Terms and Conditions

  1. Artworks will be accepted only from the original artist.
  2. Artist must be the sole author and the owner of the copyright for all art entered.
  3. Artists retain ownership of all copyrights. However, by submitting art for entry in this contest, you automatically give the Friends of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge permission and rights to store, display, and use the image, its thumbnails, and your name as the artist, indefinitely in any non-commercial media without notification or compensation.
  4. Each artist may submit up to 15 entries.
  5. The Art Contest is free to enter.

Please email your artwork to art@friendsofbosquedelapache.org.

GENERAL:

By entering, entrants agree to be bound by these Contest Rules and Procedures, the Terms and Conditions on use of images, and the decisions of the sponsors and judges, which are final and binding on all matters.  This Contest is void where prohibited and is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.

RELEASE:

By participating, entrants release the Friends of the Bosque, Bosque del Apache, the City of Socorro and the Contest partners and sponsors, their parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries and their agents, respective officers, directors, employees, Friends of Bosque del Apache Volunteers, agents from any and all liability or responsibility for any claim arising in connection with participation in the Contest or any prize awarded.

Consent:

By completing the art entry form on the web and submission to the Contest, you agree and accept the Contest Terms and Conditions, the General clause, and Release clause.

The banner artwork is from the 2018 Art Contest winner | Keep reading to learn more about the artist

2018 Crane Fiesta Art Winner | Lynne Braden

Chicago native Lynne Braden photographed nature and wildlife since she was a teen. While she studied photography in college and briefly ran a portrait photography business, she kept her love of nature photography purely a hobby. In 2013, she retired early from a corporate software career to become a full-time RVer and to focus on her twin passions—nature photography and volunteering at National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. Her first volunteer gig in 2015 with US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) remained her “happy place” and favorite—Bosque del Apache. She loved the sights and sounds of the magnificent sandhill cranes, and she felt connected to volunteers, staff, and friends here.
She captured the stunning photo of sandhill cranes which graces this year’s Festival of the Cranes cover in the early hours of a winter morning while she was a USFWS volunteer here. She photographed wildlife and landscapes with her Canon system, until she switched to her much lighter mirrorless system—a Panasonic that she bought at the 30th annual Festival.
Late in 2016, Lynne discovered that she had terminal cancer. She continued to travel, including making two return trips to this refuge. In her blog she wrote, “I wish I could live another few decades to share all the lessons I’ve learned these past few years of leading a purpose-driven life. We can discover true fulfillment by emptying ourselves of pettiness, shallowness, and worthless physical possessions in exchange for a deeper connection to our fellow humans/animals, our Earth, God, and the amazing reward of giving in all the ways that we can.”
In 2017, Lynne made a legacy gift to Friends of Bosque del Apache to upgrade the refuge’s Volunteer RV Village. n the letter that came with that gift, Lynne said, “The volunteers and staff in this community, united by our common love of Bosque del Apache, are the people I am confident will continue to care for this special refuge for decades to come. I know you will use my financial gift wisely and perhaps will continue to think of me from time to time well after I’ve left this Earth.”
In her final months, Lynne worked on a book, Natural Wonders, filled with her thoughts and stunning photographs. On May 16, 2018, Lynne died peacefully in her sleep, at the age of 56. Her courage and her passion for life, friends, family, travel, sandhill cranes, and all of nature can be carried on by all of us.