2025 PHOTO CONTEST
PRESENTED BY MPB.COM
CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE OPEN ROAD: IF YOUR CAMERA RIDES SHOTGUN, SHARE YOUR ADVENTURE SNAPS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A GIFT CARD FROM MPB.COM TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN GEAR—AND TO CELEBRATE AMERICA’S BLUE HIGHWAYS. OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY.
This year, Wildsam is expanding our photo contest with a Photo Essay category and 3 new image categories:
PHOTO ESSAY: A sequence of 5-10 images that tell a story from the open road. From a day at the rodeo to a series of vintage motel signs — this is the place for defined photo projects and thematic image collections.
CLASSIC AMERICANA: A small town diner with a counter full of regulars. A main drag constellated by vintage neon. The tight-knit communities, culture, and characters that tell an American story.
ROAD LIFE: The camp spots and overlook stops, everyday rituals and changes of light—capture the quotidian moments of life on the road.
NATURAL WORLD: Super Blooms and craggy mountain profiles, hot springs hideaways and butterfly migrations. These are the landscapes and natural wonders that move us.
For Photo Essay, submit one curated carousel of 5-10 images as an Instagram link below.
For the 3 image categories, submit up to 3 images per category as Instagram links below.
Winners will be announced in October 2025 and featured in a Wildsam publication.
Grab your camera and hit the road—let's make some pictures.
GUIDELINES
Eligibility Requirements
The contest is open to both professional and amateur photographers.
Any photographic equipment can be used.
All imagery from the road must have been taken in the U.S., Canada, Mexico.
How to Enter
Tag @wildsam @mpbcom and use #wildsamopenroad
Submit Instagram link(s) to this photo contest page.
Entries must be on a public Instagram account.
Judging criteria
Post-production processing of images for exposure correction, white balance and color toning is acceptable.
Adding, altering, or removing elements is not permitted.
AI-generated imagery is not permitted.
Judges will assess submissions for composition, technical execution, concept and visual impact.
THE JUDGES
SAMANTHA SHANAHAN
Samantha Shanahan is Photo Editor at Wildsam, where she directs all photography for Wildsam's print magazine, digital products and Brand Studio. Previously, Sam was Photo Editor at The Wall Street Journal where she commissioned photography for the Business & Finance section. Originally from Lake Geneva, WI, Sam now lives in Los Angeles where she enjoys camping trips in the Eastern Sierras, thrifting vintage furniture, and California farmers markets.
Samantha Shanahan is Photo Editor at Wildsam, where she directs all photography for Wildsam's print magazine, digital products and Brand Studio. Previously, Sam was Photo Editor at The Wall Street Journal where she commissioned photography for the Business & Finance section. Originally from Lake Geneva, WI, Sam now lives in Los Angeles where she enjoys camping trips in the Eastern Sierras, thrifting vintage furniture, and California farmers markets.
Alex Forestier
Alex Forestier is a documentary photographer and filmmaker based in Puerto Rico. Through his visual storytelling work, Alex seeks to find the the beauty in the ordinary through an outdoor lens. "Establishing a connection with nature is part of who we are, and we should keep experiencing life outside. My passion is to document how others appreciate and make their own connections with Mother Nature."
Alex Forestier is a documentary photographer and filmmaker based in Puerto Rico. Through his visual storytelling work, Alex seeks to find the the beauty in the ordinary through an outdoor lens. "Establishing a connection with nature is part of who we are, and we should keep experiencing life outside. My passion is to document how others appreciate and make their own connections with Mother Nature."
Amelia Le Brun
Amelia Le Brun is a freelance travel and lifestyle photographer based in the UK. Amelia spends a lot of time on the road exploring new places, hiking, camping and wild swimming. "I am a huge fan of life on the road and the US is the best place for an epic road trip."
Amelia Le Brun is a freelance travel and lifestyle photographer based in the UK. Amelia spends a lot of time on the road exploring new places, hiking, camping and wild swimming. "I am a huge fan of life on the road and the US is the best place for an epic road trip."
Phuc Pham
Phuc Pham is a Creative Lead, Photo at Airbnb. He grew up in Westminster, California and currently lives in Los Angeles. Previously, he worked at Rivian and WIRED.
Phuc Pham is a Creative Lead, Photo at Airbnb. He grew up in Westminster, California and currently lives in Los Angeles. Previously, he worked at Rivian and WIRED.
Jenn Tompkins
Jenn Tompkins is an Austin-based art director, designer and photographer. She’s currently the art director at Texas Monthly. Previously, she was the creative director at San Antonio Magazine and deputy creative director at Austin Monthly. She’s originally from California, but tries not to mention that too often around Texans.
Jenn Tompkins is an Austin-based art director, designer and photographer. She’s currently the art director at Texas Monthly. Previously, she was the creative director at San Antonio Magazine and deputy creative director at Austin Monthly. She’s originally from California, but tries not to mention that too often around Texans.
WHAT YOU CAN WIN
1st place photo essay winner: Photo Essay will be turned into a digital feature on Wildsam.com (promoted via Instagram and to our email audience); featured in a Wildsam publication; a $500 gift card from MPB; subscription to Wildsam Magazine; full collection of Wildsam Field Guides.
1st place category winners: featured in a Wildsam publication and digitally on wildsam.com; a $250 gift card from MPB; subscription to Wildsam Magazine; ten book bundle of Wildsam Field Guides (winner's choice!).
Honorable Mentions: featured in a Wildsam publication and digitally on wildsam.com.
THE FINE PRINT
Entries are due on October 10, 2025 11:59pm EST and the winner will be chosen after judging and notified via email on October 23rd, 2025. No purchase necessary. Open only to legal U.S. Residents, age 18 or older. This giveaway is not endorsed by nor affiliated with Instagram. Winner communication will only come from us. Any other accounts are imposters. To view official giveaway rules, visit https://go.campingworld.com/rules.
Rights Granted by Entrants: You will retain the copyright to any entry that you submit to the Photo Contest. By entering this Contest, entrants understand and agree that the Sponsor, anyone acting on behalf of the Sponsor, and the Sponsor’s licensees, successors, and assigns shall have the right, where permitted by law, to print, publish, broadcast, distribute, and use in any media now known or hereafter developed, solely in connection with the promotion of this Contest. If we wish to use an entrant’s entry, name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, image, statements about the Contest, or biographical information for other purposes, we will reach out to obtain your consent.
By entering this contest, Entrants represent and warrant that entrant’s entry is an original work of authorship, and does not violate any third party’s proprietary or intellectual property rights. If entrant’s entry infringes upon the intellectual property right of another, Entrants will be disqualified at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. If the content of entrant’s entry is claimed to constitute infringement of any proprietary or intellectual proprietary rights of any third party, Entrants shall, at entrant’s sole expense, defend or settle against such claims. Entrants shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Sponsor from and against any suit, proceeding, claims, liability, loss, damage, costs or expense, which the Sponsor may incur, suffer, or be required to pay arising out of such infringe.
Images will not be used in other commercial capacities without written approval by the photographer. Sponsor may, but is not required to, credit all photos with the name of the submitter when the full name is available.
If not provided, high resolution-original files will be requested should an entry be considered for an award/printing.
Entries may originate in any format—including but not limited to digital files, digital prints, color transparencies, color prints, or black and white prints—so long as they are submitted electronically in a JPG, JPEG, TIF, TIFF, PNG or PDF format.
For a photo in which a person is recognizable, the entrant must provide a model release from the subject or, in the case of a minor, the subject’s parent or guardian, to Sponsor upon request if the photo is selected as a winner.
Entrants whose photo(s) depict(s) other people’s work (such as sculptures, statues, paintings, and other copyrightable works) must provide a release from the rights holder to Sponsor upon request if the photo is selected as a winner. Sample art and works forms can be found online.
If the entrant is unable to provide all required releases, Sponsor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify the submission.
Any photo that violates or infringes upon another person's rights, including but not limited to copyright, are not eligible. Additionally, any photo that contains very sexually explicit, obscene, violent or other objectionable or inappropriate content, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, are ineligible for Photo Contest.
Entrants agree not to use, submit, or distribute any photo or video content created wholly or in part using generative artificial intelligence tools. All content supplied by Entrant must be original, created by human authorship, and must accurately represent real subjects, scenarios, and products.
Sponsor shall determine entry eligibility in its sole and absolute discretion.
