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

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

All photographers, amateur and professional, are invited to submit their work for the 2009 International Garden Photographer of the Year.

Building on the success of 2008, International Garden Photographer of the Year offers photographers the opportunity to win in excess of £20,000 cash and equipment as well as international exposure in an exhibition at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The Award is open to all photographers who are invited to submit works within seven categories: Wildlife in the Garden; Plant Portraits; Garden Views; People in the Garden; the Edible Garden; Trees and World Botanic Gardens. There is also an award for the Young Garden Photographer of the Year for budding photographers under 16 years old.

The competition is open to everyone and entries are welcome from across the world. For a nominal fee, participants can enter up to four single images in any one category or a themed portfolio of six images into the Portfolio category.

Photographers can enter as many times as they like. All entries are made online. After the closing date at the end of January 2009, the international panel of judges will select the top 100 works for display in an outdoor exhibition at Kew Gardens. Photographers entering a set of six themed images can also win the prestigious Best Portfolio Award.

The 2008 Garden Photographer of the Year was won by an Australian photographer Claire Takacs for her picture of the Japanese, Kenrokuen Gardens. This evocative photograph of the famous Japanese gardens in a flurry of snowflakes was selected from the Garden Views category and won Claire £5,000 for the Best Single Image. Her fellow winners included Henrique Souto from Portugal and Fergus Gill as the Young Garden Photographer of the Year.

The 2009 competition has the following categories;
- Plant Portraits
- Garden Views
- People in the Garden
- Wildlife in the Garden
- The Edible Garden
- Trees
- World Botanic Gardens (2009 special theme)

The exhibition will form part of the 250th Anniversary of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Since its inception in 1759 by Princess Augusta, Kew has grown in size, charm and importance and is celebrated as a World Heritage Site. With over 40 historically important structures; five great glasshouses; 300 acres of tranquil landscape; and the best preserved and studied collection of plants in the world. RBG Kew is a highly prestigious venue for this international competition.

Closing date for submissions is 31st January 2009.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Capture today before it changes tomorrow

Loveearth, a BBC Worldwide website, is hosting a photography competition, “Capture today before it changes tomorrow.” Send your favorite images of wild places or animals you love for a chance to win great prizes and have your photo published on loveearth .com!

The prizes
Prizes include a Nikon Digital SLR D40 Black + AF-S DX 18-55mm lens, Planet Earth DVD boxed sets and $100 of Lonely Planet books!

How to enter
Entries will be accepted until 31 May 2008. Then, every Monday from 9 June for six weeks, the love earth team will select 20 photos to be published in the love earth Studio. Each week, the 20 chosen images will go into a draw to win a Planet Earth DVD boxed set and £50 worth of Lonely Planet books. All winners will be announced in the Studio section of loveearth .com.

In the final week (commencing 14 July), all of the images that have been published in the love earth gallery will go into a draw to win a grand prize of a Nikon Digital SLR D40 camera with AF-S DX 18-55mm lens (valued at £299.99/US$699.99), plus a Planet Earth DVD boxed set and £50 worth of Lonely Planet books!

Entry rules
You must be 18 years of age or over to enter.
Published photographs will be selected from entries received from all eligible entrants in the UK and the US.
All photographs must be entirely your own work.
Photographs must not feature any identifiable living person.
Photograph file size must be no larger than 5 MB. Images must be supplied as jpeg or tiff files.
Photographs must be labelled clearly with your name and a short description. Please note this information will be published if your photo is chosen, so please do not include any details that you do not wish others to see.
Entries will be accepted until 11.59pm on 31 May 2008.
Photos will be published every Monday on loveearth .com for six weeks from 9 June to 14 July 2008.
The weekly winners will be chosen at random from the 20 images selected to be published each week.
The grand prize will be drawn at random from the 120 images previously published on loveearth .com.

Competition Link / Set Reminder

National Wildlife Federation invites you to submit your favorite nature images to the 2008 photography competition—their biggest Photo Contest in 38 years. Cash prizes totaling $18,000 plus camera equipment and other gifts will be awarded to the winners in three separate divisions: professional, amateur and youth. The grand prize winner will receive $5,000. Plus, a portfolio of award-winning entries will be published in the 2008 December/January issue of the magazine.

In return for your $15 entry fee, you will receive a one-year membership in the National Wildlife Federation, including a subscription to National Wildlife, and you can submit as many as 20 images in any combination of the following categories:

The Six Categories
Mammals: Portraits and Behavior
Birds: Portraits and Behavior
Other Wildlife: Portraits and Behavior (includes underwater life, reptiles, amphibians, insects and more)
Backyard Habitats: Wild Creatures, Native Plants and Natural Settings in Your Yard
Connecting People and Nature: People Enjoying the Outdoors
Landscapes and Plant Life: Scenic Views and Native Plants in Wild Settings
The deadline for all submissions: July 1, 2008. For more details about the categories, how to submit your photos and other information, read the official rules below.

How to Enter the National Wildlife Photo Contest

The editors of National Wildlife magazine invite photographers from all levels of expertise to enter National Wildlife’s 2008 Photo Contest, its expanded 38th annual photography competition.

WHO: The National Wildlife Photo Contest (NWPC) is open to ALL photographers who are at least 13 years of age, except employees or directors of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), their immediate families and individuals living in the same household as such employees.  Your entry to the contest constitutes your agreement to allow your entered photographs—and your name, occupation, city, state and country of residence—to be published as award winners or finalists in National Wildlife magazine and on the NWF website, and used for promotions of the NWPC including, but not limited to, publications from NWF and other organizations, exhibitions, a photo contest calendar, a compilation book or electronic collection of photographs, online photo features and contests, and web pages and emails providing NWPC information, updates, rules and photography tips.  Entrants retain ownership and all other rights to future use of their photographs.  The National Wildlife Federation reserves the right to verify, in its sole judgment, winner eligibility.

Divisions:  Photographers must enter their images in one of the following divisions.
Pro – Full or part-time professional photographers who receive all or a major part of their income from nature photography. 
Amateur – Beginning or amateur photographers at least 18 years of age, and experienced photographers who do not receive a major part of their income from nature photography.
Youth – Young photographers ages 13 to 17. Young photographers 12 and under, please enter our Ranger Rick Photo Contest

WHAT:  We are looking for striking images of nature—on land, in the air and beneath the water’s surface—from anywhere in the world.  These images may show animal behavior, portraits of wildlife in natural habitat, plant life, natural landscapes, or people interacting with nature.  Do not include photographs of pets or domestic animals.  Images of captive animals photographed in game farms will be disqualified.  Captive animals photographed in zoos, wildlife research facilities or rehabilitation centers are acceptable.  Clearly label animals as wild or captive in the caption information.  Previously published photos may be entered; however, please include information on when and where the photos appeared.  Winning photos from other competitions may also be entered, but include the name of the contests and the years they won.
Entrants must not infringe on the rights of any other photographer or person or submit images that involve the willful harassment of wildlife or damage to the environment by the photographer.  All photographs should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared.  Photos that have been digitally altered beyond standard optimization (removal of dust, cropping, adjustments to color and contrast, etc.) will be disqualified.  This includes the digital addition or deletion of objects in the photos.

Categories:  Photographers entering in the Pro and Amateur divisions must enter each image in one of the following categories.  Photographers entering the Youth division do not need to specify a category, but images must follow the subject matter of one of the categories.  Judges reserve the right to switch images to other categories.

1.  Mammals—Portraits and Behavior
2.  Birds—Portraits and Behavior
3.  Other Wildlife—Portraits and Behavior (includes underwater life, reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders and more)
4.  Backyard Habitats—Wild Creatures, Native Plants and Natural Settings in Your Yard
5.  Connecting People and Nature—People Enjoying the Outdoors
6.  Landscapes and Plant Life—Scenic Views and Native Plants in Wild Settings

Judging:  Images will be judged by NWF on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit. 

Judges:  From the staff of National Wildlife:

John Nuhn, photo director
Jillian Stanley, associate photo editor
Mark Wexler, editorial director
Thuy Senser, art director

WHEN:  Deadline for submitting entries is July 1, 2008.  Entries may be uploaded starting January 23, 2008, and must be uploaded no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Saving Time on July 1, 2008.  To avoid uploading delays, please do not wait until the final days of the contest to enter.  In past years, the large number of entrants trying to upload their photos just prior to deadline has caused technical problems which left them unable to enter.  NWF anticipates notifying winners in early October 2008. 

WHY:  Cash prizes totaling $18,000 will be awarded, along with other prizes as described below.  Cash prizes are made possible by the introduction of an entry fee; no NWF funds are used for these prizes.  All winners will appear on NWF’s website, and a selection of winning photos will appear in the December/January 2009 issue of National Wildlife.  Various finalists as determined by National Wildlife will also appear on NWF’s website.
Prizes:  One Grand Prize, 13 First Place prizes and 13 Second Place prizes will be awarded as listed below. NWF will also award Honorable Mentions as the judges deem appropriate. NWF in its sole discretion will select and publish certain winners from any category in the December 2008/January 2009 issue of National Wildlife. NWF will send two copies of the December 2008/January 2009 issue of National Wildlife to the winners who are published in it.

1. Grand Prize (1):
 Total Value: $5,599
Cash Prize of $5,000
Tamron AF 28-300mm XR Di VC
(Vibration Compensation): $599 value
 
2.  First Place, one for each category in both Pro and Amateur divisions, and one in Youth Division (13 total):
 Total Value of Each: $1,000
Cash Prize of $1,000
 
3. Second Place, one for each category in both Pro and Amateur divisions, and one in Youth Division (13 total): Total Value of Each: $239
Manfrotto 728B Digi tripod from Bogen: $139 value
Tiffen Filter Kit or Tiffen Dfs Digital Filter Suite Software (stand-alone version with select filters): $100 value
 
4. Honorable Mentions (awarded at discretion of judges) Total Value of Each: $19.95
NWF Field Guide to Insects: $19.95 value

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Update: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009

The search for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 has begun.

Closing date
Monday 31 March 2008 for online submission. Monday 24 March 2008 for postal submission.

Categories for the 2008 competition

The winner

The title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 will be given to the photographer whose single image is judged to be the most striking and memorable of all the entries. The winning photographer will receive a cheque for £10,000, which will be presented at an awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum, London, in October 2008.
Prize £10,000

Special Awards

Eric Hosking Award

This award encourages and rewards the talents of young photographers between the ages of 18 and 26. You must submit a portfolio of 10 images that you think represents your best work.
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 spirit of the subject.

The species photographed must be categorised in the 2007 IUCN Red List as critically endangered or endangered, vulnerable or near threatened at an international or national level (if the latter, please supply details).
Prize: £1,000

One Earth Award

This award seeks to highlight the interaction between humans and the natural world. Images should demonstrate the power and resilience of our planet and its impact on us. They can also show our connection with, dependence or effect on the natural world. Images can be graphic or symbolic, but must be thought-provoking, memorable and encourage respect for our world.
Prize: £1,000

Photographer’s Award for Lifetime Commitment to Wildlife Photography New for 2008.

This award will be given to the photographer whose work and commitment to wildlife photography is considered worthy of commendation. This can either be through the sheer power and beauty of their imagery or the positive impact the imagery has made. All entrants can nominate candidates for this award.

Adult categories

You can enter up to three digital images or colour slides in each of the following categories.
Each category has a first prize of £500 and a second prize of £250.

1. Animals in Their Environment
Images entered in this category must be powerful and memorable, showing the relationship between the animal subject and the place it lives in or the environment in which it is pictured.

2. Animal Behaviour: Birds
Submissions must show memorable, unusual or striking behaviour. As with all categories, originality is key.

3. Animal Behaviour: Mammals
Submissions must show memorable, unusual or striking behaviour. As with all categories, originality is key.

4. Animal Behaviour: All Other Animals
Submissions must show memorable, unusual or striking behaviour. As with all categories, originality is key.

5. The Underwater World
Images must feature marine or freshwater life. With around 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface under water, the scope here is huge.

6. Animal Portraits
Portraits should capture the character or spirit of the subject and focus on it. The key here is striking originality.

7. In Praise of Plants
This is the category for pictures that highlight the beauty, diversity and importance of all forms of plant life.

8. Urban and Garden Wildlife
Urban wildlife can often be overlooked, but can be a wonderful source of unusual and striking compositions of wild animals or plants in urban settings.

9. Nature in Black and White
Digital, slide or print images can be submitted to this category. The subject can be any wild landscape, animal, plant or other living organism. The judges will be looking for skilful use of the black-and-white medium.

10. Creative Visions of Nature
Photographs should reveal new ways of seeing natural subjects or scenes, representing them in an imaginative or abstract way. Judges will be looking for originality and artistic vision.

11. Wild Places
Entries must show scenes that are truly wild and awesome. They should convey a sense of wonder and wildness and be taken in wild and/or remote places.

Competition for young photographers

If you’re 17 or under, this is your part of the competition. You can enter up to six images – digital, prints or slides – 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 near home that you know well or have easy access to are good choices of subject. The way you frame and crop your subject is as important as getting the focus right, and the level and type of light is a vital ingredient.

Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008

This title is awarded to the young photographer whose image is chosen from the three winners of the age categories below. He or she will receive a prize of £500 and a day out with a well-known wildlife photographer.

Categories

You can enter up to six images (colour prints, slides or digital images on CD) in your age category. The winner of each category will receive a prize of £250 and the runner-up a prize of £100.

10 years and under
11-14 years old
15-17 years old

Update: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009

Competition Link / Set Reminder

Calling all “budding” garden photographers. Are you the next Garden Photographer of The Year? With thousands of pounds worth of cash and prizes up for grabs, this is a unique opportunity for entrants to have their photographs exhibited for the four summer months of 2008, alongside some of the world’s most talented photographers in the gardening and landscape world. Several hundred thousand visitors will see the top one hundred pictures at a purpose-built outdoor exhibition at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London.

We are now calling for entries in the following categories;
My Garden
Garden Views
Plant Portrait
Life in the Garden
Trees

Amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to enter single images or themed portfolios and there will be prizes to suit both types of entry. There will be a new special award for Young Garden Photographer of The Year supported by Chris Collins, the BBC Blue Peter Gardener. Entries for this category are welcomed from young photographers under the age of 16 and are free.

A panel of high-profile industry and art professionals will judge the competition and the winning images will be displayed from May to September 2008.

Previous competition judge Chris Beardshaw – television presenter and garden designer, says: “Our plants and gardens are delightfully dynamic and effervescent – subtly and constantly morphing. So much can be missed at the blink of an eye but, thankfully, it is precisely that precious moment that the camera captures for eternity.”

Competition Link / Set Reminder