This article was orginally written by Alan Bartels, Lower Loup NRD Information & Education Coordinator, for the Loup Lines Column.

Loup Lines
Volume 46, No. 12 (December 2025)

It seems to me that just about everybody is a photographer these days. People like me who spend a lot of time with a heavy camera dangling around my neck seem to be in the minority at school programs, sporting contests, and community events. I think you know what I mean: at those events there is no shortage of parents, grandparents, teachers, neighbors, friends and other spectators taking photos with their smartphones.

I do that, too. The portability of a lightweight phone, and the ever-increasing photo quality from those devices, make a smartphone a nice addition to any photographer’s toolkit. And if a smartphone camera is the only camera someone owns, there is nothing wrong with that.

No matter what their preferred picture taking tool might be, I hope the readers of this column will consider entering the 2025-2026 Lower Loup NRD Photo Contest.

Of the 23 Natural Resources Districts in Nebraska, the Lower Loup NRD is the largest in size. It is also one of the most diverse in terms of geography. The district stretches 156 miles from the eastern Sandhills across prairie rangeland and fertile farmland all the way beyond Columbus. North to south the District measures 96 miles from Rock County to Buffalo County at the widest point. Contained within that massive area of more than 5 million acres is some of the most beautiful scenery in Nebraska in my opinion, including more than 500 miles of rivers and streams. The photo opportunities within the Lower Loup NRD are unlimited.

The Lower Loup NRD held its first photo contest in 2022 as a way of encouraging residents and visitors to get out and explore the District. Since then, we’ve received hundreds of photos for each contest. With so many great images, the process of choosing the winner is agonizing. Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. A canvas print of the winning image hangs in the Lower Loup NRD lobby in Ord until the following year’s winning image replaces it. Then the print is awarded to the winning photographer who captured the image. All the photo contest winners receive a prize package. Submitted images must have been taken within the Lower Loup NRD.

Most of the photos we receive fit into the categories of wildlife and nature, weather phenomenon, scenery, and agriculture. Yep, stunning sunsets, surprising sunrises, cute calves held by cute kids, fabulous farm fields, super storms. We also appreciate receiving photos of Lower Loup NRD recreation areas and people enjoying those special places.

Of special interest this year, we would enjoy receiving photos that capture the District’s farmers and ranchers and their families engaged in farming, ranching, and employing conservation practices.

Contestants must enter by midnight on May 15, 2026. Entries must be electronic and need to be emailed to bbechtold [at] llnrd.org. Questions can be directed to the same email address.

Fortunately for old photographers who still lug old digital cameras around, they can enter, too.