7 Nature-Themed Photography Contests to Enter That Spark Wonder

Why it matters: Nature photography contests offer photographers a powerful platform to showcase their work while earning recognition and substantial cash prizes that can fund future adventures.

The big picture: These competitions connect you with global communities of photographers and environmental advocates while providing opportunities to have your images featured in prestigious publications and exhibitions.

What’s ahead: We’ve curated seven standout nature photography contests that welcome photographers of all skill levels and offer everything from equipment prizes to international exposure.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year represents the pinnacle of nature photography competitions worldwide. This prestigious contest attracts over 50,000 entries annually from photographers across the globe.

Competition Overview and Prestige

Wildlife Photographer of the Year stands as the most coveted award in nature photography. The competition celebrates exceptional images that showcase the natural world’s beauty and complexity. Winners receive international recognition through exhibitions at London’s Natural History Museum and traveling displays that reach millions of viewers worldwide. Your winning photograph joins a legacy of iconic wildlife imagery that shapes conservation awareness globally.

Entry Categories and Requirements

You can submit your work across 19 specialized categories including Animal Behavior, Underwater, and Plants and Fungi. The competition accepts both adult and young photographer divisions with specific age requirements. Your images must be captured in wild or controlled natural environments without digital manipulation beyond basic adjustments. Each photograph requires detailed caption information including species identification, location data, and technical specifications for judging consideration.

Submission Deadlines and Fees

Entry submissions close in early February each year with results announced in October. You’ll pay £30 per image for adult categories and £10 for young photographer submissions. The competition accepts a maximum of 25 images per photographer across all categories. Late submissions aren’t accepted, so you’ll need to plan your entries well in advance of the February deadline.

National Geographic Nature Photography Contest

National Geographic’s nature photography contest stands among the most prestigious competitions in wildlife and landscape photography. The magazine’s reputation for stunning visual storytelling attracts thousands of photographers seeking to join their legacy of environmental documentation.

Contest Structure and Judging Criteria

You’ll compete across three main categories: Wildlife, Landscapes, and Underwater photography. National Geographic’s panel of expert photographers and editors evaluates submissions based on technical excellence, storytelling impact, and conservation message. They prioritize images that capture authentic moments in nature while demonstrating exceptional composition and lighting. The judges seek photographs that inspire environmental awareness and showcase the planet’s biodiversity through compelling visual narratives.

Prize Categories and Awards

Winners receive $10,000 in prize money plus publication in National Geographic magazine and online platforms. You’ll gain access to National Geographic’s exclusive photography workshops and mentorship opportunities with their renowned photographers. Runner-up prizes include $2,500 cash awards and feature placement on National Geographic’s social media channels. The competition also offers category-specific recognition with specialized awards for emerging photographers under 18 years old.

How to Submit Your Best Nature Shots

You can submit up to 10 high-resolution images through National Geographic’s online portal between January and March. Each entry requires a detailed caption explaining the location, species, and conservation context of your photograph. The submission fee is $15 per entry, with discounted rates for National Geographic subscribers. Your images must be original work captured within the past two years, with minimal digital manipulation allowed beyond basic adjustments.

International Landscape Photographer of the Year

This Australian-based competition celebrates stunning landscape imagery from around the globe. You’ll find yourself competing alongside thousands of photographers who share your passion for capturing nature’s most breathtaking moments.

Focus on Scenic and Landscape Photography

Landscape photography takes center stage in this specialized competition that rewards technical excellence and artistic vision. You can submit images capturing everything from dramatic mountain ranges and serene lakeshores to desert formations and coastal scenes. The judges prioritize compositions that showcase natural lighting, seasonal changes, and the raw beauty of untouched wilderness areas. Your submissions should demonstrate mastery of landscape photography techniques while telling compelling visual stories about our planet’s diverse environments.

Entry Guidelines and Technical Requirements

Digital submissions must meet strict quality standards with minimum resolution requirements of 3000 pixels on the longest side. You can enter up to 15 images across multiple landscape categories for AU$45 per entry or AU$450 for a complete portfolio submission. Each photograph requires detailed location information and technical specifications including camera settings and equipment used. Your images must be captured within the past three years and showcase minimal digital manipulation beyond standard processing techniques like exposure and color correction.

Recognition and Exhibition Opportunities

Winners receive significant international exposure through traveling exhibitions that visit major cities across Australia, Europe, and North America. You’ll gain recognition through the annual coffee table book publication featuring winning images and photographer profiles distributed to galleries and bookstores worldwide. First place winners in each category receive AU$2,000 prize money plus professional printing services for portfolio development. The competition also offers mentorship opportunities with established landscape photographers and invitations to exclusive photography workshops in renowned locations.

Audubon Photography Awards

The Audubon Photography Awards celebrates the intersection of stunning imagery and conservation advocacy through bird and wildlife photography. This prestigious competition showcases photographers who capture the beauty and importance of North America’s diverse bird species and their habitats.

Bird and Wildlife Photography Specialization

You’ll find the Audubon Photography Awards specifically focuses on birds and their ecosystems throughout North America. The competition accepts images of wild birds in their natural habitats, from backyard songbirds to rare migratory species. Your submissions must demonstrate birds’ natural behaviors, whether feeding, nesting, or interacting with their environment. The contest welcomes both professional and amateur photographers who capture compelling stories about avian life. Categories include Professional and Amateur divisions, with additional recognition for youth photographers under 18.

Conservation Focus and Mission

Your photography entries support Audubon’s mission to protect birds and their habitats through visual storytelling. The competition emphasizes images that highlight conservation challenges facing North American bird populations. You’re encouraged to submit photographs that showcase both the beauty of birds and the environmental issues they face. Winning images often appear in Audubon Magazine and digital platforms, reaching millions of readers worldwide. The contest serves as a powerful tool for raising awareness about climate change impacts on bird migration patterns and habitat loss.

Submission Process and Evaluation

You can submit up to 5 images through Audubon’s online platform during the annual submission period from January through March. Each entry requires detailed captions describing the species, location, and photographic technique used. Professional judges evaluate submissions based on technical excellence, artistic merit, and conservation storytelling impact. Your images must be high-resolution files taken within the past two years in North America. Winners receive cash prizes up to $5,000, publication opportunities, and recognition at Audubon’s annual conference and digital exhibitions.

Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice Awards

This distinguished competition champions nature photographers who combine artistic excellence with environmental conservation messaging. You’ll find this contest uniquely positions itself as a bridge between stunning imagery and meaningful storytelling about our planet’s natural heritage.

Magazine Partnership and Publication Opportunities

Nature’s Best Photography partners with prestigious publications to showcase winning images throughout the year. Your winning photographs appear in Nature’s Best Photography magazine and receive consideration for National Geographic publications. Winners also gain access to exclusive gallery exhibitions in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where your work reaches hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. The contest’s publication partnerships extend your reach beyond traditional photography circles into mainstream environmental and conservation media outlets.

Professional and Amateur Categories

You can compete in both professional and amateur divisions, with separate judging panels evaluating technical skill and artistic vision appropriate to each level. Professional categories require documented photography income, while amateur divisions welcome enthusiasts and emerging photographers building their portfolios. Youth photographers under 18 compete in specialized categories with age-appropriate evaluation criteria and mentorship opportunities. The contest structure allows you to progress naturally from amateur to professional divisions as your skills and career develop over time.

Environmental Storytelling Through Images

Your submissions must demonstrate clear environmental narratives that connect viewers to conservation challenges and natural world beauty. Judges prioritize images that communicate specific ecological stories, whether showcasing threatened species, climate change impacts, or conservation success stories. You’ll need detailed captions explaining the environmental context and conservation significance of each photograph. The contest emphasizes how your images can inspire environmental stewardship and raise awareness about pressing conservation issues facing our planet’s ecosystems.

BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition

BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition stands out for its unique focus on conservation storytelling through powerful imagery. This California Academy of Sciences contest specifically seeks photographs that highlight environmental challenges and celebrate nature’s resilience.

Conservation Photography Emphasis

You’ll find BigPicture prioritizes images that tell compelling environmental stories over purely aesthetic photographs. The competition requires detailed captions explaining each image’s conservation significance and ecological context. Judges specifically look for photographs that document climate change impacts, species conservation efforts, and habitat preservation initiatives. Your submissions must demonstrate how photography can drive environmental awareness and inspire conservation action.

Multiple Award Categories

BigPicture features seven distinct categories covering terrestrial wildlife, aquatic life, landscapes, and human-nature interactions. You can submit up to 10 images across categories like “Terrestrial Wildlife,” “Aquatic Life,” and “Art of Nature” for $25 per entry. The competition includes both professional and amateur divisions, plus a dedicated youth category for photographers under 18. Winners receive cash prizes up to $5,000 and gallery exhibition opportunities at the California Academy of Sciences.

Impact on Environmental Awareness

Your winning images reach millions through BigPicture’s traveling exhibitions and partnership with bioGraphic magazine. The competition’s photographs directly support conservation organizations by raising awareness about endangered species and threatened ecosystems. Past winners have seen their work featured in major environmental campaigns and educational programs worldwide. The contest’s emphasis on conservation messaging ensures your photography contributes meaningfully to global environmental advocacy efforts.

Environmental Photographer of the Year

The Environmental Photographer of the Year celebrates photographers who use their craft to spotlight critical environmental issues. This competition emphasizes storytelling that drives conservation action.

Climate Change and Environmental Issues Focus

You’ll find this contest prioritizes imagery that documents climate change impacts across ecosystems worldwide. Successful submissions capture melting glaciers, rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and species migration patterns affected by temperature shifts.

Judges specifically look for photographs showing environmental degradation, pollution effects, and habitat destruction. Your images should reveal how human activities impact natural systems, creating compelling visual narratives about urgent environmental challenges.

Documentary Style Photography Requirements

You must submit images that tell authentic environmental stories rather than purely aesthetic nature shots. Technical excellence combines with journalistic integrity to create powerful documentary evidence of environmental conditions.

Captions need detailed explanations of environmental context, location data, and conservation significance. Your photographs should function as visual documentation that scientists and conservationists can reference for research and advocacy purposes.

Platform for Environmental Advocacy

You gain access to influential conservation networks through this competition’s partnerships with environmental organizations. Winning images appear in high-impact publications, reaching policymakers and environmental advocates globally.

Exhibition opportunities include displays at environmental conferences, scientific institutions, and conservation summits. Your photography directly supports environmental campaigns, providing visual evidence that drives policy changes and conservation funding initiatives.

Conclusion

These seven contests offer incredible opportunities to elevate your nature photography career while supporting environmental conservation. Each competition provides unique advantages—from National Geographic’s massive reach to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s prestige.

You’ll find contests that match your expertise level and interests whether you’re documenting climate change impacts or capturing stunning wildlife behavior. The key is choosing competitions that align with your photographic style and conservation values.

Start planning your submissions now since most contests have early deadlines and strict requirements. Your powerful nature images could be the next ones inspiring global audiences to protect our planet’s incredible biodiversity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are nature photography contests and why are they important?

Nature photography contests provide platforms for photographers to showcase their work, gain recognition, and earn cash prizes. They connect participants with global communities of photographers and environmental advocates while offering opportunities for work to be featured in prestigious publications and exhibitions. These competitions support both artistic growth and conservation awareness.

What is the Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest?

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is organized by the Natural History Museum and considered the pinnacle of nature photography competitions. It attracts over 50,000 entries annually across 19 categories, accepting submissions from adults (£30) and young photographers (£10). Winners gain international recognition through exhibitions in London and traveling displays.

How does the National Geographic Nature Photography Contest work?

This prestigious contest features three main categories: Wildlife, Landscapes, and Underwater photography. Participants can submit up to 10 high-resolution images between January and March for $15 per entry. Winners receive $10,000, publication in National Geographic magazine, and access to exclusive photography workshops.

What makes the International Landscape Photographer of the Year unique?

This Australian-based competition celebrates landscape imagery globally, focusing on scenic photography and artistic vision. Participants can submit up to 15 images for AU$45 per entry. Winners receive international exposure through traveling exhibitions, coffee table book publication, mentorship opportunities, and cash prizes.

What are the Audubon Photography Awards focused on?

The Audubon Photography Awards celebrate bird and wildlife photography in North America, emphasizing conservation advocacy. Participants can submit up to 5 images from January through March. Winners receive up to $5,000, publication in Audubon Magazine, and recognition that raises awareness about climate change and habitat loss.

How do the Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice Awards support conservation?

This contest champions photographers who blend artistic excellence with environmental messaging. Winners gain publication in Nature’s Best Photography magazine, consideration for National Geographic, and gallery exhibitions at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The competition emphasizes conservation storytelling through detailed environmental narratives.

What is unique about the BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition?

Organized by the California Academy of Sciences, BigPicture focuses on conservation storytelling through powerful imagery. It prioritizes photographs documenting climate change impacts and species conservation efforts. Winners receive up to $5,000 and exhibition opportunities, with images reaching millions through partnerships with bioGraphic magazine.

What does the Environmental Photographer of the Year contest emphasize?

This contest celebrates photographers who spotlight critical environmental issues through storytelling that drives conservation action. It prioritizes imagery documenting climate change impacts like melting glaciers and habitat destruction. Winners gain exposure through influential conservation networks and high-impact publications supporting environmental campaigns.