2027 Calendar Photo Contest
Overview
Up to 25 photographs may be selected for use in the 2027 Louisiana Office of State Parks Calendar Photo Contest. Of those, one photo will be selected for the cover and one feature image each month. The remaining photographs may be included throughout the calendar. Photos should portray the natural beauty, wildlife, recreational opportunities and historic treasures found at Louisiana State Parks and Historic Sites.
Official Rules
The 2027 Louisiana Office of State Parks Calendar Photo Contest (“Contest”) is sponsored and administered by the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism (“DCRT”), Office of State Parks (“OSP”).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
Eligibility
The Contest is open to legal residents of the State of Louisiana who are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry.
Employees of DCRT, including but not limited to OSP, and their immediate family members as defined under the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics, La. R.S. 42:1102, are not eligible to enter or win.
By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of DCRT, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest.
Contest Period
Entry Period Opens:……………………March 31, 2026
Photo Submission Deadline:……….May 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CST
Winners Notified:………………………August 5, 2026
Winners Announced:………………….TBA
DCRT reserves the right to modify contest period dates.
How to Enter
- Limit of up to five (5) images per person.
- Only digital submissions will be accepted and must be submitted via the FILE UPLOAD linked at the bottom of this webpage.
- Only JPEG or TIFF files will be accepted.
- Photos should be at least 5 megabytes with 300 dpi. Images must be high enough resolution (at least 300 dpi) to be blown up to 11 x 14 inches without pixilation.
- Files should not exceed 30 megabytes each.
- Horizontal (landscape) orientation preferred.
- Submission does not guarantee selection or publication.
- DCRT is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, corrupted, misdirected, or technically malfunctioning entries.
- Each entry must include:
- Title (example: Fontainebleau State Park)
- Description (example: Fontainebleau State Park beach at sunset)
Photo Requirements
- Photos must have been taken between January 1, 2024 and May 1, 2026 at an official Louisiana State Park or State Historic Site listed in these rules.
- All images must be the original work of the entrant.
- No AI-generated images are permitted.
- No alteration or manipulation is permitted except cropping, red-eye removal, and adjustments to contrast and brightness. However, photographic techniques such as HDR, light-painting and long exposures are permitted.
- Images containing watermarks, logos, writing, or symbols will be disqualified.
- Photos depicting unsafe acts, violations of park rules, inappropriate, indecent, or obscene content, or content inconsistent with the mission or policies of OSP may be disqualified at DCRT’s sole discretion.
Participants must comply with all park rules and applicable laws while capturing photographs. DCRT is not responsible for injuries, damages, or violations incurred in connection with creating a submission.
Recognizable Individuals / Model Releases
- If a submission contains an identifiable individual, the entrant must provide a signed DCRT-approved photo consent and release form from that individual prior to publication.
- If the individual is under eighteen (18) years of age, a parent or legal guardian must sign the release.
- Failure to provide required releases upon request may result in disqualification.
Judging
Judging will be conducted by a panel of OSP staff and selected advisors.
In the event of a tie affecting finalist selection, the entry judged to most effectively showcase Louisiana State Parks and Historic Sites will be selected.
All judging decisions are final and binding.
DCRT reserves the right to select fewer than twenty-five (25) winning photographs if, in its sole discretion, submissions do not meet quality standards.
Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria, each given equal consideration:
- Originality
- Technical quality
- Effectiveness in showcasing the natural beauty, wildlife, recreational opportunities, and historic treasures of Louisiana State Parks and Historic Sites
Prizes
One (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive:
- Cover placement on the 2027 Louisiana State Parks Calendar
- Recognition in the calendar and on official digital platforms
- One (1) $1,000 Louisiana State Parks gift card
- Ten (10) printed calendars
- One Louisiana State Parks promotional pack
Twelve (12) Honorable Mention Winners will each receive:
- Feature placement within the calendar
- Recognition in the calendar and on official digital platforms
- One (1) $250 Louisiana State Parks gift card
- Five (5) printed calendars
- One Louisiana State Parks promotional pack
Limit one prize per person. Prizes are non-transferable and will not be replaced if lost or stolen. No cash substitutions are permitted.
All federal, state, and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner.
Rights and License Granted
By submitting a photograph, the entrant:
- Grants DCRT a royalty-free, non-exclusive, perpetual license to use, reproduce, publish, display, broadcast, distribute, and publicly promote the submitted photograph for promotional, educational, and informational purposes related to the Louisiana Office of State Parks and DCRT tourism promotion;
- Grants DCRT the right to crop, resize, format, and otherwise modify the photograph for layout and promotional purposes while preserving the integrity of the image;
- Represents and warrants that the submission is original and does not infringe upon the rights of any third party;
- Agrees to these Official Rules.
- Entrants retain ownership of their photographs.
- DCRT is not obligated to use any submitted photograph.
Indemnification
By entering, entrant agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless DCRT, OSP, the State of Louisiana, and their officers, employees, agents, and volunteers from and against claims, demands, causes of action, damages, or judgments arising out of entrant’s breach of these Official Rules or violation of any third-party rights related to the submitted photograph.
Public Records
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Submissions and entrant information may be subject to disclosure under the Louisiana Public Records Law.
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By entering, entrants acknowledge that their name, city of residence, and submitted photograph may be publicly released.
General Conditions
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DCRT reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the Contest if fraud, technical failures, natural disasters, public emergencies, or any other factor beyond its reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Contest.
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DCRT reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who violates these Official Rules or attempts to tamper with the entry process.
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This Contest is governed by the laws of the State of Louisiana. Any disputes arising from this Contest shall be resolved exclusively in the appropriate state court located in Louisiana.
Eligible Locations
The following is a list of the designated Louisiana State Parks and Historic Sites thereof that will be acceptable to photograph to enter into the 2027 Louisiana Office of State Parks Calendar Photo Contest:
Bayou Segnette State Park - 7777 Westbank Expressway, Westwego, LA
Bogue Chitto State Park - 17049 State Park Blvd, Franklinton, LA
Chemin-A-Haut - 14656 State Park Road, Bastrop, LA
Chicot State Park - 3469 Chicot Park Road, Ville Platte, LA
Cypremort Point State Park - 306 Beach Lane, Cypremort Point, LA
Fairview-Riverside State Park - 119 Fairview Drive, Madisonville, LA
Fontainebleau State Park - 62883 Hwy 1089, Mandeville, LA
Grand Isle East State Park - 108 Admiral Craik Drive, Grand Isle, LA
Jimmie Davis State Park - 1209 State Park Road, Chatham, LA
Lake Bistineau State Park - 103 State Park Road, Doyline, LA
Lake Bruin State Park - 201 State Park Road, St. Joseph, LA
Lake Claiborne State Park - 225 State Park Road, Homer, LA
Lake D'Arbonne State Park - 3628 Evergreen Road, Farmerville, LA
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park - 5400 Levee Road, St. Martinville, LA
North Toledo Bend State Park - 2907 North Toledo Park Road, Zwolle, LA
Palmetto Island State Park - 19501 Pleasant Road, Abbeville, LA
Poverty Point Reservoir State Park - 1500 Poverty Point Parkway, Delhi, LA
St. Bernard State Park - 107 Sutherland Road, Lake Charles, LA
Sam Houston Jones State Park - 120 Bald Eagle Road, Anacoco, LA
South Toledo Bend State Park - 501 St. Bernard Parkway, Braithwaite, LA
Tickfaw State Park - 27225 Patterson Road, Springfield, LA
Audubon State Historic Site - 11788 Highway 965, St. Francisville, LA
Centenary State Historic Site - 3522 College Street, Jackson, LA
Fort Jesup State Historic Site - 32 Geoghagan Road, Many, LA
Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site - 155 Rue Jefferson, Natchitoches, LA
Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site - 135 Riverfront Street, Pineville, LA
Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site - 1200 North Main Street, St. Martinville, LA
Los Adaes State Historic Site - 6354 Highway 485, Robeline, LA
Mansfield State Historic Site - 15149 Highway 175, Mansfield, LA
Port Hudson State Historic Site - 236 Hwy 61, Jackson, LA
Poverty Point World Heritage Site - 6859 Highway 577, Pioneer, LA
Rebel State Historic Site - 1260 Hwy 1221, Marthaville, LA
Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site - 12501 Highway 10, St. Francisville, LA
Contact
For questions regarding the Contest, email the Louisiana State Parks Photo Contest Coordinator.
File uploader
by uploading photos, you are agreeing to above contest rules and terms.