Capture the Cache - 2026 Exhibition

Capture the Cache is an annual exhibition designed to highlight the beauty, culture, and heritage of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. Photographers of all skill levels are invited to get outside and capture the images that reflect their personal connection to the heritage of the river. Selected works will be featured in the exhibition at Visit Fort Collins in the heart of Old Town.

Eligibility - Submission is open to any amateur or professional photographer. Photographers must be at least 16 years of age to participate. The exhibition is open to residents and visitors alike. Cache NHA employees, board members, judges, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.

Contest Categories – The Capture the Cache Exhibition is divided into three categories that change every year. 

• Farm-to-Table - Capture the essence of the farm-to-table journey within the National Heritage Area. Your photos might feature any stage of the agricultural process, such as cows munching on grass in a pasture or farm machinery in action. Highlight a scene from the food production process or the atmosphere at a bustling farmers’ market or CSA (community-supported agriculture). Snap a shot of the culinary dining experience, the lively nature of a brewery patio, or the dedicated work of local producers like Hazel Dell Mushrooms. Tell the story of how local produce transitions from farm-to-table in this region.
• Nature - Reveal the breathtaking beauty of nature as you perceive it in the National Heritage Area. Your photographs could encompass the serene presence of water, the plethora of wildlife, or a sunrise/sunset. Consider capturing the varied landscapes of the many Natural Areas or raindrops falling on leaves. Each photo should reflect the natural wonders and environments that define this region's ecology.
• Recreation - Illustrate the ways people recreate in the National Heritage Area, including hiking along rugged trails, paddleboarding/kayaking across calm waters, or the exhilaration of rock climbing. Did you spend the day enjoying the sunshine at one the many reservoirs, raft down the Poudre, or take your dog to the river? Those pertain to this category. Your photos should convey the Colorado spirit of outdoor activity.

Photography Guidelines – 

• Photos must align with one of the above categories. 
• Photos must be taken within the 45-mile Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, and surrounding regions including Fort Collins, Timnath, Windsor and Greeley.
• If you’re unsure whether your location qualifies, contact Rylyn Todd at rtodd@poudreheritage.org. 
• Photographs must be submitted digitally.
• Images can be in color or black and white. 
• Images must be a minimum resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch) and no smaller than 3072 x 2304 pixels (or 10.24 x 7.68 inches). 
• Images must be submitted as JPG or PNG (at highest quality). 
• Photographers working with drones must follow applicable local ordinances and FFA guidelines. 

Submission Specifications - 

• Submissions must be made digitally through our designated platform by Monday, March 16 at 11:59 pm. 
• Each submission’s file name must be formatted as: FirstName_LastName_Category_SubmissionNumber
• o For Example: Jane_Smith_History_1
• Each submission must be accompanied by
• o Photographer’s name
• o Location of photograph
• o A title for the photograph
• Each photographer may submit up to three pieces per category for consideration. Maximum entry is nine submissions per photographer. All pieces must be submitted to one Entry Form. 

Notification of Acceptance – Photographers whose work is selected for the exhibition will be notified via email after submissions end. 

Submission Fee – Capture the Cache Exhibition is free to enter. 

Prizes and Exhibition 

• The winning photos in each category will be selected by a jury and displayed in a digital exhibition on the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area’s website.
• Photographers will receive a $25 commission for each image selected for the exhibition.

Jury Process -

• Cache NHA will select photographs to be included in the exhibition at its sole discretion.
• A panel of jurors will award first, second, and third place for each category as well as an overall Best of Show. Awards will be in the form of a ribbon and/or certificate. All award decisions will be final.

Terms

Each photographer will retain all rights to any image submitted – including ownership if applicable – other than those rights licensed in the next sentence. By entering the contest, each photographer hereby grants the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (i) a nonexclusive, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license to reproduce, sell productions, distribute, publicly display the images submitted to the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area’s Capture the Cache competition and (ii) the right to use the photographer’s name, city and state of residence in promotions and other publications. The winning images with appropriate credit will appear on the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area’s website, social media channels and upcoming printed materials. 

Photos containing recognizable people/faces of individuals under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a release form (found under Photo Release) signed by the subject or parent or legal guardian. 

Submission to this call for entry constitutes acceptance of all the requirements and terms outlined above.

Participation Notice: Submission into this contest does not guarantee selection for the exhibition. The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area retains the right to reject or accept submissions.

Participation Notice: Submissions that do not follow these requirements may be rejected.