The editors of Nature’s Best Photography magazine invite all photographers to enter the 14th Annual Windland Smith Rice International Awards competition for 2010. All winning images will be published in the 2010 Collectors Edition of Nature’s Best Photography magazine. In addtiton, the category Winners and a selection of Highly Honored photographs will be displayed in an exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. The Grand Prize will also win a “Yellowstone in Winter” photo workshop provided by Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. Entries are judged on technical quality, originality, and artistic merit. Enter up to 20 images for an entry fee of $25 US dollars.
CATEGORIES

ANIMAL ANTICS:
Wildlife in humorous or surprising situations.

ART IN NATURE:
Naturally occurring artistic compositions (colors, forms, textures, etc.) in nature.

BIRDS:
Wild birds in native habitats displaying plumage, mating rituals, nesting, feeding, or other behaviors.

CAMERA CLUB:
Up to 20 photographs may be submitted as a group entry by a camera club. Each individual image in a camera club submission must fit within one of the contest categories, without exception.

CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR:
Nominate a CPY recipient

CREATIVE DIGITAL:
Any nature-related image or combination of images that is created and/or manipulated using digital/electronic technology (such as Adobe® Photoshop®). Let your imagination go wild! Please provide the details on all techniques used. EXCEPTION: Panoramic images created by digitally stitching two or more images together may be entered into other categories as appropriate.

ENDANGERED SPECIES:
Plants or animals that are listed as endangered species by the IUCN. Please visit www.redlist.org to confirm the endangered status of a species before submitting to this category.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
Images that document current environmental issues, such as pollution, global warming, loss of habitat, etc.

LANDSCAPE:
Dramatic scenes and unusual perspectives of wild places providing expansive views.

OCEANS:
The fascinating world of the sea: tide pools, coral reefs, marine life, waves, etc. Photos taken above the ocean’s surface, related to ocean life or landscapes, are also welcome.

PEOPLE IN NATURE:
People enjoying the outdoors: backpackers, kayakers, divers, hikers, etc., in natural settings.

PLANT LIFE:
Flowers, trees, and other flora in natural habitat. May include wide vistas.

SMALL WORLD SPECTACULARS:
Shots of plants, animals, and miniature landscapes taken with close-up lenses.

WEATHER:
From dramatic storms to tranquil skies—weather in all its fury and forms. (Tornados, hurricanes, floods, rain, wind, beautiful cloud formations, etc.)

WILDLIFE:
Wild animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc.—birds are a separate category, see above) photographed in their natural habitat (no captive animals allowed in this category.)

YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR:
An entry of up to 20 photographs may be submitted by photographers 18 years of age or younger. Each individual image in a youth submission must fit within the contest categories, without exception.

ZOOS & AQUARIUMS:
Images may include animal portraits, behavior, zookeepers working with animals, visitors (may require model release), special events, etc. All photographs must have been taken at zoos and aquariums belonging to the World Association of Zoos & Aquaria (WAZA). See the complete WAZA list at www.waza.org.

All photographs must accurately reflect the subject matter as it appeared in the viewfinder. Nothing should be added to an image, and aside from dust spots, nothing should be taken away. Normal processing of RAW image files and minor adjustments to color and contrast are acceptable, as is minimal cropping.

Deadline: April 5, 2010

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Nature’s Best Photography and Divers Alert Network (DAN) are proud to announce our new alliance to host the third annual Ocean Views Photography Awards, open to all levels of photographers from around the world. Share your passion for the ocean to help inspire a global audience to learn about and protect this fragile realm. A selection of winning images will appear in an upcoming edition of Nature’s Best Photography and Alert Divers magazine, and will be featured on Pixcetera, Discovery Network International, and other online galleries. Celebrate the ocean through the art of photography.

PRIZES: $2,010 (US) cash • 9-night dive trip to Papua New Guinea with Peter Hughes Diving© • 5-night dive trip at Marina Del Mar, Key Largo, Florida with Ocean Divers© • Scubapro© regulator • Henderson Aquatics© his and hers H2 titanium wetsuits • Backscatter© gift certificate • Ikelite© DS160 digital strobe and charger • DAN© Dive Safety Kit.

DEADLINE: March 1, 2010

Submit up to 20 of your very best images in these topics for an entry fee of $25 US dollars:
• Ocean weather: waves, storms, rain, fog, lightning
• Beaches, shores, estuaries, tide zones, tide pools
• Tropical and temperate reef ecosystems
• Shallow-shore and deep-water environments
• All living things that depend upon the oceans: fish, mammals, birds, plants, etc., in or near the water
• Natural feeding, breeding, and other behavior
• Geologic processes or features on seashores or in the ocean
• People enjoying the ocean environment
• Submersibles and mini-subs
• Sunken vessels
• SCUBA, hard hat, and free diving, snorkeling

Important: All images must be taken in the wild of natural settings and behaviors.
No captive animals will be considered and no entrapment of any kind is permissible.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

A brand new international photography competition, the British Wildlife Photography Awards celebrates and recognise the talents of photographers of all nationalities practicing in the UK while, at the same time, highlighting the great wealth and diversity of the natural history of the British Isles.

At a time when we’re increasingly conscious of the importance of wildlife, habitat and conservation, the Awards will encourage photographers, whether professional or enthusiast, to explore Britain’s natural and urban environments, and discover its bounty of wildlife species, from birds to mammals, insects to marine life.

Prizes

Your chance to win a prestigious photography award, cash first prize of £5,000 and exposure in a nationwide touring exhibition.

Awards and Prizes
British Wildlife Photographer: £5,000
Young British Wildlife Photographer (under 18): £500
Schools, Youth and Community Group Award: £1,000
7 individual category prizes worth £1,000 each

Categories

The adult award is split into several categories. These may help provide ideas for suitable subjects to entrants of the Young Awards.

1. Animal portraits
We are looking for an image that captures the character or spirit of the subject in an imaginative way. We want to be able to get a sense of the animal’s “personality” from the photograph. All species will be considered.

2. Animal behaviour
Entries should show unusual or remarkable behaviour in an original and compelling composition. Show the judges something they don’t know or haven’t seen before. All species will be considered.

3. Urban wildlife
Increasingly, wildlife can be found in our towns and cities. We are looking for an original image that shows animal adaptation to urban environments. All species will be considered.

4. Hidden Britain
Reveal to us the secret universe that is life in the undergrowth – a life that is all around us but rarely seen. Invertebrate species only will be considered.

5. Coast and marine
We are looking for an imaginative photograph that reveals the behaviour of marine animals or creates a sense of place or occasion. Marine animals near the sea, underwater, at the sea shore and coastal zone, only will be considered.

6. Wildlife in my locality
One of the remits of BWPA is to encourage you to explore and discover your local area. Images must have been photographed in the county in which you live on the date the image is entered (proof of location may be requested).

7. Habitat
Animals in their environment and plants and their partners.  We are looking for an imaginative and original image that powerfully portrays the relationship between wildlife and their environment. This includes plants and their partners. Eg: butterfly feeding on nectar and rooks roosting in a tree. Without plants there is no life.

Competition fees

We charge a competition entry fee in order to cover the costs of running the competition and subsequent exhibitions and events. We have kept the fee structure simple.

Adults
Up to 3 images: £10.00
Up to 9 images:  £15.00  
Up to 21 images: £20.00

Under 18’s, Schools and Youth groups
1. Individuals under 18. There is a flat fee of £5.00 – with a maximum of up to 8 images. 
2. Schools, Youth and Community Groups.  The fee for each portfolio (up to 5 images per portfolio) is £10.00. Multiple portfolios can be submitted.

The 2009 competition is open until 31st July.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The editors of NATURE’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY magazine invite all photographers to enter the 2009 NATURE’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY WINDLAND SMITH RICE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS competition.

More than $15,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. The winning photographs will be published in the Awards 2009 Collector’s Edition of NATURE’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY, and may be selected for our annual exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, and displayed in other locations and photo gallery presentations related to the Awards competition. Entries are judged on technical quality, originality, and artistic merit. Enter a TOTAL of up to 20 images for one entry fee ($25 US no foreign checks).

DEADLINE: UPLOAD OR POSTMARK NO LATER THAN MAY 4, 2009

CATEGORIES:
The Nature’s Best Editors reserve the right to move a submission from one category to another as they see fit.
ANIMAL ANTICS:
Wildlife in humorous or surprising situations.
ART IN NATURE:
Naturally occurring artistic compositions (colors, forms, textures, etc.) in nature.
BIRDS:
Wild birds in native habitats displaying plumage, mating rituals, nesting, feeding, or other behaviors.
CAMERA CLUB:
Up to 20 photographs may be submitted as a group entry by a camera club. Each individual image in a camera club submission must fit within one of the contest categories, without exception. NOTE: Each individual member can contribute no more than three (3) images to the group submission. The entry will be judged as a portfolio and selected on the overall excellence of the entire group of images. Participating club members are also permitted to submit their own entry (up to 20 images) separate from the Camera Club entry, and may include the same images in both submissions.
CREATIVE DIGITAL:
Any nature-related image or combination of images that is created and/or manipulated using digital/electronic technology (such as Adobe® Photoshop®). Let your imagination go wild! Please provide the details on all techniques used. EXCEPTION: Panoramic images created by digitally stitching two or more images together may be entered into other categories as appropriate.
ENDANGERED SPECIES:
Plants or animals that are listed as endangered species by the IUCN. Please visit www.redlist.org to confirm the endangered status of a species before submitting to this category.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
Images that document current environmental issues, such as pollution, global warming, loss of habitat, etc.
INDIGENOUS CULTURES:
People living within their ancient historic communities, practicing their traditional culture: dress, arts/crafts, dance, rituals, hunting/gathering, food preparation, examples of sustainable living, etc.
LANDSCAPE:
Dramatic scenes and unusual perspectives of land providing expansive views.
OCEANS:
The fascinating world of the sea: tide pools, coral reefs, marine life, waves, etc. Photos taken above the ocean’s surface, related to ocean life, are also welcome.
PEOPLE IN NATURE:
People enjoying the outdoors: backpackers, kayakers, divers, hikers, etc., in natural settings.
PLANT LIFE:
Flowers, trees, and other flora in natural habitat. May include wide vistas.
SMALL WORLD SPECTACULARS:
Shots of plants, animals, and miniature landscapes taken with macro lenses.
WEATHER:
From dramatic storms to tranquil skies—weather in all its fury and forms. (Tornados, hurricanes, floods, rain, wind, cloud formations, etc.)
WILDLIFE:
Wild animals (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, etc.—birds are a separate category, see above) photographed in their natural habitat (no captive animals).
YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR:
An entry of up to 20 photographs may be submitted by photographers 18 of age or younger. Each individual image in a youth submission must fit within the contest categories, without exception. NOTE: Please be sure to include your date of birth and current age on your entry form.
ZOOS & AQUARIUMS:
Images may include animal portraits, behavior, zookeepers working with animals, visitors (may require model release), special events, etc. All photographs must have been taken at zoos and aquariums belonging to the World Association of Zoos & Aquaria (WAZA). See the complete WAZA list at www.waza.org.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

The Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is beginning its annual search for the best and most astonishing images from around the world, whether they come from the wildest places on Earth or urban gardens. With the bar being raised each year, the 2009 competition promises to be bigger and more inspiring than ever before.

‘This is the greatest and most prestigious competition for wildlife photographers anywhere in the world. It raises the profile of wildlife photography and provokes a wider awareness of wildlife conservation. It is not just professionals who are successful – amateurs of all ages have won awards in the competition many times. In recent years the judges have been particularly impressed by the standard of images being produced by many young people.’ Mark Carwardine (Chairman of the judges)

The winning photographer will be presented with £10,000 at an awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum, London, in October. Each category winner receives £500 and every runner-up £250. Special Award winners receive £1,000.

Info:
online entry fee: £20
postal entry fee: £27 (CDs only)
closing date for online entries: Friday 27 March 2009

Veolia Environnement Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year
If you are 17 years or younger, this is the competition for you. You can enter pictures of any wild animals, plants or landscapes. The judges will be looking for original, beautiful or striking shots rather than rare or exotic subjects. Creatures or places close to home that you know well or have easy access to may be your best subjects.
The three categories are: 10 years and under, 11–14 years, 15–17 years
The winning photographer will receive £500 and a day out with a well-known wildlife photographer. Category winners will receive £250 and runners up £100.

Adult categories
You can enter up to three digital images or scans of transparencies in each of the following categories.

1. Animals in Their Environment
Images in this category must show how the animal fits into its natural home and convey a sense of place. Remember, the environment is as important a part of the picture as the animal itself, allowing you to tell a story and reveal more about your subject.

2. Behaviour: Birds
3. Behaviour: Mammals
4. Behaviour: All Other Animals
Images must capture a memorable, unusual or interesting behaviour. It is crucial to show genuine behaviour (just looking or sitting isn’t enough). Judges will look for images with an aesthetic appeal, a unique interest value and dramatic action.

5. The Underwater World
Images must feature marine or freshwater life taken under water. A combination of interest value and aesthetic appeal is just as important underwater as on land. See a list of top ten tips (PDF 1.5MB) for underwater photographers from Project AWARE

6. Animal Portraits
Portraits should capture the unique character or spirit of the subject. Images should be imaginative and convey a sense of intimacy and immediacy.

7. In Praise of Plants
Pictures should capture the beauty, diversity and importance of plant life. The judges will be looking for artistic merit rather than a simple scientific record.

8. Urban and Garden Wildlife
Look for nature on your doorstep, and capture images that are unusual, poignant, beautiful or striking compositions of wild animals or plants in urban or suburban settings. Judges will be looking for uncommonly good images of common subjects.

9. Nature in Black and White
The judges will be looking for skilful use of the black and white medium, where pure graphic quality and a well composed image can often increase the intensity. Sepia tone images are allowed. The subject can be any wild landscape, animal, plant or other living organism.

10. Creative Visions of Nature
Photographs should reveal new ways of seeing natural subjects or scenes, conveying an imaginative, unique or abstract view of wildlife or wild places. Realism takes a back seat in this category – the judges will be looking for artistic vision and true originality. Let your imagination run wild.

11. Wild Places
Images should show scenes that are truly wild and awe-inspiring. But there is much more to it than a breathtaking landscape – the judges will be looking for beautiful light, a true feeling of wilderness and a sense of awe.

Special Awards

Eric Hosking Award
This award encourages and rewards the talents of young photographers aged 18–26. You must submit a portfolio of 10 images you think represents your very best work. Judges will choose five or more images for the winning portfolio.
Prize: £1,000

Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife
This highly important award raises our awareness of endangered species through photographic excellence. The images must be memorable and capture the unique character or spirit of the subject.

Species photographed must be categorised in the 2008 IUCN Red List as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened at an international or national level (if the latter, please supply details).
Prize: £1,000

One Earth Award
Photography plays a critical role in conservation, and this award seeks to highlight conservation issues or actions. Don’t rely on the shock value of your subject – the judges will be looking for genuine photographic merit. Remember to focus on positive messages as well as negative ones. Images can be graphic or symbolic, but must be thought provoking, memorable and encourage respect or concern for our natural world.
Prize: £1,000

Judges
Mark Carwardine (Chair) zoologist, writer and photographer
Jack Dykinga, landscape photographer
Laurent Geslin, photographer
Chris Gomersall, wildlife photographer
Orsolya Haarberg, nature photographer
Josef (Sepp) Hackhofer, nature photographer
Tim Harris, manager, nature and garden collections, Photoshot
Tony Heald, wildlife photographer
Rosamund Kidman Cox, editor and writer
Jan-Peter Lahall, photographer
Tor McIntosh, picture editor
Vincent Munier, nature photographer
Erik Sampers, photo director, Terre Sauvage
Brian Skerry, marine wildlife photojournalist
Sophie Stafford, editor, BBC Wildlife Magazine

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Burrard-Lucas.com has launched a wildlife photography competition.

The theme is “Wildlife Portraits”. A photograph of any animal is eligible as long as it was taken in the wild. The competition is open to participants worldwide, of any age.

There is a fantastic prize on offer for the winner: an Olympus SP-570UZ, a camera with a 10-megapixel sensor, a 2.7-inch LCD screen and 20x optical zoom with image stabilization – a perfect combination for wildlife photography.

Deadline: 30th April 2009

Competition Link / Set Reminder

To date, Smithsonian magazine editors have judged a total of 72,000 photographs from more than 90 countries around the globe for their yearly amateur photography contests.  With the breadth of experience to determine what sets a Smithsonian winning photo apart from the pack, Smithsonian’s 6th Annual Photo Contest is now open for submissions.

Contestants can enter photographs in five categories: The Natural World, Americana, Altered Images, Travel and People that represent subjects of special interest to the magazine. Fifty finalists will be selected, ten for each of the five categories. Smithsonian magazine will notify the 50 finalists by February 28, 2009. From these 50 finalists, five category winners and a grand prize winner will be selected. The entries of all finalists will be published on the magazine’s Web site on March 2, 2009. At that time, readers can vote online for one readers’ choice winner. The winning entries will be published in the print edition of Smithsonian magazine during summer 2009.

Category winners will be awarded $500. The readers’ choice winner will be awarded $500. The grand prize winner will receive a four-day, three-night Smithsonian Journeys Grand Canyon Weekend Adventure for two from July 17-20, 2009, or the wholesale cash equivalent.

All entries must be uploaded by 2pm Eastern Time, Monday, December 01, 2008.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Our search for the Photographer of the Year is underway. Be part of this massive event – there are ten great categories and a top prize of £15,000 up for grabs!

The Digital Camera Photographer of the Year competition is the leading contest for anyone with a passion for digital photography and is open to both amateur and professional photographers of any nationality. Its aim is to reveal the most inspirational and imaginative photographers from around the globe. Last year, the competition attracted more than 81,000 entries from around the world. The competition is organised by the UK’s fastest-growing photography title, Digital Camera – the magazine for today’s photographer.

There are ten categories to choose from and you may choose to enter just one or all ten – and you can enter up to five photos in each of these categories. The submission and voting process is web-based so you’ll be able to track the progress of your pictures through this competition website.

The competition is open for entries until the end of September, when the category winners and overall winner will be selected by a panel of judges. The overall winner will get the coveted £15,000 main prize and be declared Digital Camera Photographer of the Year 2008.

Competition Categories
Urban
Hidden Britain
Action & Movement
Animals
Documentary
Dusk to Dawn
Landscapes
People & Portraits
Black & White
Creative Vision

The Prizes

The Digital Camera Photographer of the Year competition is a great opportunity to showcase your best images, as well as giving you the chance to show your appreciation for and comment on the work of other photographers. Naturally, there are rewards for the winners…

The Digital Camera Photographer of the Year 2008
The title of Digital Camera Photographer of the Year 2008 will be given to the photographer who is judged to have taken the most outstanding and memorable picture entered in the competition. The winning photographer will receive an incredible £15,000.

Category winners
You can enter up to five digital images in each of the ten categories. The prizes for each category are as follows:

1st: £1,000 plus a year’s free subscription to Digital Camera magazine and a year’s free membership to the Royal Photographic Society

2nd: £350 plus a year’s free subscription to Digital Camera magazine

3rd: £150 plus a year’s free subscription to Digital Camera magazine

All categories close 30th September 2008

Competition Link / Set Reminder

50 winners will share $40,000 in cash prizes!

The RitzPix Photo Contest is FREE, easy to enter, and the rules are very simple and straight forward. Best of all, there are 5 photo categories with 50 winners, including 5 Grand Prize Winners who are awarded $2,000 each, and 15 First Prize Winners who take home $1,000 each!

Entries must be received between June 1st, 2008 and September 15th, 2008. All pictures must be original photographs. Amateur photographers only, no professional photographers may enter. No purchase necessary to enter. Winners must be 18 years or older and will be notified by mail. No more than three entries per person will be accepted and only one prize per household will be awarded.

A panel of distinguished members of the New York Institute of Photography will be judging this year’s contest. Remember, any photo, from any type of camera can win! Images will be judged based on color and content. Sharpness will be judged relative to the film size only. Staff and faculty of NYIP will award a Special Judge’s Prize for the best panoramic photograph entered into any of the 5 categories. Judging will take place in October, 2008. Winning photos will be posted online in January 2009.

Categories
People
Scenic
Animals
Digitally Enhanced
Black and White

Prizes
5 Grand prize winners – $2,000 each!
15 First place winners – $1,000 each!
30 Runner-up winners – $500 each!

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Young photographers can put themselves in the frame to win a prestigious national photographic competition for under 19s, which could see their work being showcased at an exclusive awards ceremony in London.

The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2008 (YPA08) is now open to budding photographers who can show off their animal shots to thousands of people.

The competition is offering the winners a host of superb prizes including the opportunity to join the RSPCA on an exclusive photoshoot and top Olympus cameras to ensure many more outstanding images in the future.

Anybody aged under 19 on 1 September 2008 can enter their photographs of any animal, large or small. They can be taken anywhere from a back garden bird table to the savannahs of Africa.

Thousands of youngsters enter the competition each year and another bumper turnout is expected for 2008. The competition is divided into four categories: under 12 years, 12 to 18 years, pet personalities and the Olympus portfolio.

The Olympus portfolio category gives photographers the chance to dazzle the judges with a collection of five images, all with a running theme. The winner will be awarded an Olympus E-420 D-SLR camera and two lenses.

The pet personalities category will return after a successful debut at last year’s awards. The category challenges entrants to take a picture that captures their pet’s unique character and personality. The tough Olympus Mju 1030SW camera – which is waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and crushproof – will be presented to the category winner.

Joining the panel of judges this year is Jean Hosking, managing director of nature picture agency FLPA, which won the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies Best Photo Agency Award 2008. The specialist nature agency was founded by Jean’s father Frank Lane more than 50 years ago and now represents more than 250 photographers worldwide.

Jean said: “What a privilege it is to be invited to help judge the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards and to get a chance to see the work of new up and coming animal photographers.”

Prizes
The overall winner will receive an Olympus digital E-420 camera, two lenses, a YPA08 trophy – plus the chance to join the RSPCA on an exclusive photoshoot for the day.
The winner of the Pet Personalities category will receive an Olympus 1030SW.
The Olympus portfolio will reward an individual whose body of work showed consistent quality. Entrants should pick five photographs that display their photography skills and make a great collection of images. One winner will receive an Olympus digital E-420 camera, two lenses and a YPA08 trophy.
The winner of the under 12 years category will win an Olympus SP-570 UZ camera and YPA08 trophy. There will be four runners-up prizes of Olympus FE-350 cameras.
The winner of the 12-18 years category will win an Olympus SP-570 UZ camera and YPA08 trophy. There will be four runners-up prizes of Olympus FE-350 cameras.

The deadline for entries is Monday 1 September 2008.

Competition Link / Set Reminder