USS IDAHO Photo Contest

The USS IDAHO Photo Contest: Idaho, Undersea and Underway

The USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation is seeking digital photographic submissions to help our effort to improve the ship's interior aesthetics.

Idaho Public Television
Photo by Idaho Public Television
Idaho Public Television
Photo by Idaho Public Television
Idaho Public Television
Photo by Idaho Public Television

The future USS IDAHO SSN 799 is a Virginia class, nuclear powered, fast attack submarine currently under construction in Groton Connecticut. The submarine is scheduled to be commissioned in 2026.

Once commissioned, the ship will sail the world for the next +30 years, pulling into numerous ports and hosting heads of state and dignitaries.

Given the namesake of the ship is Idaho, the USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation wants the interior of the vessel, where possible, to reflect the beauty, culture, and spirit of Idaho for the crew and their visitors.

The USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation is seeking digital photographic submissions to help our effort to improve the ship's interior aesthetics.

From the digital submissions, the USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation will select:

  • 200 to 300 photographs to be used in an electronic "Here We Have Idaho" themed video presentation for the crew's and visitors' enjoyment on monitors throughout the ship.
  • Approximately 20 to 30 photographs will be printed and physically mounted either in frames or as vinyl murals in the ship's interior.

Photographs used electronically and physically mounted will credit the photographer and very briefly name the area of Idaho or landmark shown.

You have a very unique opportunity to share your photography with the world on a ship named for Idaho, as an act of service, patriotism, and gratitude to the men and women who serve our country.

Specific opportunities include:

  • One large mural (approx. 5 ft tall x 18 ft long)
  • Two smaller murals (approx. 3 ft tall x 10 ft long)
  • 20 to 30 framed pieces in various sizes

Contest Rules

  1. Eligibility
    • The USS IDAHO Photo Contest: Idaho, Undersea and Underway is open to residents of the United States and its territories who are at least 18 years old.
  2. Agreement to Official Rules
    • Participation in the contest constitutes the entrant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation.
  3. Commercial Usage
    • By entering the contest, participants grant the USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation, the U.S. Navy, and the Idaho Historical Society the rights to use all submitted content for any purposes they deem appropriate, at no cost. This includes, but is not limited to, inclusion in the USS IDAHO SSN 799 submarine's interior for physical or digital display, use on social media, websites, television broadcasts, print publications, promotional materials, displays, lend to other institutions, presentations, and any other use in any medium for any purpose worldwide.
    • Representations, Acknowledgments and Rights Retained: You represent and warrant that you freely and fully own any photo you submit, including all rights to its use, copyright, trademark or otherwise and you retain ownership of your submission but acknowledge that USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation may use it as described in these rules without further notice or consent, and without payment of royalties or any other compensation.
    • Photographers must verify that they have a signed release to use photographs from people who can be identified. The caption should include the names of those persons. If photographs are selected a copy of the signed consent release will be required.
    • Indemnification and Hold Harmless: You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation, the U.S. Navy, and the Idaho Historical Society against any claims that the use of the submitted artwork violates or infringes upon any rights of other parties, to include but not limited to copyrights and trademarks.
  4. Contest Period
    • The contest begins on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025 at midnight Mountain time (MT). Submissions close on Sunday, July 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM MT.
  5. Entry Method
    • Submissions will only be accepted via WooBox Entry Form. The WooBox link will be found on this USS IDAHO Commissioning Committee Webpage.
  6. Submission Guidelines
    • The photos are intended to display the uniqueness and beauty of Idaho's iconic landscapes, landmarks, places, cultures, places and wildlife for those who serve in defense of our great state and nation on the USS IDAHO SSN 799.
    • Wildlife photos, while desired, should include landscapes whenever possible.
    • Only photos of Idaho, taken in Idaho, will be accepted. Non-Idaho photos will be removed.
    • Participants may submit up to twenty (20) photos, with one photo per entry form.
    • No Artificial Intelligence generated photos will be accepted.
    • Minimal photo manipulation such as improvement to the exposure, contrast or removing people is acceptable.
    • Any images deemed "unrelated content" will be removed, and the user will be issued a warning. Upon receiving a second warning, the user will be disqualified. Inappropriate content will result in immediate disqualification.
  7. Winner Notification
    • The USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation Board of Directors will select the winning photos.
    • Winners will be notified by email.
    • Winners will be listed on the USS IDAHO Commissioning Committee Website.
  8. Winner Recognition
    • Photographers whose work is chosen for physical display on the submarine's interior will receive a Certificate of Appreciation, a photo of their work as it is displayed in the USS IDAHO SSN 799, within a year of the Commissioning, and two tickets to the USS IDAHO Commissioning in 2026, subject to U.S. Navy approval.
    • Photographers whose work is chosen for digital display onboard the USS IDAHO will receive a Certificate of Appreciation.

Contest Submission Information

The USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation will give full credit to the photographer.

Resolution and Size Requirements

  • Resolution: Pixels per Inch (PPI) e.g. 300ppi at ¼ scale or 72ppi final
  • Highest resolution is most desirable. Vectorized artwork is preferred when possible. File types: .jpg, .ai, .tiff .pdf
  • Images with watermarks or signatures will not be accepted.
  • The USS IDAHO Commissioning Foundation retains the right to crop any photo to meet its specific needs.
When submitting a photo, photographers must include:
  • First and last name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Photo caption (under 10 words and in title case)
  • Verification of signed release from recognizable persons in photos where applicable.
  • Location of photo to include city or county or notable landmark so the location of the photo may be easily identified on a map.
  • Filename Format: LocationLastnameFirstInitialNumber (e.g. SmithLemiLCounty01)

FAQs

How might my photos be used?

  • 200 to 300 photographs to be used in an electronic "Here We Have Idaho" themed video presentation for the crew's and visitors' enjoyment on monitors throughout the ship.
  • 20 to 30 photographs will be printed and physically mounted either in frames or as vinyl murals in the ship's interior.

How do I submit my photos?

  • Visit the USS IDAHO Woobox page. Participants will follow the link to fill out a short form and submit their photos.

How many photos can I submit?

  • Each participant may submit up to twenty (20) photos. One photo per entry form.

Will I be notified if I do NOT win?

  • No. Due to the number of entries, only winners will be contacted with their results.

Can I submit photos if I do not live in Idaho?

  • Yes! Any resident of the United States and its Territories is welcome to participate, but the photo must have been taken in Idaho.

What will happen to the winning photos when the ship is decommissioned +30 years from now?

  • The photographs will become the property of the Navy Heritage Command or other institution like the Idaho Historical Society.