Celebrating 70 years through our readers' eyes

You’ve waited for this all day.

You stand at a western-facing overlook as the red-orange sun falls quickly from the sky. You feverishly mount your camera on a tripod just in time for a cloud to roll in and obscure the giant orb.

At the last possible moment, the sun peeks through and you capture a magnificent sunset over your favorite DNR-managed property.

At least that’s the way it’s supposed to work in a world full of imagination and possibilities.

We’re approaching Outdoor Indiana’s 70th year of publication. To celebrate this milestone, we are inviting Hoosiers to show us your best photos of your favorite DNR-managed facilities.

We’ll put the photos on the DNR home page (www.IN.gov/dnr) and our favorites will go in Outdoor Indiana magazine. Our customers also will get their chance to pick a favorite, too.

Although we’ll award a few really neat prizes, we don’t want to think of this as a contest. This is all about celebrating the outdoors, special places, family fun and sharing photographs and memories.

It’s an “uncontest.” It will be fun.

In a photography class many years ago, a professor taught that a photographer’s job is to capture the moment. We try to capture Indiana’s natural beauty and cultural history with every photo and story we print.

We encourage you to do the same.

Can you capture the joy of a child swimming at Lieber or can you make us ponder how many grains of sand are in a Lake Michigan dune?

Can you capture the wind on the Prophetstown prairie or visit the past at the historic sites of Vincennes? How purple is the sunset over Lake James in winter?

Photos must be taken on any property managed by the DNR, any state dedicated nature preserve, or any property purchased with assistance from the Indiana Heritage Trust.

Photo subjects are open and can be scenic, wildlife, plants, people, action, buildings or of DNR programs such as an interpreter-lead hike.

Photo entries are due March 31. We’re looking for no more than three entries per photographer.

Outdoor Indiana staff will pick favorite photos in two age categories—12 and under and age 13 and above. Outdoor Indiana staff will pick one favorite photo for each age category and so will our readers.

Photographers who took the favorite photos get one free night at a state park inn. Also, they get to join Outdoor Indiana photographers on a photo assignment. Receive personal instruction, take photos and help illustrate a story that will run in the magazine.

Other prizes include free annual state park passes and subscriptions to Outdoor Indiana.

All entrants will be invited to attend a free photo seminar conducted by DNR photographers Richard Fields and John Maxwell. Details will be announced later.

This “uncontest” can be a great project for schools and photography clubs. Who knows, maybe a sponsor or two will step up and provide an extra prize or two?

There it is. You have your assignment. Go out and show everyone the beauty and wonder of outdoor Indiana.
For all the rules and an entry form, go to www.IN.gov/dnr.