2026 Adventures in Nature Student Photo Contest

“Reprieve” by Max Tuttle/Honorable Mention in the 2025 student photo contest, is a photo of a green and purple hummingbird against a dark backdrop.

Photograph by Max Tuttle

The Nature Conservancy in Arizona, in partnership with Arizona Highways Magazine, presents the 13th annual “Adventures in Nature” student photo contest! Students aged 13-18 are invited to enter up to two photos that capture Arizona’s beauty and wildlife for a chance to win cash prizes. The contest is open for submissions between March 1st and March 31st, 2026, and the top 10 winners will be announced on a virtual awards ceremony on April 16th, 2026. All contestants will receive a Zoom invitation by email. See last year’s winners here.

Prizes:
1st place — $5,000
2nd place — $2,500
3rd place — $1,000
7 honorable mentions — $250 each

Please view the updated OFFICIAL RULES before submitting entries.

FacebookX
One file only.
5 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png.
Photos must be of locations in Arizona.
Enter short description of photograph
Enter your name (required)
Your Age
Enter Parent/Guardian email address (required)
Enter your phone number
Enter Parent/Guardian phone number (required)
I agree to the contest rules and understand that submitting more than two photos or submitting unoriginal work will result in disqualification.
As the parent or legal guardian of the minor participant listed above, I hereby agree to the above terms individually myself and on the minor participant's behalf. I further agree that I will be responsible for supervising the minor child for all activities relating to this photography. I release, indemnify and hold harmless The Nature Conservancy and its officers, directors, agents and employees from any and all claims that I or the minor participant may now or hereafter have against any of the aforementioned parties arising out of or in connection with this photography event, including without limitation, any and all claims for invasion of privacy, infringement of any right of publicity, defamation, and any other personal, privacy, and/or property rights or any other rights of any kind.  By signing below, I agree to all the terms of this Liability Release and Waiver agreement on behalf of myself and the minor participant listed below.

GALLERY

Displaying 1 - 12 of 418
Photo by Zach Hines | After driving along an off-roading trail in Sedona, my friends and I came to a lookout spot that had a view over an interesting mountain range to the east. There were some people that were using this side-by-side to off-road and they parked it here.

Photo by Zach Hines

After driving along an off-roading trail in Sedona, my friends and I came to a lookout spot that had a view over an interesting mountain range to the east. There were some people that were using this side-by-side to off-road and they parked it here.

Location: Sedona

Photo by Zach Hines | After about 4 hours of so of trying to navigate through different trails and getting lost many times, my friends and I made it to the top of Flatiron right after sunrise. The views were impeccable and the initial sunlight gave the rocks vivid color.

Photo by Zach Hines

After about 4 hours of so of trying to navigate through different trails and getting lost many times, my friends and I made it to the top of Flatiron right after sunrise. The views were impeccable and the initial sunlight gave the rocks vivid color.

Location: The top of Superstition Mountain's Flatiron (rock formation near it)

Photo by Jackson Pedersen | A single old cactus with twists in turns lining the sun up perfectly between it

Photo by Jackson Pedersen

A single old cactus with twists in turns lining the sun up perfectly between it

Location: Off of twin peaks Marana

Photo by Linda Sabrina Noussair |

Photo by Linda Sabrina Noussair

Location: Sabino Canyon

Photo by Nathanael Brodhagen | Southern Arizona is one of North America's most renowned birding destinations, with thousands of bird and wildlife enthusiasts travelling to the area every year. Yet among the many unique and beautiful species that call the region home, in my opinion the coppery-tailed trogon is the most amazing of them all. Among the larger birds in its Madrean pine-oak woodland habitat, this resplendent tropical-looking species can be found in the U.S. only in the "Sky Islands" of southern Arizona, and rarely in New Mexico and Texas. This species is definitely my favorite bird, and I have been fortunate to be able to see and photograph it multiple times. I like this photo because it shows the trogon's beautiful crimson breast, beautiful iridescent green back, and yellow bill and orange eye ring. The bird has its head tilted slightly, giving it a nice catchlight in the eye. Its perched on a moss covered branch with a background of out of focus orange leaves, giving an almost "fall colors" look to the seen.

Photo by Nathanael Brodhagen

Southern Arizona is one of North America's most renowned birding destinations, with thousands of bird and wildlife enthusiasts travelling to the area every year. Yet among the many unique and beautiful species that call the region home, in my opinion the coppery-tailed trogon is the most amazing of them all. Among the larger birds in its Madrean pine-oak woodland habitat, this resplendent tropical-looking species can be found in the U.S. only in the "Sky Islands" of southern Arizona, and rarely in New Mexico and Texas.
This species is definitely my favorite bird, and I have been fortunate to be able to see and photograph it multiple times. I like this photo because it shows the trogon's beautiful crimson breast, beautiful iridescent green back, and yellow bill and orange eye ring. The bird has its head tilted slightly, giving it a nice catchlight in the eye. Its perched on a moss covered branch with a background of out of focus orange leaves, giving an almost "fall colors" look to the seen.

Location: Madera Canyon, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona

Photo by Linda Sabrina Noussair |

Photo by Linda Sabrina Noussair

Location: Sabino Canyon

Photo by Isabella Rivera | This photo was taken in the backyard of a small plant store

Photo by Isabella Rivera

This photo was taken in the backyard of a small plant store

Location: Downtown Phoenix

Photo by Nathan Hoffman | Two birds eating the food gifted to them by nature.

Photo by Nathan Hoffman

Two birds eating the food gifted to them by nature.

Location: Tucson

Photo by Isabella Rivera | This photo captures the beauty and versatility of the sky.

Photo by Isabella Rivera

This photo captures the beauty and versatility of the sky.

Location: Corona del Sol High School

Photo by Nathan Hoffman | The warm sky reflected through the glass of a depleted bird feeder. Birds gather around to both indulge and relax after a flight of unknown distance. The sound of fluttering wings slows down a bird's descent, and the sun slowly falls, marking the end of a beautiful day. If you think deeply enough, you realise this is but a serendipitous encounter, for the birds, captured in time. This is a picture of Nature.

Photo by Nathan Hoffman

The warm sky reflected through the glass of a depleted bird feeder. Birds gather around to both indulge and relax after a flight of unknown distance. The sound of fluttering wings slows down a bird's descent, and the sun slowly falls, marking the end of a beautiful day. If you think deeply enough, you realise this is but a serendipitous encounter, for the birds, captured in time. This is a picture of Nature.

Location: Tucson

Photo by Nathanael Brodhagen | I captured this photo in midafternoon, when lighting in the shaded mid-story of the Madrean pine-oak woodland of the Huachuca mountains (one of Arizona's famous "Sky Islands) was soft and even without harsh shadows. Several species of hummingbirds were present, but I especially liked the composition that the branches this violet-crowned hummer perched on created, as well as the soft out-of-focus background, drawing your eye to the hummingbird.

Photo by Nathanael Brodhagen

I captured this photo in midafternoon, when lighting in the shaded mid-story of the Madrean pine-oak woodland of the Huachuca mountains (one of Arizona's famous "Sky Islands) was soft and even without harsh shadows. Several species of hummingbirds were present, but I especially liked the composition that the branches this violet-crowned hummer perched on created, as well as the soft out-of-focus background, drawing your eye to the hummingbird.

Location: Miller Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Arizona

Photo by Wilhelm Huber | A young Red-Tailed Hawk is perched on a branch is quietly observing the nature around it.

Photo by Wilhelm Huber

A young Red-Tailed Hawk is perched on a branch is quietly observing the nature around it.

Location: Tucson