Capture the Cache

Eligibility – The contest is open to any amateur or professional photographer except employees, Board Directors of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, photo contest judges and members of their immediate families. Photographers must be at least 16 years old to participate.

Locale – All photographs must be taken within the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area which includes the Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor and surrounding communities. List of corridor communities >

Deadline – All entries must be submitted by May 10, 2024.

Entry Forms – Entries must be accompanied by a completed and signed Entry Form. All images must be listed on a single Entry Form.

Multiple Entries – Photographers can submit a maximum of three (3) photos per category. All entries must be listed on a single Entry Form.

Categories – Participants must place their photos in one of the categories listed above. The judges reserve the right to recategorize any entry.

Enhancing Images – While you may crop or perform color correction on your images, the judging team discourages over-amplifying the color. We are looking for images that reflect the scene as it appeared in reality. You may use HDR camera settings, but again, please avoid over enhancing the image or photoshopping.

Format – Images can be in color or black and white. Images must be a minimum resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch) and no smaller than 3072 x 2304 pixels (or 10.24 x 7.68 inches). Images should be in RGB color format and be submitted as JPG (at high quality) or PNG. Do not resample small files to fit requirements, as it will compromise the quality of the image. Images can be horizontal or vertical.

Entry Identification – Each image must be adequately identified. Please label your photographs starting with your LAST NAME, then FIRST NAME and ENTRY NUMBER.

Image File Names: SMITH_JOHN_ENTRY1, SMITH_JOHN_ENTRY2, SMITH_JOHN_ENTRY3. Including a location in the label is helpful, e.g., SMITH_Fairport_1

Model Release – Photos containing recognizable people must be accompanied by a model release form (available under Photo Release) signed by the subject or a parent or legal guardian, if subject is under 18 years of age.

Judging – Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity, photographic quality, and effectiveness in conveying the beauty and/or unique character of the heritage area in one of the contest categories. The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area team will judge the entries and all contest decisions are final. First, second, and third place winners will be selected in each of the categories identified above and there will be one grand prize winner. Honorable mentions will be awarded at the discretion of the judges. Winners will be announced at the inaugural Cache & Cocktails event on Thursday, June 20 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Windsong Event Center.

Winning Photos – The winning images with appropriate credit will appear on the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area website, social media channels and upcoming printed materials. There will be cash prizes for the grand prize winner ($100), and first ($50) and second ($30) place in each category. Non-cash prizes will be awarded for one honorable mention in each category.

Photographer’s Rights – Each photographer will retain all rights to any image submitted – including ownership if applicable – other than those rights licensed in the next sentence. By entering the contest, each photographer hereby grants to the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (i) a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to reproduce, sell reproductions, distribute, publicly display the images submitted to the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area and (ii) the right to use the photographer’s name, city and state of residence in promotions and other publications. Photographs, regardless of the medium, will not be returned. Do not send your only copy of a photograph. The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area is not responsible for any material lost, damaged, or misdirected in the mail.

Note: Submissions that do not follow these requirements may be rejected.

Contact for Questions:

Rylyn Todd, Marketing and Communication Coordinator at rtodd@poudreheritage.org or 970-295-4851

Each photographer will retain all rights to any image submitted – including ownership if applicable – other than those rights licensed in the next sentence. By entering the contest, each photographer hereby grants to the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (i) a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to reproduce, sell reproductions, distribute, publicly display the images submitted to the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area and (ii) the right to use the photographer’s name, city and state of residence in promotions and other publications.

Photographs, regardless of the medium, will not be returned. Do not send your only copy of a photograph. The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area is not responsible for any material lost, damaged, or misdirected in the mail.

How many photos can I submit?

You may submit (3) photos per category for a total of (9) photos maximum. Please note you may
only submit ONE entry form so please be sure to upload all your photos at once.

What are the boundaries of the Cache NHA?

Heritage Area Map

I don’t live in the area. Can I still enter the contest?

Yes, if you’ve stopped through the heritage area at any point, we encourage you to submit your photos.

When and how will winners be announced?

The winners will be notified via preferred contact method no later than TBD.

The winners will be announced publicly at the new Cache & Cocktails event in TBD, hosted by Cache NHA.

What are the cash prize amounts?

Each category will have a 1st place winner of $50, and 2nd place prize of $30. There will be on grand prize winner of $100.

What happens to the photos after the contest?

The images will appear on the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area website, social media channels, and upcoming printed materials.