photography-contest

The Colony in Flight

A swarm is a riddle. It is the hive at its most fragile...exposed, carrying everything it is in a living, breathing cloud. And yet, it is also the hive at its most alive. A sign of abundance, or urgency, or both at once.

Our 2026 COBKA Photography Contest invites you to explore this time of transition. We're looking for images that honor the mystery and fragile beauty of bees between abodes.

2026 COBKA Photography Contest Rules

❖ Participants must be COBKA members in good standing.
❖ First place winners of the 2025 contest are not eligible for the 2026 first place award.
❖ Each participant may submit up to two original photographs.
❖ Please complete one entry form per contestant.
❖ Photos should be high-resolution and reflect the 2026 theme.
❖ All entries must be the photographer’s own work.
❖ Selected images may appear in COBKA’s digital or printed materials - with credit.
❖ Judges and organizers are not eligible to enter.
❖ Entry deadline: November 5, 2026

Prizes

1st Place: $75
2nd Place: $25
3rd Place: 1-year COBKA membership

Winners will be announced and recognized at the November COBKA meeting.

Ready to Enter?

Submit your photos now: Complete the Entry Form & Attach Images (form coming soon)

Having trouble with the form? You can also submit your entry by emailing your images (along with your name and contact info) to: cobka.photos@gmail.com - just be sure to send them by the November 5 deadline.

Unlike the photography contest, you do not need to be a COBKA member to enter. We know there’s a surprisingly dedicated (and slightly intense) global haiku community out there! :)

Theme: The Swarm

A haiku captures a moment. Brief, observed, and alive.

fewer words, held still-

catch the hum before it fades

then leave it alone

Prize

One year of COBKA membership
Extremely impressive bragging rights and a commemorative e-certificate

About Haiku

Haiku is a form of short poetry originating in Japan. Traditional Japanese haiku are arranged in three parts following a 5–7–5 pattern of on (sound units), which are often approximated in English as syllables - though the two are not equivalent.

Classic haiku typically include a kigo (a word or phrase evoking a season) and a kireji (a “cutting word” that creates a pause or contrast between two images or ideas).

For this contest, English-language haiku are welcome. While the 5–7–5 syllable pattern might serve as a useful starting point, participants are encouraged to prioritize the spirit of the form: a single, clear moment expressed with attention and economy of language. Less about counting and more about noticing.

Contest Rules

❖ Must be original work
❖ One entry per person

❖ Selected haiku may appear in COBKA’s digital or printed materials - with credit.

❖ Judges and organizers are not eligible to enter.
❖ Entry deadline: November 5, 2026
❖ Submit via (form coming soon)

COBKA Photography Contest Archives