Keep It Dark Photo Contest

View Official Rules

KEEP IT DARK PHOTO CONTEST (THE “CONTEST”)
OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPACT YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

The object of the Contest is to submit an original photograph (the “Submission”) that captures the beauty of Nevada County's dark skies. Eligible Submissions will be reviewed and judged in accordance with these Official Rules and based upon the criteria set forth in the Judging section below.

ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States, including its commonwealths, territories, and possessions, who are residents of, visitors to, or photographers working within Nevada County, California. All Submissions must be photographs captured within Nevada County, California. Participants under the age of 18 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian to enter. Employees, officers, and directors of Visit Truckee-Tahoe, Town of Truckee, Nevada County Arts & Culture, City of Nevada City, Truckee Cultural District, and each of their affiliates, advertisers, promotional agencies, and any other entity associated with the Contest (collectively, the “Sponsor Parties”), and members of their immediate family or persons living in the same household, are not eligible to participate or win a prize. The Contest is subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

CONTEST TIMELINE: The Contest begins at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time ("PT") on June 22, 2026 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on August 12, 2026 (the "Entry Period").

June 22, 2026
Contest Opens

August 12, 2026
Submission Deadline

August 13-20, 2026
Judging Period

August 21 - September 4, 2026
Community Voting

October 2, 2026
Awards Reception & Exhibition

Sponsors reserve the right to modify these dates if necessary.

HOW TO ENTER: Participants may enter the Contest through the official online entry form. No other method of entry will be accepted. Limit two (2) entries per person/email address. Additional entries beyond the specified limit may be void. Entrants must fully complete all required fields and submit their photograph in accordance with the Submission Requirements and Content Restrictions set forth below to be eligible. Incomplete or inaccurate entries may be disqualified.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Participants must submit their Submission as directed during the Contest entry process. By submitting a Submission, each Participant represents and warrants that:

1. The Submission is their original work.
2. The Participant owns all rights necessary to submit the photograph.
3. The photograph was captured within Nevada County, California.
4. The Submission does not violate any copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other legal rights.
5. The Submission complies with these Official Rules.

Sponsors reserve the right to request original image files, metadata, location information, or additional documentation to verify eligibility and authenticity.

CONTEST CATEGORIES:

Youth Division
Open to photographers age 18 and younger.

Amateur Division
Open to hobbyist photographers and non-professional photographers.

Professional Division
Open to photographers who earn income through photography, photographic services, licensing, or related professional work.

Sponsors reserve the right to reassign entries to a different category if deemed appropriate.

JUDGING: During the Judging Period, eligible Submissions will be reviewed by judges selected by the Sponsors. Entries may be evaluated based on creativity, originality, technical quality, visual impact, connection to the Keep It Dark theme, and representation of Nevada County's dark skies. Decisions of the judges and Sponsors shall be final and binding in all respects.

VOTING PERIOD: The Community Voting Period begins on August 21, 2026 and ends on September 4, 2026. Community members may vote through the official Contest platform. Sponsors reserve the right to remove fraudulent votes and disqualify any Participant attempting to manipulate the voting process. Community voting results may be considered in the final selection process; however, final winner determinations remain at the discretion of the Sponsors and judging panel.

PRIZES: Nine (9) prizes will be awarded. Including over $2,000 in Sustainable Truckee Gift Cards.

Youth Division

• 1st Place
• 2nd Place
• 3rd Place

Amateur Division

• 1st Place
• 2nd Place
• 3rd Place

Professional Division

• 1st Place
• 2nd Place
• 3rd Place

Additional recognition awards, including Best of the East and Best of the West, may be awarded at the Sponsors' discretion.

Prize details and values will be announced separately. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute any prize (or any portion thereof) with a prize of equal or greater value at their sole discretion.

PRIZE CONDITIONS: All prize details shall be determined by the Sponsors in their sole discretion. Winners are fully responsible for any and all applicable taxes. All costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specifically included in the prize description are the sole responsibility of the winner. Prizes are non-transferable and may not be redeemed for cash except at the Sponsors' discretion.

AWARDS RECEPTION & EXHIBITION: Selected entries may be featured in the Keep It Dark Awards Reception & Exhibition on October 2, 2026. Exhibition participation is at the sole discretion of the Sponsors and not all submissions or winning entries are guaranteed display.

RESPONSIBLE PHOTOGRAPHY: Participants must comply with all local, state, and federal laws while creating photographs. Submissions may not be obtained through trespassing, entering restricted areas, disturbing wildlife, damaging natural or cultural resources, or engaging in unsafe or illegal activities. Sponsors reserve the right to disqualify any Submission that violates responsible recreation practices.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND IMAGE EDITING: Submitted photographs must originate from images captured by the Participant. AI-generated images are not permitted. Standard photo editing and post-processing are allowed, including exposure adjustments, color correction, contrast adjustments, cropping, sharpening, and noise reduction. Submissions may not include AI-generated elements or fabricated content that materially misrepresents the original scene.

COPYRIGHT, CONSENT, LICENSE, AND RELEASE: Participants retain ownership and copyright of their submitted photographs. By entering the Contest, each Participant grants the Sponsors and their designees a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, display, publish, distribute, and promote submitted photographs for a period of twelve (12) months following the close of the Contest in connection with the Keep It Dark initiative, tourism promotion, educational materials, exhibitions, websites, social media, public relations, and related marketing purposes.

Sponsors may continue to display submitted photographs in archived web pages, social media posts, press coverage, exhibition documentation, and other materials published during the twelve (12) month license period. Any new use of submitted photographs after the twelve (12) month period will require permission from the photographer, except where otherwise permitted by law.

Participants retain the right to sell, license, publish, or otherwise use their photographs during and after the Contest. Whenever reasonably practical, photographer credit will be provided.

By entering, Participants also grant permission for the Sponsors to use their name, city of residence, photograph title, submitted image, likeness, and statements related to the Contest for promotional, educational, publicity, and marketing purposes without additional compensation unless prohibited by law.

CONTENT RESTRICTIONS: Participants must not submit photographs containing:

(a) obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit, or inappropriate material;
(b) graphic violence or promotion of illegal activities;
(c) content that violates intellectual property rights;
(d) defamatory, disparaging, or false content;
(e) content that reflects negatively on the Sponsors or participating organizations;
(f) dangerous or illegal activity;
(g) discriminatory, hateful, or harassing content;
(h) content that violates privacy or publicity rights; or
(i) material that is unlawful or otherwise contrary to applicable laws or regulations.

Any Submission that does not comply with these requirements may be disqualified.

NOTIFICATION: Potential winners will be notified using the contact information provided at the time of entry. If a potential winner does not respond within five (5) business days, declines a prize, is deemed ineligible, or fails to comply with these Official Rules, the prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner may be selected.

PRIVACY: Information collected through the Contest will be used for Contest administration, winner notification, and related communications. Participants may be given the opportunity to opt into receiving additional communications from the Sponsors; however, participation is not dependent upon such consent.

CONTEST ADMINISTRATION: Sponsors will be responsible for resolving disputes and rule violations that arise in connection with the Contest. All decisions of the Sponsors shall be final and binding.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: By participating in the Contest, each Participant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules. Sponsors reserve the right to cancel, suspend, modify, or terminate the Contest if fraud, technical failures, force majeure events, or other factors impair the integrity or proper functioning of the Contest.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: By participating, Participants agree to release and hold harmless the Sponsors and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers, partners, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or liabilities arising from participation in the Contest, acceptance or use of prizes, or use of submitted photographs as permitted under these Official Rules.

GOVERNING LAW: These Official Rules shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.

WINNER LIST: A list of winners will be made available following the completion of the Contest and awards process.

OFFICIAL RULES: Official Rules will be available on the Contest website throughout the Contest period.

SPONSORS: Visit Truckee-Tahoe, Town of Truckee, Nevada County Arts & Culture, City of Nevada City, and Truckee Cultural District.