DarkSky DC Announces Winners of the 2026 Bad Lighting Photo Contest

DarkSky DC is pleased to announce the winners of our Bad Lighting Photo Contest, created to raise public awareness about light pollution in Washington, DC, and to help people recognize the difference between good and bad outdoor lighting.

For more than 15 years, DarkSky DC—an official chapter of DarkSky International—has advocated for better outdoor lighting throughout the nation’s capital, from streetlights and commercial properties to residential lighting.

For the contest, participants were invited to photograph examples of problem lighting in Washington—lighting that does not follow DarkSky International’s Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting. The entries demonstrate how everyday lighting choices can contribute to glare, light trespass, excessive brightness, and the loss of our natural nighttime environment.

We are delighted to congratulate first-place winner Wendy Schumacher of Washington, DC, and second-place winner Joe Flood of Washington, DC. Their photographs captured compelling examples of problem lighting in our city and helped identify opportunities to improve the quality of outdoor lighting in Washington.

We are grateful to Wendy and Joe, as well as to everyone who entered the contest and shared their perspective on light pollution. By recognizing problem lighting in our own neighborhoods, we can take an important first step toward creating outdoor lighting that better serves our communities while protecting people, wildlife, and the night sky.

Please find the winning photos below.

From Wendy Schumacher: Example of unshielded lights that point up and stay on all night.

From Joe Flood: Overbright city sky glow near the National Mall obscures the starry sky.