CHASE QUROLLO Chase Qurollo, of Cape Coral High School, won first place in last year's contest with “Nature's Bandit.”

The deadline for the 11th annual “Ding” Darling-Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest is Jan. 15.

The contest invites high school students in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties to compete for prizes that include a Canon digital SLR camera package, one-year subscription to Adobe photography software and an annual pass to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.

Cross, who lived part-time on Sanibel, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; advised the Johnson and Nixon administrations on anti-poverty programs; wrote the influential book “Black Capitalism,” among others; played a prominent role in President Barack Obama’s election; and created Birders United — a birding website that ranked legislators according to their record of bird protection support.

Late in life, Cross decided to indulge his love for birds and photography and traveled the world to collect stunning portraits and stories to chronicle his adventures. He shot often at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel, and a number of the images in his book reflect his love for it. Cross published “Waterbirds” in 2009 at age 85; he passed away shortly after that in 2010.

The contest is possible thanks to a grant to the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge from the Theodore Cross Family Charitable Foundation.

JAKOB KEYES “Purple Rain,” by Jakob Keyes, took second place in last year's contest.

Digital image entries can be shot from any outdoor venue in Florida. A writing component to the contest requires entrants grades 9-12 to submit a 100-word description of the “moment” captured and how it reflects what nature and wildlife mean to the photographer.

The entry rules and guidelines are as follows:

Entries and information must be submitted in digital format to ddhsphotocontest@gmail.com. Submit your full name, high school, grade and an original photograph that you took of nature and/or wildlife in the open outdoors. Include a title for the photograph and a written description (minimum 100 words) of the “moment” captured and how it reflects what nature and wildlife mean to you. You and your entry must comply with the following requirements:

– Students attending schools in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades and Charlotte (Florida) counties in grades 9 through 12 may enter the contest.

– Only digital images are accepted and may be taken with any camera, including smartphones.

ALESSANDRA SANCHEZ In third place in last year's contest was Alessandra Sanchez's “Into the Horizon.”

– Images must be submitted in JPEG format and must have a size of at least 2000-by-1500 pixels or resolution of 2 megabytes.

– The photograph must be taken of nature and/or wildlife in the open outdoors in the state of Florida, which may include parks, refuges, backyards, and other open spaces.

– Panoramic photos are not allowed.

– Filters, cropping, enhancements and boarders are permitted. However, adding any elements not existing in the original scene will not be allowed. Judges, at their discretion, will disqualify any photos that appear to be manipulated beyond these guidelines.

– Each participant may enter up to two photos but is eligible to win only one award.

– Judging will be anonymous. Please do not put your name or anything that will identify you on your photograph.

– There are three judges: a refuge staff person, professional photographer and resident of the five-county region.

– Judging criteria: technical excellence (sharpness, lighting, composition, exposure); creativity; and explanation of photograph (minimum of 100 words).

– All photos will become the property of the DDWS. Photos may be used by the society in any way with appropriate credit.

Find guidelines and prize information at www.dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/photo-contests.

For more information, contact the DDWS at 239-292-0566.