DEC Announces "Fall Foliage" Theme for Two Photo Contests

 

Accepting Photo Submissions for Instagram and Conservationist Magazine Contests

Love Our New York Lands September Photo Contest Winners Announced

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced the return of DEC’s 3^rd annual Fall Foliage Photo Contests. The two photo contests are a popular way for New Yorkers and visitors to show off the incredible array of fall foliage throughout New York State during the month of October.

“New Yorks’ fall foliage provides some of the best views in the world, and we encourage folks to get outside to capture the magic of fall while recreating responsibly on State lands and then enter one of DEC’s two photo contests to share their photos with other New Yorkers who love the outdoors,” Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “Congratulations to the previous winners of our September Summit Love Our New York Lands photo contest and all the submissions that helped showcase the diverse, accessible, and top-notch vistas throughout the state.”

DEC is asking New Yorkers to share their favorite and most creative fall foliage shots showcasing New York State. Photos should be submitted to social@dec.ny.gov with the subject line “Fall Foliage Photo Contest” or “Conservationist Magazine Photo Contest.” Participants are advised to attach one photo per email entry and include the location the photo was taken (can be general and not specific). Pictures must be of a location in New York State.

Fall Foliage Instagram Contest

DEC will share submissions on Instagram throughout the month. On four consecutive Fridays (Oct. 11, Oct. 18, Oct. 25, and Nov. 1), DEC will announce three winners for each week. Each winner will receive a $100 gift card to a sporting goods store, a free year subscription to Conservationist magazine, a copy of DEC’s New York State Wildlife Viewing Guide, a DEC reusable bag, and other swag.

During the week of Nov. 4 -8, DEC will hold an Instagram story bracket featuring all 12 winners, and followers will have the opportunity to vote for a grand prize winner. In addition to the prizes mentioned, the grand prize winner will receive a 2025 Empire Pass. The Empire Pass provides unlimited day-use vehicle entry to most facilities operated by DEC and New York State Parks including forests, beaches, trails, and more.

Conservationist Magazine Photo Contest

Photos must be a minimum of 8.5”x10.75” and 300dpi to be considered. The winning photo will be featured in the October/November 2025 issue of DEC’s Conservationist magazine.

The two photo contests support Governor Kathy Hochul's “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which was launched to encourage New York’s kids and families to enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings by putting their mental and physical health first.

Love Our New York Lands

DEC encourages New Yorkers to join the State’s ongoing efforts to protect lands and resources for generations to come by minimizing impacts, carrying out what they carry in, and encouraging others to care for our shared lands, as well. 

New Yorkers can take action to give back:        

• Get involved with local trail crews to help build and maintain trail systems nearby, and Adopt a Trailhead;
• Take a Leave No TraceTM workshop or become a Leave No Trace^TM educator; 
• Apply for a stewardship position in the Catskills or Adirondacks; 
• Explore becoming an Assistant Forest Ranger; and 
• Volunteerwith one of DEC's many natural resource programs. 

The Love Our New York Lands campaign, launched in 2020 by DEC and State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, encourages all users of State-owned lands to recognize that these lands are shared by ALL of us, our families, and our neighbors, and we all need to take care of them. The campaign includes guidance on Leave No Trace™ principles so that visitors can do their part to help ensure these special places are protected for future generations. Love Our New York Lands encourages visitors to be respectful of other visitors in these shared spaces. Visitors are asked to share trails, treat people with kindness, and leave things as they found for others to enjoy. Visitors are encouraged to think of themselves as responsible for helping protect these irreplaceable destinations for future generations. More information is available on DEC’s website.

New York State has many wonderful opportunities to get outside and enjoy activities year-round, including birding and wildlife viewing; warm-weather adventures like swimming, biking, and horseback riding; cold-weather pursuits such as skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling; and even more challenging adventures like geocaching or rock and ice climbing.

September Photo Contest Winners

DEC received many entries during the “Summit September” photo contest to help increase awareness of principles and guidelines that encourage safe, accessible, respectful, and sustainable use of public lands heading into the fall season. 

The five winning entries were submitted by:

Jay Berkman – Summit of St. Regis Mountain

Ronni Bucklan – Catskills

Alivia DeLane – Fish Hawk Cliffs

Kathy Woughter – Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway

Kathy Woughter – Mount Skylight

View the winning photos on DEC’s Flickr page.