11 Phenomenal Images From the National Park Foundation’s Annual Photo Contest

Each year, the National Park Foundation’s Share the Experience photo contest recognizes some of the best photography taken inside U.S. National Parks and federal lands, awarding up to $10,000 to amateur photographers and wilderness aficionados. Between late April and December 2016, photographers submitted more than 16,500 images to the contest.
The grand prize-winning image, taken by Craig McIntyre of Rockport, Texas, captures a green tree frog in its marsh habitat in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf Coast of Texas. The photo will appear on the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for the year.
Below are 10 more prize-winning images from the Share the Experience contest, including general contest winners and honorable mentions in six subcategories (Adventure and Outdoor Recreation; Historical and Cultural; Scenic, Seasons, and Landscapes; Family, Friends, and Fun; Wildlife; and Night Skies).
SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE

WINNER, SCENIC CATEGORY

WINNER, WILDLIFE CATEGORY

WINNER, NIGHT SKIES CATEGORY

WINNER, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CATEGORY

WINNER, ADVENTURE CATEGORY

WINNER, EVERY KID IN THE PARK CATEGORY

FAN FAVORITE

FAN FAVORITE

All images courtesy the National Park Foundation’s 2016 Share the Experience Photo Contest.