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2026 Adventures in Nature Student Photo Contest Winners Announced!

April 20, 2026 | Arizona

A small grey bird sits on a thin branch, illuminated by sunlight.
Sunbathing Pine Siskin Honorable Mention in the 2026 Student Photo Contest © Eli Mathews

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Students from across Arizona impressed professional photographers in The Nature Conservancy in Arizona’s 2026 “Adventures in Nature” student photo contest, in partnership with Arizona Highways magazine. 

“Arizona Highways has a long tradition of sharing Arizona’s landscapes and stories through photography,” said Robert Stieve, the magazine’s editor. “The student photo contest is an extension of that work, giving young photographers a platform to showcase their creativity and vision.”

The photo contest started in Tucson in 2013 but has since expanded across the state. This year, more than 309 talented Arizonans, ages 13-18, entered nearly 451 photos taken right here in Arizona. 

“Students are the next stewards of Arizona’s landscapes and helping them build a personal connection to the outdoors is critical,” said The Nature Conservancy in Arizona's State Director Daniel Stellar. “This contest helps inspire these students through encouraging curiosity, creativity, and a deeper sense of responsibility for Arizona’s landscapes.”

The top ten winners split a cash prize of over $10,000. First place receives $5,000, second place receives $2,500, and third place receives $1,000. Seven additional Honorable Mentions receive $250 each. 

“We’re consistently impressed by the level of quality in the photos students submit each year,” said Jeff Kida, photo editor of Arizona Highways and one of the judges of the contest. “Judging this contest is always a joy. We’re drawn to images that show creativity, evoke emotion, capture a moment of patience or timing, or reflect a unique artistic eye. This year’s winners each demonstrated some of those qualities in powerful ways.”

The winners and explanations of their photos, in their own words, are below.

1st place: “Warmth” by Nathan Hoffman of Tucson, AZ

Image of a bird in-motion landing on the top of a bird feeder during sunset, with two other birds sitting on its base.
Warmth 1st place in the 2026 Student Photo Contest © Nathan Hoffman

“The warm sky reflected through the glass of a depleted bird feeder. Birds gather around to both indulge and relax after a flight of unknown distance. The sound of fluttering wings slows down a bird's descent, and the sun slowly falls, marking the end of a beautiful day. If you think deeply enough, you realize this is but a serendipitous encounter, for the birds, captured in time. This is a picture of Nature,” wrote Nathan Hoffman.

2nd place: “Autumn Halo” by Ian Polec of Tucson, AZ

View looking upward of a blue sky with yellow fern leaves in the foreground around the border.
Autumn Halo 2nd place in the 2026 Student Photo Contest © Ian Polec

“The vivid contrast and upward perspective evoke a quiet sense of wonder. It feels as if you’re standing beneath a hidden tree top, letting everything beyond this point disappear,” wrote Ian Polec.

3rd place: “Rocky reflection” by Garrett Fry of Tucson, AZ

Close-up of a rock of out focus, with its reflection sharply in focus showing the upside-down view of a saguaro cactus during sunset.
Rocky reflection 3rd place in the 2026 Student Photo Contest © Garrett Fry

“A temporary rain puddle reflects the saguaros and canyon wall of Agua Caliente Canyon. This image was taken a couple of days after a fall rainstorm, when evening light was illuminating the canyon walls. The light brought out the colors of the rock, and created a beautiful scene,” wrote Garrett Fry.

Honorable Mentions

Nested Hummingbird Siblings “Two baby hummingbirds sat in the nest of a tree,” wrote Katelyn Divjak. © Katelyn Divjak
Arizona Flag Sunset Suzanne Mathia, one of the photo contest judges, shared her perspective on the image. “It’s refreshing to see a take on Horseshoe Bend that goes beyond the usual view." © A. Todd Foley
Eye See You “In a small pond, a Sonoran Desert toad pokes its head out of the water to survey its surroundings,” wrote Garret Fry. © Garrett Fry
Mirror of the Desert “A solitary desert tree rises over a still pool its reflection mirroring every branch and blurring the boundary between land and sky,” wrote Ian Polec. © Ian Polec
Valley in the Canyon Contest judge Jeff Kida offered his assessment of the photo. “It’s well executed, with pleasing light on the rocks and a strong overall composition,” he said. © Gabriel Wallen
Untitled “I really like the chevron feel created by the leaves,” said contest judge Jeff Kida. “The range of color is beautiful, and the image feels both poetic and clean.” © Sophya Richardson

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.

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