Olivenhain Municipal Water District invites amateur photographers of all ages to Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve for the 18th annual amateur photography contest that will run Nov. 23, 2024 through April 27, 2025.
The reserve’s 11 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails provide opportunities to photograph Escondido Creek; native plant communities; the Pacific Ocean; Channel and Coronado Islands; and Laguna and San Bernardino mountain ranges. Contest entries must feature the reserve as their subject or be taken within the reserve from any designated trail.
Winning photos will be selected from five categories—Scenic View, Water Scenery, Plants, Animals, and Youth (photographers age 15 and under). Winners are eligible for prizes donated by local businesses, such as passes to the San Diego Zoo, EcoVivarium Reptile Sanctuary, and California Wolf Center; a canvas print from PC Photo and Imaging; outdoor equipment from REI; and a $100 cash prize from the Escondido Creek Conservancy, according to a news release.
Winning images will be displayed at the Elfin Forest Interpretive Center Honoring Susan J. Varty in late 2025.
The 784-acre reserve was developed by OMWD in partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority and the US Bureau of Land Management as an element of the Olivenhain Water Storage Project and the Authority’s Emergency Storage Project.
Visit www.olivenhain.com/photo for official contest rules and to upload a maximum of four contest entries. There is no entry fee.