- Wildlife/Insects
- Recreation/People
- Landscapes
- Youth (for photographers 16 years old and younger)
The four winners (one in each category) will win a prize and have their photo displayed at Rivanna RiverFest!
CONTEST RULES
- Limit of two submissions per photographer
- Photos must be related to the Rivanna River watershed
- The deadline to submit photos is 5:00 PM on April 15, 2026
- Photos should be submitted in highest resolution possible
- Photos can be from any year
SUBMISSION DETAILS
- THE 2026 PHOTO CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
RCA uses photos in its outreach and publications, including the annual Stream Health Report, bilingual Rivanna River Report Card, newsletters, and more. Photographers will be asked to fill out a photo release form so RCA may use their photographs for these purposes.
Congratulations to our 2026 Photo Contest winners!
Landscapes: “Autumn Reflections” by George Beller
Taken at the Sugar Hollow Reservoir, Albemarle County, VA. It shows the reflection of fall colors in the water as the fog was rising on the reservoir.
Wildlife: “Hunting Heron” by Ryan Thompson
A great blue heron watches over the Rivanna River at Ivy Creek Foundation against a backdrop of blooming mountain laurel.
People/Recreation: “Veil of Silence” by Kim Gall
Fishermen drift through dense morning fog on Beaver Creek Reservoir, their silhouettes nearly lost between water and sky, an intimate moment of stillness within the watershed.
Youth (16 and under): “Vultures on a House” by Grant Farr
Two vultures warming themselves on my neighbor’s roof.