Term
Float Shack 2025 Photo Contest begins June 10, 2025, and ends September 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM Mountain Time. By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the contest and states that he or she is 18 years old or older.
Who may enter
The prizes are open to photographers who are 18 years old or older. Individuals affiliated with the Float Shack, including employees, interns, volunteers, associates and their immediate families (children, parents, siblings and spouses) and others living in their households are not eligible for any prize. The Float Shack will determine winners’ eligibility in its sole discretion.
What to Enter
The following six contest categories are drawn from subjects of special interest to Float Shack
1. Natural World
Animals, plants and landscapes; geological or climatological features; and scientific processes and endeavors.
2. Colorado Travel
Locales, peoples or activities in the Colorado that convey a sense of place.
3. People
4. The Colorado Experience
Events, objects or activities connecting the Colorado people to their history or their cultural heritage; photographs that tell us what it means to be an Coloradan and provide a sense of what it is like to live in this country.
5. Artistic Images
Visuals that use photography as a creative and imaginative platform to express an idea or concept. These images can be manipulated in any method, either through photo editing software or other techniques.
6. Drone/Aerial
Any photograph captured using an unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone. Images shot from planes/helicopters are also accepted.
Entry Guidelines
To be eligible for any category, a photograph must have been shot by the entrant since June 1, 2025. This date applies to all images in a composite. The contestant certifies that he/she is the sole creator and copyright owner of the submitted photograph.
Cropped photos are eligible in all categories. Minor adjustments, including the removal of sensor dust or scratches on scans of negatives, dodging and burning, sharpening, contrast, toning, slight color adjustment and conversion to grayscale are acceptable for all categories. The addition and subtraction of objects is not permitted except in the Artistic Images category. If the judges determine that a photographer has altered his or her photo beyond normal photojournalism best practices, they reserve the right to move the photo to Artistic Images or to disqualify it. Image composites including HDR and stitched panoramas will be judged as Artistic Images. Images generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not permitted.
Photos must be taken in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
Photos that violate or infringe upon another person’s rights, including but not limited to copyright, are not eligible.
Photos that contain sexually explicit, nude, obscene, violent or other objectionable or inappropriate content, as determined by the Smithsonian in its sole discretion, are ineligible for all categories of this contest.
How to Enter
How to Enter: Submission
Please submit photographs and requested information online through our review links:
We do not accept photographs submitted through the mail and do not accept more than one contestant per e-mail address. High-quality scans of non-digital photographs are acceptable. Digital photographs should be taken at the highest resolution possible.
Photo Resolution
Finalists must be prepared to submit an original, unedited digital file or an original negative, print or slide. Original negatives, prints or slides will be returned to finalists.
The Float Shack reserves the right to disqualify incomplete entries and/or contestants who cannot submit:
- High-resolution image (at least 300 dpi at 3,000 pixels on the longest side)
- Or an original photo negative, print or slide
Mobile photographs are exempt from this size requirement but must be submitted at full resolution upon request.
Additional Requirements
The Float Shack may collect a photograph’s metadata upon entry.
Photos must follow all federal, state, and local laws. Images must not infringe on copyright or contain offensive content.
Rights and License
You retain your rights to your photograph. However, by entering the contest, you grant the Float Shack (and those authorized by the Float Shack) a royalty-free, world-wide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to:
- Publicly display, distribute, and reproduce your photo
- Create derivative works of your photo
- Use your photo for advertising, exhibitions, publications, and products
Any photograph reproduced will include a photographer credit when feasible. No additional compensation or approval is required for such uses.
Use of your personal data:
Participation in the contest requires the collection of your name and email address. By entering this contest, you are consenting to the use of your name and email address for further communications regarding this contest.
Entry deadline:
The contest begins on June 10, 2025. All entries must be received through Smithsonianmag.com by 5:00 PM Mountain Time on September 1,2025.
Judging
Photo entries will be judged based on creativity, quality, originality, responsiveness to the prompt and overall impact.
The Float Shack will select one finalist/ winner every Monday starting June 16, 2025 assuming the total entries of 25 have been met. Entries will roll over week to week until a total of 25 entries have been met.
The Float Shack will notify winners via the contact information provided at the time of entry; the Float Shack may disqualify anyone who fails to respond to the notification within five business days.
Please do not contact us about the status of entries or judging.
Prizes:
A weekly prize of $100 will be awarded to a single winner.
Online Features:
The Float Shack may select photos for highlight on its website or display in a publicly accessible contest archive. Such selections will be made in the Float Shack sole discretion.
Conditions of Entry:
All entrants hold the Sponsors and their respective regents, directors, officers, employees, interns, associates, and volunteers (the “Indemnified Parties”) harmless from and against all claims of any nature arising in connection with entrant’s participation in the contest and acceptance or use of a prize. The Indemnified Parties are not liable for any costs, damages, injuries, or other claims incurred because of entrants’ participation in the contest or winner’s acceptance and usage of a prize. The Indemnified Parties are not responsible for incomplete or misdirected entries, technical or network malfunctions or failures, or causes beyond their control. Entrants are solely responsible for their entries. Entrants may not submit materials that introduce any software viruses, worms or other programs designed to damage software, hardware or telecommunications equipment or are off-topic, partisan-political, contain advertising, nudity, personal attacks or expletives, or is otherwise abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, discriminatory, libelous, obscene, false, sexually explicit, or that infringes on the rights of any third party.
The contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. The Float Shack reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules at its discretion. In the event of a dispute regarding the winners, the Float Shack reserves the right to award or not award the prizes in its sole discretion. The Float Shack reserves the right to disqualify any entrant whose entry or conduct appears in any way to: inhibit the enjoyment of others; tamper with the competition; violate these rules or other applicable law or regulation; infringe on the rights of third parties; or act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Decisions of the Float Shack are final and binding.
Last updated: June 2025.