Official Contest Rules

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  Flamingo’s “The Coquinas” Conservation Photo Contest celebrates the stories, places, people, wildlife and natural beauty that make Florida unlike anywhere else. Through photography, Flamingo invites photographers to share their perspective on the state we call home and the environments, communities and moments worth preserving for generations to come. Selected photographs will be recognized by Flamingo Magazine and reviewed by a panel of judges based on storytelling, technical execution, composition and creativity.   The following are the Official Rules of the Contest.

1. ENTRY PERIOD The Flamingo Magazine Photo Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by JSR Media LLC AKA: Flamingo (the “Sponsor”). The Contest begins at 12 a.m. on 09/04/26 and ends at midnight on 10/04/26 (the “Entry Period”). All entries must be received before the close of the Entry Period.

2. ELIGIBILITY The Contest is open to Amateur and professional photographers who are 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry and who meet the geographic eligibility requirements established by Sponsor. Eligible Locations: All photos must be of Florida-based subjects and located inside the borders of the state.   Employees, officers, directors, representatives and agents of Sponsor, its affiliates, advertising or promotional partners, and members of their immediate families or households are not eligible to participate. The Contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor reserves the right to verify the eligibility of any entrant at any time. All eligibility determinations made by Sponsor are final.

3. HOW TO ENTER   Eligible participants may enter the Contest by visiting: COQUINAS.FLAMINGOMAG.COM(opens in new tab) Entrants must complete the official entry form and provide all requested information, which may include their name, address, telephone number and email address. Each submission may be considered for one of two main winners as well as honorable mentions in the following categories:
JUDGES’ CHOICE (chosen by a panel of judges)
READERS’ CHOICE (based on number of votes and also subject to judges’ approval)
LAND
WATER
WILDLIFE
PEOPLE
WILDCARD
Sponsor will determine which category photos are judged in. Each entry must include an original photograph created by the entrant. Image Requirements   File Format: JPG, JPEG or PNG Maximum File Size: 10 MB  Color Space: Grayscale or RGB, including sRGB or Adobe RGB No borders No signatures No watermarks No AI-generated images or artwork No use of AI in manipulating images Image must have been taken in Florida, United States   Basic photographic editing and color correction is permitted. Failure to provide required information or follow submission requirements may result in disqualification. Each entrant may submit up to a maximum of 5 entries per person/email address.

4. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Each submitted photograph must: Be the original work of the entrant. Be photographed and submitted by the individual entering the Contest. Not violate or infringe upon another person’s copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity or other intellectual property rights. Not contain third-party artwork or photography unless the entrant has all necessary rights and permissions. Not contain unlawful, defamatory, obscene, hateful, discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate material. Comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws. Comply with any wildlife, environmental or location-specific regulations applicable when the photograph was created.   Entrants are responsible for obtaining any permissions or releases necessary for recognizable individuals, private property or other protected subjects appearing in their photographs. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with these Official Rules.

5. RIGHTS & OWNERSHIP Photographers retain ownership and copyright of their submitted photographs. By submitting an entry, each entrant grants Sponsor and its affiliates a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to reproduce, display, publish, distribute and promote the submitted photograph in connection with: Flamingo’s “The Coquinas” Photo Contest Contest promotion and marketing Flamingo editorial coverage related to the Contest Flamingo websites and social media Contest exhibitions, announcements and promotional materials Future promotion of the Contest   Sponsor may identify the photographer by name when displaying or publishing submitted work. This license does not transfer ownership of the photograph to Sponsor and does not give Sponsor the right to sell the photograph as an independent commercial work without additional permission from the photographer.

6. JUDGING CRITERIA Sponsor and a panel of judges selected by Sponsor will review eligible submissions. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
STORYTELLING: How effectively the photograph communicates a story, moment, emotion or sense of place.
TECHNICAL EXECUTION: The photographer’s command of focus, exposure, lighting and overall photographic technique.
COMPOSITION: The use of framing, balance, perspective, space and visual structure to guide the viewer.
CREATIVITY & ORIGINALITY: The originality of the photographer’s perspective, subject matter or execution.
CONSERVATION CONNECTION: How effectively the image communicates a meaningful relationship to Florida's environment, wildlife, people, culture or natural landscape. Sponsor and the judging panel will select 2 finalists/winners from the eligible entries as well as 5 honorable mentions. All judging decisions are final. In the event of a tie, Sponsor may use Creativity & Originality as the determining criterion. Winners will be announced approximately 60 days following the Contest deadline.

7. PRIZES The following prizes will be awarded:
JUDGES’ CHOICE: The Overall Winner, selected by the judges panel, will have their winning photo appear on the Cover of Flamingo’s print Winter 2026 Conservation Issue, which includes a story highlighting the photographer’s work inside the pages of the magazine. Plus, a two-night stay at Hotel Palms in Atlantic Beach, FL with accompanying vouchers for neighboring restaurants and shops, worth a total value of $1,500.
READERS’ CHOICE: A photo excursion to one of the protected properties managed by Conservation Florida.  Plus editorial coverage inside the pages of Flamingo’s print Winter 2026 Conservation Issue.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Winners in each category will receive editorial coverage on Flamingomag.com(opens in new tab) and on Flamingo social channels. Prizes are non-transferable. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if an advertised prize becomes unavailable. Any federal, state or local taxes associated with accepting a prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. Winners may be required to complete applicable tax documentation before receiving a prize.

8. WINNER NOTIFICATION & VERIFICATION Potential winners will be contacted using the email address or telephone number supplied with their Contest entry. Potential winners must respond within [7] days of the initial notification and may be required to verify: Identity Age Eligibility Contact information Ownership of the submitted photograph Compliance with these Official Rules Sponsor may also require winners to complete and return a Declaration of Eligibility, publicity release, tax documentation or other reasonable verification materials. Failure to respond within the required period or provide requested documentation may result in disqualification. If a potential winner is disqualified or unable to accept a prize, Sponsor may select an alternate winner using the judging criteria described above.

9. WARRANTIES & REPRESENTATIONS By entering the Contest, each entrant represents and warrants that: The photograph submitted is their original work.
Any photos entered must not have appeared in a previously printed publication, periodical, magazine, newspaper or other media platforms, digital or otherwise. They own or control the necessary rights to submit the photograph. Submission and use of the photograph in accordance with these Official Rules will not violate the rights of another person or entity. Information supplied as part of the entry is truthful and accurate. They agree to comply with these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right to remove or disqualify any submission containing false information or material that violates these Official Rules or applicable law.

10. GENERAL CONDITIONS By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor. Sponsor is not responsible for entries that are late, lost, incomplete, damaged, corrupted, misdirected or not received due to technical difficulties. Sponsor is not responsible for hardware, software, network, internet, website, email or other technical failures that may interfere with participation in the Contest. Any attempt to tamper with the Contest, manipulate the entry or judging process, submit fraudulent entries or otherwise undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may result in disqualification. If circumstances beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control affect the administration, security, integrity or proper operation of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend, postpone or cancel the Contest and determine an appropriate method of selecting winners from eligible entries already received.   All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

11. PUBLICITY Except where prohibited by law, winners agree that Sponsor may use their name, photograph, likeness, city and state, submitted photograph and information regarding their Contest recognition for editorial, promotional and publicity purposes related to the Contest without additional compensation.

12. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY To the fullest extent permitted by law, Sponsor and its affiliates, partners, officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents will not be responsible for any loss, damage, injury, claim or liability arising from participation in the Contest or the acceptance or use of any prize. Nothing in these Official Rules excludes or limits any rights that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

13. GOVERNING LAW Except where prohibited, these Official Rules and any disputes arising from or relating to the Contest will be governed by the laws of the State of Florida without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any legal action arising from the Contest shall be resolved in the appropriate state or federal court located in St. Johns County, Florida, unless otherwise required by law.

14. PRIVACY Information submitted in connection with the Contest will be handled in accordance with these Official Rules and Flamingo Magazine’s Privacy Policy: flamingomag.com/privacy-policy/(opens in new tab) Information collected through the Contest may be used for Contest administration, communication with entrants, winner notification and other purposes described in the Privacy Policy.

15. SEVERABILITY If any provision of these Official Rules is determined to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be considered severable and will not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions. Section headings are provided solely for convenience and do not affect the interpretation of these Official Rules.

16. WINNERS A list of Contest winners will be made available in Flamingo’s Print edition and on flamingomag.com(opens in new tab) beginning approximately12/01/26.

SOCIAL MEDIA DISCLAIMER This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram, Facebook, Meta or any other social media platform on which the Contest may be promoted. Entrants understand that any information provided as part of the Contest is being provided to Sponsor and not to those social media platforms.