Night Sky Photo Contest
For the first time ever, in collaboration with the Milky Way Festival, we are hosting the Night Sky Photo Contest! This contest is a great way to celebrate our dark night sky. Please read below for rules and more information. The winning photo will be featured on our 2027 Milky Way Festival official poster with photo credits, recognized in a press release sent to area media, and will receive a prize valued at $300
This photograph of the Milky Way galaxy was captured by Kelly Davenport at Sycamore Springs Park in English, Indiana.
Eligibility
Entries must be submitted through the Night Sky Photo Contest Google Drive link.
Entries are open to photos taken in Crawford and adjoining counties: Orange, IN, Washington, IN , Harrison, IN, Perry, IN, Dubois, IN And Jefferson County, KY (Louisville)and adjoining counties: Oldam, KY, Bullitt, KY, Shelby, KY, Clark, IN, Floyd, IN
This contest is free to enter.
The contest is open to photographers of all ages. Youth must confirm they have a parent or guardian’s permission.
Submissions
Photos must be submitted in high-resolution JPEG format (maximum file size: 50MB).
All entries must be submitted by August 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Image requirements
Allowed Image Types
Single Exposure – One image captured in a single shot.
Blend – Multiple images combined from the same tripod position, on the same night, using the same direction and focal length.
Examples include:
Blue hour or moonlit foregrounds with a night sky.
Focus stacks to increase depth of field.
Tracked skies blended with untracked foregrounds
Stacked – Consecutive images with identical settings stacked for noise reduction.
Tracked – Images using a tracking mount to compensate for Earth’s rotation. Blends from the same tripod position are allowed.
Panorama – Stitched from multiple images taken during the same night, from the same position, using the same focal length.
Prohibited Image Types
AI-generated or heavily AI-assisted images that alter or generate scene elements.
Ethical & legal requirements
You must fill out our Authorization Form to participate in this contest.
Images must be taken legally and in compliance with all local regulations, including any nighttime closures, access-restricted areas, or local light-painting restrictions.
Entries must not contain violence, explicit content, profanity, or attacks on individuals or organizations.
Judging
Main Prize Winner: Entries will be evaluated based on: Technical skill, Composition, Overall visual impact (“wow factor”), Judging is blind. Watermarks are not allowed. A panel of judges appointed by the Milky Way Festival Committee will select the winner. All decisions are final.
Crowd Favorite: The Crowd Favorite Winner will be chosen based on how many social media interactions the photo receives on the Crawford County, IN Facebook page, and in person votes received at the Crawford County Milky Way Festival.
The winners will be notified via email or text on August 8th.
If the winner cannot be contacted after reasonable attempts, the prize will be awarded to the next highest-ranked entry.
Any attempt to influence the results will lead to disqualification.
Rights and ownership
Participants must be the sole creator and copyright holder of their submitted images.
By entering, photographers retain full ownership of their work.
Privacy and general conditions
Personal data collected will only be used for purposes related to the contest.
Participants may contact info@crawfordcountyindiana.com to access, modify, or delete their personal data.
The Milky Way Festival Committee may update or cancel the contest, its rules, or schedule at any time if necessary.
Questions? For questions about contest rules and submission, please contact info@crawfordcountyindiana.com
Where to Stay
Old Homestead Hotel
Old Homestead Distilling Co. is home to a 28-room boutique hotel with contactless check-in: 8 rooms have 1 King bed and a full size pull-out couch; 20 rooms have 2 Queen beds (2 of these are ADA compliant). All rooms have Wi-fi, keyless entry, mini fridge, flat screen TV with cable, and a full bathroom with walk-in shower. Only a scenic 32 minute drive from Old Homestead Hotel to the Milky Way Festival.
Cabins & More
Please click the button below to visit the Plan a Visit page to view our full list of local accomodations!
Camping:
Cave Country Canoes:
Take an unforgettable camping experience in Milltown, IN! We offer primitive space camping, non-electric riverside sites and 13 electric sites. The grassy campsites are situated next to the river and all boast a river view!
Cave Country Canoes:
Take an unforgettable camping experience in Milltown, IN! We offer primitive space camping, non-electric riverside sites and 13 electric sites. The grassy campsites are situated next to the river and all boast a river view!
Patoka Lake State Park:
With 26,000 acres of land and water, Patoka Lake is a fine example of lake ecology. An 8,800-acre lake provides habitat for freshwater jellyfish and bald eagle nesting sites. River otters and osprey were reintroduced at Patoka by the DNR.
The property also was home to the DNR’s resident, non-releasable bald eagle, C52. This raptor lived at Patoka Lake from 1988 until he died in 2009, at age 21.
The lake is located just south of the historic towns of French Lick and West Baden, and just east of historic Jasper.
Sycamore Springs Park:
At Sycamore Springs Park there are sites to suit all camping styles including RV full utilities with 30 and 50 amp service, RV Electric and Water, Primitive Tent camping, with or without electric. We are a “no alcohol” park, so please leave drinks at home.
Marengo Cave:
Stay the night & save gas. Crowds are rare here, so kick back and enjoy the scenic, shaded camp site and beautiful creek.
No need to rough it.Amenities include a fire pit, grills, picnic tables, and nearby modern showers and restrooms. We also have free WIFI available at the gift shop! All sites have 50 amp electric hookups as well as 4-110 outlets and a 11′ by 11′ Pavilion.
Bonus Weekend Activities
Check back soon for more information!
Weekday Activities & Viewing Tips
For more information contact: info@crawfordcountyindiana.com