Photo Contest
Summer at the Big Bear Valley Museum Photo Contest - Categories 2026
*Best of Show Awarded to the single best photograph across all categories. The highest honor of the contest.
*Remembering Big Bear Valley The museum holds the valley's story. Capture the artifacts, exhibits, and images that connect us to Big Bear's past — and bring history to life through your lens.
*Big Bear Today The museum itself is part of the valley's living story. Photograph the building, the grounds, and the volunteers who keep history alive — the museum as it exists right now.
*Altered Photo Start with your museum photograph, then transform it. Composites, creative retouching, painterly effects, digital manipulation — all welcome. No AI-generated content. Show us what happens when you push the image beyond the frame.
*Detail / Up-Close The museum is full of stories hiding in plain sight. Get close — or go macro. A worn edge, a faded label, a rusted hinge — the small things that time has touched. This category rewards the photographer who slows down and looks closer than everyone else.
*Youth Division Open to photographers 18 and under. All other categories are open to youth entrants — this award recognizes the best photograph submitted by a young photographer across any category. The next generation of Big Bear storytellers starts here.
*Black & White Award Presented to the best black and white photograph across all categories. Open to any entrant — simply submit your image in monochrome, and it will be considered.
Contest: Official Rules & Guidelines
The Big Bear Valley Historical Society is pleased to announce our 2026 Summer Photo Contest. We are seeking compelling, high-quality imagery that highlights the unique spirit of the Big Bear Valley Museum for use in future advertising, social media, and official publications.
Contest Duration
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Start Date: May 20, 2026
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Submission Deadline: August 29, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST
Eligibility & Submission Requirements
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Entry Fee: Participation is free; museum entry is $5.00 per adult/Free for members.
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Quantity: Each entrant may submit up to ten (10) original photographs.
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Location: All entries must be captured on the Big Bear Valley Museum property.
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Mandatory Release: A signed Photo Release Form is required for all participants. These forms must be completed in person at the Museum Gift Shop. Submissions will only be verified once a release is confirmed on file.
Content & Technical Standards
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Originality: Photos must be the original work of the entrant. Submissions must not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, or intellectual property rights of any third party.
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Subject Matter: * Volunteers: May be featured only with their express verbal permission.
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Visitors: Photos containing identifiable faces of museum visitors are strictly prohibited.
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Prohibited Content: Entries containing violent, sexual, or otherwise inappropriate content will be disqualified.
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Editing: Digital enhancements and alterations are permitted. NO use of AI.
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File Format: Submissions must be in JPG or PNG format.
Submission Process
To be considered, entries must be submitted via the official contest channel. Please email your photos to bigbearvalleyhistory@gmail.com with the following information:
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Full Name
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Email Address
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Primary Phone Number
Note: Entries submitted through any other channel will not be reviewed and will be permanently deleted.
Judging & Usage Rights
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Adjudication: A panel consisting of three Board Members, one Museum Volunteer, and one Professor of Photography will judge the entries. All panel decisions are final.
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Usage Rights: By entering, participants grant the Big Bear Valley Historical Society the right to use submitted imagery for promotional and advertising purposes as outlined in the signed Photo Release.
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Disqualification: The Society reserves the right to disqualify any entry that fails to adhere to the aforementioned rules or is deemed unsuitable for public representation.