5 Helpful Tips for Entering Our Photo Contest

Whether you want to share beautiful photos with the hiking community or win some awesome prizes, Northwest Exposure is the photo contest to enter. But we realize that capturing a winning photo isn't always easy, so we put together these five tips for improving your chances. We hope they help!

1. Stay on the trail to get your epic hiking photo. As tempting as it might be to frolic through the wildflower-strewn meadow for a Sound of Music-inspired photo, it doesn't do any favors for the local habitat. Stick to the trail for best results.
    
2. Keep your distance. When approached, pikas have been known to gang up on hikers and gnaw their camera gear to shreds. (There haven't actually been any proven cases of this occurring, but better safe than sorry, right?) Even if your gear doesn't get eaten by a pack of furry mammals, it's best to view wildlife from afar to prevent interrupting their natural behavior. 
   
   
    A pika snacking on some vegetation before the main course: your camera! Okay, maybe not, but it's good to keep your distance from wildlife. Photo by Justin Jennings.
   
   
3. Doggone it. We love seeing happy hiking dogs on trail, but we also want to make sure your pup is an ambassador for great trail etiquette. We ask that all dogs be on leashes in photos submitted to the contest to consider them for prizes. 
    
4. Put a trail in your Trailscapes photo. We know. That sunset is just too good to pass up, but it will actually improve your chances if you put a bit of the trail in the foreground. After all, we are Washington Trails Association
   
   
   Including a trail in your photo gives the landscape context from a hiking perspective. Photo by Brianna Leahy.
   
5. Enter! What's that old saying? You can't win if you don't enter? In any case, it's true! Even if you don't win the grand prize, all entrants will receive 25% off framing and printing services from Frameable. Plus, your photos help us tell the story of Washington's trails, and that's the best kind of winning there is (after winning the grand prize, of course). 
   
   

Ready to enter? Hit the button below or check out some more tips first. We're looking forward to seeing your photos!

By the way, we have tons of photo tips available on our website. Check them out and brush up on your photography skills.