The Washington Trails Association is hoping that its annual Northwest Exposure Photo Contest, underway this fall, will help fix neglected trails, protect wilderness areas and inspire new hikers to venture into the woods.

The sixth annual contest, showcasing photos from Washington’s wilderness areas, seeks submissions by Friday, Oct. 17. For complete guidelines, submissions and contest rules, visit www.wta.org.

Alan Bauer of Fall City, who takes shots for the Mountaineers Books new Day Hike series, encourages amateur nature photographers to improve their photography with a sense of purpose.

“One of the greatest values of photographic art is using it as a tool of communication to better educate people about the beauty surrounding us,” he said.

Photographers may submit only one photo in each of four categories, and there is an additional category for youth. Categories include:

• Wilderness Landscapes — Washington’s wilderness areas have some of the most scenic and spectacular locations anywhere in the world. Photos must be taken of or from federally-designated wilderness areas in Washington.

• Hikers in Action — this is a chance to showcase hikers doing their thing, from ascending a trail to enjoying the perfect backcountry camp.

• Flora and Fauna — share your best photos of native plants or animals found on hiking trails, from pikas to bears, from trilliums to lupine.

• Offbeat Outdoors — send your crazy, weird, or humorous photos taken on the trail.

• Young Photographers — shutterbugs 17 years old and younger on Oct. 17, 2008, can share their images taken from hiking trails in Washington state. They may also enter in the other categories.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category and a grand prize winner will appear on the cover of the January/February 2009 issue of Washington Trails magazine.