Best Photo of the Year

The Best Photo of the Year award recognizes an exceptional image that captures the beauty, artistry, craftsmanship, people, wildlife, or memorable moments of the pond and water-feature industry. The winning photograph should tell a compelling story, create a strong visual impression, and reflect the spirit of the industry.

Eligibility Requirements

• The photograph must be submitted by the photographer or by an individual or company authorized to submit it.
• The entrant must possess the necessary rights and permissions for the photograph’s submission, publication, and promotional use.
• Eligible photographs may include, but are not limited to:

• Completed ponds and water gardens
• Pondless waterfalls, streams, and cascades
• Recreational ponds and natural swimming ponds
• Formal ponds, fountains, and architectural water features
• Koi, goldfish, and other pond fish
• Water lilies, lotus, marginal plants, and other aquatic plantings
• Close-up or artistic photographs of flowers, leaves, water droplets, reflections, textures, and seasonal details
• Birds, frogs, dragonflies, butterflies, and other wildlife interacting with a pond or water feature
• Natural landscapes and ecosystems associated with ponds, wetlands, streams, and water gardens
• Water movement, including waterfalls, splashes, ripples, reflections, ice, mist, or rain
• Stonework, edges, bridges, pathways, lighting, and other design or craftsmanship details
• Pond professionals designing, constructing, servicing, or maintaining water features
• Behind-the-scenes construction moments
• Meaningful interactions between pond owners, families, children, pets, fish, and water
• Seasonal pond scenes, including spring growth, summer blooms, autumn color, or winter ice
• Aerial and drone photographs that reveal the scale, layout, or landscape integration of a project
• Unique, humorous, emotional, unexpected, or once-in-a-lifetime moments connected to ponds and water features

• Both professionally photographed and candid images are eligible.
• Photographs may be taken with a professional camera, smartphone, or drone.
• Manufacturer names, company logos, promotional text, borders, and watermarks should not appear on the submitted image.
• Images generated or substantially altered using artificial intelligence are not eligible. Standard adjustments such as cropping, exposure correction, color correction, and sharpening are permitted.
• Entrants are responsible for obtaining any required permission from the property owner and any recognizable individuals pictured.

Submission Requirements

Applicants should provide:

• One high-resolution photograph in JPG, JPEG, PNG, or TIFF format.
• The original, highest-quality file available.
• A minimum recommended resolution of 300 dpi or at least 2,400 pixels on the shortest side.
• The photographer’s full name.
• The submitting company’s name, if applicable.
• The location where the photograph was taken.
• A proposed photo title.
• A brief caption or description explaining:
  • What the photograph shows
  • The story or moment behind the image
  • Why the photograph is meaningful or memorable
• The names of any individuals, contractors, designers, or companies that should receive credit.
• Written confirmation that the entrant has the authority and necessary permissions to submit the image.

Judging Considerations

Photographs may be evaluated based on:

• Composition and framing
• Lighting, color, and image quality
• Originality and creativity
• Emotional or storytelling impact
• Relevance to the pond and water-feature industry
• Technical execution
• Overall visual impact
• Suitability for print publication

Submission and Publication Agreement

By submitting a photograph, the entrant confirms that they own the photograph or have received authorization from the copyright holder to submit it. The entrant also confirms that all necessary permissions have been obtained from recognizable individuals and property owners appearing in the image.

By submitting, you grant POND Trade Magazine and its publisher a nonexclusive, royalty-free right to publish, reproduce, crop, resize, edit for presentation, and promote the photograph in print, online, on social media, in email communications, and in materials related to the awards program. Copyright remains with the original photographer.

By submitting, you also agree that the photograph may be selected and used as a “Final Thoughts” photo in POND Trade Magazine if the publisher deems it appropriate. Selection for “Final Thoughts” is at the sole discretion of the publisher and is not guaranteed.

POND Trade Magazine will make reasonable efforts to provide photographer and company credit when the submitted information is available and the publication format permits. Submission does not guarantee publication, placement, or selection as a finalist or winner.