America's 250th Photography Competition Offical Rules

Official Rules Terms & Conditions
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Official Rules

Welcome to the America’s 250th Photography Competition, presented by the American Battlefield Trust (the “Trust” or “Sponsor”). The challenge: capture the spirit of America’s history through your lens. From sweeping battlefield landscapes to powerful moments of preservation, from people connecting with the past to pets exploring historic ground — tell a visual story that inspires appreciation for our shared heritage.

Agreement to Rules

By participating, the Entrant (“You”) agrees to be fully and unconditionally bound by these Rules and any applicable Terms & Conditions, and You represent and warrant that You meet the eligibility requirements. In addition, You agree to accept the decisions of the Sponsor as final and binding as they relate to the content and outcome of this Competition.

Eligibility

• This Competition is open to individuals who are legal residents of the United States and who are at least thirteen (13) years of age at the time of entry.
• Minors under the age of eighteen (18) may participate only with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
• Employees, officers, and directors of the American Battlefield Trust, and their immediate family or household members, may enter but may be excluded from winning certain prizes at Sponsor’s discretion.
• Void where prohibited by law.

Submissions

Competition Period

• The entry window for the Competition opens at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on February 16, 2026 and closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 15, 2026.
• Finalists will be selected in December 2026. Public voting will occur in January 2027. Winners will be announced thereafter.
• Submissions time stamped after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 15, 2026 will not be accepted. No exceptions.

Entry Form

• To ensure that your submission is complete, carefully follow the instructions provided on the entry form available on the Sponsor's website. Incomplete forms will not be considered.
• Each entry must include:
  • Photographer’s name and contact information
  • Photo title and credit
  • Uploaded image file (JPG, PNG or HEIC, maximum 20MB)
  • Selected competition category
  • Optional written description (“Story Behind the Shot”)
• Entry is FREE to all eligible participants.

Categories

The Competition will be split into four (4) public-vote categories:

• Best Battlefield Landscape
• People & History
• Preservation in Action
• Pets on the Battlefield

All eligible entries will first be reviewed by the Sponsor, which will curate a selection of finalists in each category.

The public will then vote to determine one (1) winner in each of the four (4) category. Following the public voting period, the judging panel will select one (1) additional photograph fromt the four category winner as the Best Overall – Judges’ Choice winner.

A total of four (4) category winners and one Grand Prize Winner will be announced.

Sponsor reserves the right to reassign entries to different categories if appropriate.

Photo Requirements

By submitting a photograph, You represent and warrant that:

• The photograph is original and was taken by You.
• You own all rights to the photograph.
• The photograph does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, privacy right, or other intellectual property right of any third party.
• Any identifiable individuals depicted have granted permission to be photographed and for their likeness to be used.
• The photograph does not contain obscene, defamatory, unlawful, or otherwise inappropriate content.

Photographs may not include:

• Hate speech or symbols
• Explicit or offensive content
• Watermarks, logos, or promotional branding not owned by Entrant

The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with these requirements.

Judging

Judges

All eligible entries will first be reviewed by a panel selected by the Sponsor to curate finalists in each category.

Finalists will then advance to a public voting phase. The public will select one winner in each category.

The judging panel will separately select one Judges’ Choice winner from all eligible submissions.

Criteria

Entries may be evaluated based on:

• Visual impact and composition
• Historical relevance
• Storytelling and emotional resonance
• Alignment with the American Battlefield Trust’s mission

Judging decisions are final and binding.

Prizes & Taxes

Five (5) winners will be selected:

• Four (4) category winners determined by public vote
• One (1) Judges’ Choice winner selected by the panel

Winners may receive one or more of the following:

• Recognition on the American Battlefield Trust's website, email communications, and social media channels
• Honorary membership in the American Battlefield Trust
• American Battlefield Trust-branded merchandise
• Featured placement of the winning photograph in the American Battlefield Trust's online store as an official print offering
• A professionally framed print

Additional prize elements and presentation details will be announced at a later date. Prize details are subject to change at Sponsor’s discretion. Stay tuned for announcement.

Prizes are non-transferable and may not be exchanged for cash.

Winners are solely responsible for any and all federal, state, and local taxes associated with prize receipt.

Notifications

Official notice: Winners will be contacted using the information provided on the entry form. Ensure that your contact details are accurate. If a selected winner cannot be contacted, fails to respond within a reasonable time, or is deemed ineligible, the Sponsor reserves the right to select an alternate winner.

Limitations

Entries: Limit one (1) photo submission per person per category, unless otherwise stated. Automated or bulk submissions are prohibited.

Residency/Citizenship: The Competition is open only to individuals who are legal residents of the United States. Submissions from outside the U.S. will not be accepted.

Copyright and Licensing

By submitting a photograph, You retain full copyright ownership of your work.

However, by participating in the Competition, You grant to the Sponsor a perpetual, irrevocable, unconditional, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, display, distribute, modify, and create derivative works from your submission, in whole or in part, for any lawful purpose, including but not limited to marketing, fundraising, educational materials, promotional campaigns, website content, social media, and merchandise.

No additional compensation shall be owed beyond any prize awarded.

You represent and warrant that your submission does not infringe on any existing copyrights or other intellectual property rights of any third parties.

Terms & Conditions

By participating in the America’s 250th Photography Competition (the “Competition”), each participant consents and agrees to these Terms and Conditions, which may be amended from time to time by the Sponsor. Each participant further agrees to be bound by the decisions of the Sponsor, including, without limitation, its committee in charge of the Competition, which shall be final and binding in all respects.

Conduct

Each participant must at all times behave appropriately when taking part in the Competition and observe all rules and regulations established by the Sponsor. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any participant found to be:

(a) violating these Terms and Conditions;
(b) tampering with the entry process or public voting process;
(c) engaging in fraudulent voting activity; or
(d) acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner.

Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each participant releases and indemnifies and holds the Sponsor harmless from any and all liabilities, damages, losses, costs, proceedings, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs) arising out of or in connection with participation in the Competition, including any claim that the submitted photograph infringes upon the rights of any third party.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Sponsor assumes no responsibility or liability for:

• Lost, late, damaged, or incomplete entries
• Technical malfunctions affecting submission or voting
• Unauthorized access to Competition systems
• Any injury or damage resulting from participation in the Competition

Each participant assumes all risk associated with participation.

Privacy / Use of Personal Information

By participating, each participant grants to the Sponsor the right to use his/her name, city and state of residence, and submitted photograph for purposes of administering the Competition and for publicity and promotional purposes relating to the Competition, without further compensation.

Personal information will be handled in accordance with the Sponsor's Privacy Policy.

Sponsor Intellectual Property

All intellectual property of the Sponsor remains the exclusive property of the Sponsor. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Conflict

In the event of any discrepancy between these Terms and Conditions and other Competition-related materials, these Terms and Conditions shall prevail.

Governing Law

The Competition is governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Participant Representations

Each participant represents and warrants that he or she has read and agrees to these Terms and Conditions.