New England Rose Society
Fall Rose Digital Photography Contest
Share the roses of your season! Submit your best rose photographs digitally to be judged, with winning images printed and awarded at Founders' Day on Saturday, October 17. Photos from local competitions can also be entered in the national contest this fall, so take this opportunity to fine-tune your entries and put your best work forward!
Deadline
Sep 25, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT
'Royal Jubilee' by Valentina Nardini 1st Place, Novice OGRs, 2025 National ARS Digital Photo Contest
'Barni Rose Garden' by Valentina Nardini 1st Place, Novice Gardens, 2025 National ARS Digital Photo Contest
'Carefree Sunshine' by Valentina Nardini 2nd Place, Novice Singles, 2025 National ARS Digital Photo Contest
Deadline September 25 at 11:59 pm EDT
Categories
Enter as many as you like, up to three photographs in each.
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1
One Bloom
One bloom of a modern classification (Hybrid Tea, Grandiflora, Floribunda, Miniature, or Miniflora) at its most beautiful stage. Varieties classified as “single” belong in the Fully-Open Bloom category. Rose variety must be named.
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2
Fully-Open Bloom
One bloom shown fully open with the stamens visible. Modern classifications and single-petaled (“single”) roses are both welcome here. Rose variety must be named.
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3
Spray / Cluster
Two or more blooms on a single stem or natural cluster. Collections are not eligible. Rose variety must be named.
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4
Old Garden & Shrub
One bloom or spray of an Old Garden Rose, Shrub, Species, Polyantha, Climber, or Rambler. Rose variety must be named.
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5
Rose Arrangement
A photograph of a rose arrangement — traditional, modern, or oriental — following the ARS Guidelines for Judging Rose Arrangements. Roses need not be identified, but the arranger's name must be listed.
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6
Garden
A photo of any rose garden. Roses should dominate the frame, and some layout of the garden should be visible. Roses do not need to be identified. Public gardens must be named.
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7
Macro / Close-Up
An extreme close-up of any part of the rose or plant — petals, stamens, prickles, leaves, or dew. Color, black & white, or sepia all welcome. Rose variety must be named.
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8
Creative Interpretation
An imaginative or artistically edited interpretation of a rose. Digital effects are encouraged (black & white, texturizing, layering, blur, color shifts). Naming the rose is optional.
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9
Blooms with Critters
A rose or blooms together with a friendly creature — a bee, butterfly, pet, or other critter. Rose variety must be named.
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10
Novice
Open to entrants entering a rose photography competition for the first time. Any subject from Categories 1–9 may be entered here instead of the open classes.
Before you enter
Rules & Entry Guidelines
Eligibility. Open to all New England Rose Society members.
Entries. Enter as many categories as you like, with up to 3 photographs per category. Within each category, each photograph must feature a different rose variety. Photographs may be entered in only one category. Previous winning photographs in the ARS National Digital Photography Contest are not eligible; other local or district placements are welcome.
File format & quality. Submit an original-size, high-resolution JPEG of at least 1 MB, suitable for printing at 10 × 13 inches. No need to rename your files; they will be renamed automatically when uploaded.
Your own work. You must have taken every photograph you enter, and all roses must be outdoor, garden-grown.
Editing. Cropping, rotation, and minor corrections are permitted. Artistic or creative effects are permitted only in Category 8—Creative Interpretation.
No identifying marks. Do not add watermarks, signatures, logos, or date/time stamps. Your name belongs only on the entry form.
Disqualification. An entry may be disqualified for a misnamed rose, missing information, identifying marks, or roses that were not grown outdoors.
Deadline. All entries must be received by September 25, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT. Late entries cannot be accepted.
Photo Use & Rights
You retain full copyright to your photographs. By entering, you confirm that the work is your own and grant New England Rose Society ongoing permission to display or print your photograph(s) for educational programs, social media, newsletters, and related publicity, with credit to the photographer wherever possible.
Awards
Judges award first through fourth place in each category as the entries merit, and may withhold a placement if the field doesn't warrant one. First-place photographs compete for Court of Honor, and winning photographs are printed and presented at Founders Day.