Attention photographers! There's a new photo contest in town: in lieu of our annual bird, wildflower, and pollinator photo contests, CalBG is introducing a new, themed, Spring Photo Contest. We welcome photographers of all ages and backgrounds to visit the Garden to explore this year's theme:

Micro and Macro

From the closest view of a butterfly wing or poppy bloom to the grandest perspective of giant oak or mountain view, we want to see CalBG and the native plants and animals that live here zoomed way in or way out. Photos will be judged on originality of perspectives and representation of native plants/native plant habitats. Winners will receive a small prize and be featured on CalBG's social media accounts.

Details:

Each photographer may submit one photograph for consideration between May 15 and June 15, 2026. Submit photos by e-mailing them to photocontest@calbg.org.  E-mail subject should read: Spring Photo Contest 2026. E-mail body should include the following info:

1. First and Last Name

2. Phone number

3. E-mail address

4. Description of photo (plants/animals featured, to the best of your knowledge)

5. Date photo was taken in the Garden

6. Social media accounts, if you would like to be “tagged” on any posts including your photos.

• Photos may include plants, animals, insects, and views from California Botanic Garden.
• Photos must be taken at California Botanic Garden in 2026. 
• Photos must be no larger than 35 MB, be close to 3,000 pixels wide (for horizontal photographs), or 3,000 pixels tall (for vertical photographs) with at least 150 dpi, and saved in jpeg format.
• Some normal processing of the original file is acceptable.
• Examples of ineligible photographs include frame stacking, stitched panoramic, photos that have been heavily manipulated/filtered, photos with borders, signatures, or watermarks.
• Winners will be chosen in late June and announced no later than July 15, 2026. 
• By entering this contest, photographers agree that they are the sole and exclusive author and owner of the photograph, and that they grant California Botanic Garden non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free permission to use the submitted photograph in any manner, including all associated uses, reproduction, and distribution.  

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Photo above: Elegant Clarkia (Clarkia unguiculata) with bee (by Emily Cardinas) - 3rd place winner in 2025 Wildflower Photo Contest.

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