America, You’re Beautiful: 2026 Photo Contest Winners

Back in May, we began to put out the call for entries into our annual Vero Beach Magazine Photo Contest. The theme was a fitting one for this milestone year: all of the photographs submitted would represent the national parks of the United States. When all was said and done, we had been dazzled by the sheer variety and stunning beauty of the geography and wildlife across this great land of ours. Of the 63 national parks, nearly half were represented in the entries we received. As always, selecting winners was challenging. We hope the images on these pages will take your breath away and inspire you to explore the natural splendor that is all around us!

Winner: Landscapes

Photographer: Lou Lower

Subject: Between night and day, Everglades National Park, Florida

Honorable Mentions: Landscapes

Photographer: Charles Kellington

Subject: A view from Schwabacher Landing, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Photographer: Phil Sunkel

Subject: Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

Photographer: Bob Joy

Subject: Bass Harbor Head Light Station, Acadia National Park, Maine

Winner: Wildlife

Photographer: Dale Erickson

Subject: Wild horse grazing in early morning, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Honorable Mentions: Wildlife 

Photographer: Chris Guerrieri

Subject: Eagle fishing, Acadia National Park, Maine

Photographer: Rick Lane

Subject: Deer snacking near Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Photographer: Lou Lower

Subject: Wolf pack in motion, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Winner: Natural Wonders

Photographer: Bob Joy

Subject: Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Honorable Mentions: Natural Wonders

Photographer: Maria Cortese

Subject: Trees growing among the sandstone hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Photographer: Kristin Fonseca

Subject: Fog over Kalaloch Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington

Photographer: Matt Newman

Subject: Autumn in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah