Summer Photo Contest Returns to Sharlot Hall Museum

Slow down, look closely, and you’ll discover an entire tiny world living right beside you. From hidden insects to small critters, delicate flowers, drops of dew, and the incredible patterns found in nature, there are wonders that often go unnoticed. This summer, we are asking you to capture those tiny wonders and spotlight The Small World at the Sharlot Hall Museum in our Annual Summer Photo Contest. This year’s theme, “The Small World,” invites photographers of all levels to explore the museum grounds and photograph the miniature marvels they find. Photos taken with both cameras and mobile phones will be considered for this contest. How to Enter: Submit your photo to Education Coordinator, Mekenna Miller, through email at mekenna.miller@sharlothallmuseum.org. Only digital submissions will be considered for the contest. The deadline for photo submissions is August 1st, 2026. In your submission, please include the following: Subject Line: “Photo Contest Submission: Full Name, Age Category” For example: “Photo Contest Submission: John Smith, Adult Please write your name as you wish it to appear if you win. Initials will be used in place of children’s name in any publication of the photo. In the Email: Phone number Mailing address Social Media Handles (optional) A title and description of your photo including where it was taken For example: taken in Sharlot Hall Rose Garden The photo you wish to enter the contest as a separate JPEG or JPG file. Aim for your photo to be between 1200 and 1500 pixels on the longest side. If the photo exceeds your email’s attachment size limit, you may send it as a Google Drive file. Social Media: You may choose to upload your photo to social media. If you do, we encourage you to tag the museum @sharlothallmuseum and use the hashtag #SHMphotocontest. Please be aware that you must also submit the photo through email to be considered for the contest. Age Categories: Youth (12 & under) Teen (13-17) Adult (18 & older) Contest Rules: Photos must reflect the “The Small World” theme. All submissions must be original work. AI images will not be considered. Images must be taken at Sharlot Hall Museum or Fort Whipple Museum. Participants can submit only one photo. Please include your name, age category, photo title, and description with each submission. (Youth & Teen participants may choose to submit initials in place of name, for example: A.C., Youth/8 yrs) The photo must not have been previously published, and it must be taken in the months of May-July, 2026. Photos taken at the museum previously are ineligible for this contest. By entering, participants grant Sharlot Hall Museum permission to use photos for promotional purposes. Judging: Submissions will be reviewed by an internal committee including award-winning photographer, Joe Webster. Photos will be judged anonymously. Prizes: One winner will be selected from each age category. Youth (12 & Under): Winner will get their photo featured on the Sharlot Hall Museum’s website and social media, a framed print of their winning photo, and a gift card to the Sharlot Hall Museum Gift Shop. Teen (13-17): Winner will get their photo featured on the Sharlot Hall Museum’s website and social media, a framed print of their winning photo, and a gift card to the Sharlot Hall Museum Gift Shop. Adult (18 & Up): Winner will get their photo featured on the Sharlot Hall Museum’s website and social media, a framed print of their winning photo, and a one-year Sharlot Hall Museum individual membership. PLUS: one photo from the three winners will be selected to be turned into a postcard that will be sold in the Sharlot Hall Museum gift shop! Ownership & Usage Rights: By submitting a photo to the Sharlot Hall Museum Photo Contest, the entrant agrees that the submitted image becomes the property of Sharlot Hall Museum. The museum reserves the right to use, reproduce, display, and distribute the image for promotional, educational, and archival purposes without compensation or notification to the entrant. While the museum holds ownership rights to the image, proper credit will be given to the photographer whenever the image is used for exhibitions, publications, or promotional materials. Entrants waive any claims to copyright or ownership of the submitted images. Have any questions? Contact mekenna.bednarek@sharlothallmuseum.org for more details.