America’s 250th Anniversary Photo Contest
A Celebration of 250 Years and a Time Capsule of America Today
Submit your favorite photo taken anywhere in the United States for a chance to win a $500 and other ON1 prizes, gain recognition, and be featured by ON1, and help build a living time capsule of what America looks like at 250.
From iconic landmarks to the quiet corners of your hometown, the ON1 America’s 250th Anniversary Photo Contest is an opportunity to capture this moment in America’s story, represent your state, and preserve it alongside photographers from all 50 states in a collection built to be looked back on for generations.
Entries closed July 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT.
View Contest Details & Rules →
Submission Period
Contest opens July 4, 2026 and closes July 31, 2026.
Eligibility
Open to photographers worldwide, aged 18 and above. One submission per state, per photographer. Submit for as many states as you have eligible photos for.
Photo Requirements
- Must be edited using ON1 software
- Photo must be taken within the United States
- Include the full name of the U.S. state where the photo was taken (please spell out the full state name, no abbreviations)
- Limit of one submission per state, per photographer
- Submit a final edited image
- Include an image title
- Include a short description of the image and edits (1–3 sentences)
- Include camera settings
- Include photographer name or social media handle
- Acceptable file formats: JPEG or PNG
- Maximum file size: 10MB
Editing Guidelines
All editing must be performed by the entrant using ON1 software. Composite images are allowed, provided all elements are original and created by the entrant. All submitted work must be original. The use of third-party generative AI to create non-original elements is prohibited. No watermarks are permitted.
Prizes
Grand Prize Winner
- $500 Amazon Gift Card
- Feature on ON1's official blog and social media channels
- Official title: ON1 America's 250th Anniversary Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner
Second Place
- $100 ON1 Merchandise Gift Card
- 1 Year of ON1 Photo Studio
- Feature on ON1's official blog and social media channels
Third Place
- $50 ON1 Merchandise Gift Card
- 1 Year of ON1 Plus
- Feature on ON1's official blog and social media channels
Honorable Mentions
- Featured in ON1's official blog
- Community spotlight on ON1 social media
Judging Criteria
- Creativity
- Composition
- Technical Execution
- Editing Skill
- Overall Visual Impact
- Sense of Place: how well the image captures the spirit of its state
Winner Promotion
- Feature in a dedicated winner announcement blog
- Social media spotlight
- Inclusion in the America's 250th time capsule gallery
- "Official Selection" recognition for finalists and honorable mentions
Terms and Conditions
- By entering the contest, participants grant ON1 the right to use submitted images for promotional and marketing purposes, with proper credit.
- All entries must be original works of the entrant.
- ON1 reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with the contest rules
Contest Entries
