Riley Burns, Neill Lake
A yellow bird perched on reeds with cattails.
A robin perched on snow, looking over its shoulder with a blurred background.
A frost-covered landscape with trees, snow-covered ground, and a bright sun in a clear sky.
Five swallows in mid-flight above a wooden beam, with detailed wings spread showing motion.
A mother duck swims with her ducklings in green water.
Three white flowers with yellow centers against a background of brown leaves.
Frost-covered dry grass in a cold, wintry setting.
A serene misty meadow framed by leafy trees in the soft light of dawn.
Sunset over water with a close-up of a wave crested by the sun's reflection.
A turtle on a log, with its shell and skin covered in moss or algae, blending with the environment.
A cluster of wild mushrooms with flaky caps, growing on forest floor.
Autumn forest with vibrant orange and yellow foliage under a blue sky.
A red cardinal bird perched amidst leafless branches.
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