Nature photography competitions sit at the intersection of art and science. The best entries combine technical photographic skill with genuine knowledge of natural history, animal behaviour, and environmental context. This guide covers the major nature competitions and what it takes to place in them.
Top Nature Photography Competitions
Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPotY)
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the world's most prestigious nature photography competition. Run by the Natural History Museum in London since 1965, it sets the standard for wildlife and nature imagery. Categories span mammals, birds, plants, underwater, urban wildlife, and more.
Why enter: WPotY is the pinnacle. Exhibition at the Natural History Museum, global touring exhibitions, and a published annual book make it the most visible nature competition.
Nature Photographer of the Year (BPC)
The Nature Photographer of the Year is organised by the Belgian Photography Cup and offers a strong alternative to WPotY. Categories include mammals, birds, other animals, plants, and landscapes, with both single image and portfolio divisions.
Why enter: High-quality judging with a slightly different aesthetic than WPotY. European focus but internationally open.
BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition
The BigPicture competition, run by the California Academy of Sciences, emphasises the intersection of art and conservation. Categories include aquatic life, terrestrial wildlife, landscapes, and a dedicated human/nature category.
Why enter: The conservation angle means images with an environmental message are particularly valued. Exhibition at the California Academy of Sciences.
Audubon Photography Awards
The Audubon competition is specifically for bird photography and is one of the most respected bird-focused contests. Run by the National Audubon Society, it emphasises birds in their natural habitats and rewards images that celebrate avian diversity.
Why enter: If birds are your primary subject, Audubon is the competition to target. Free entry makes it accessible to all bird photographers.
Close-up Photographer of the Year
The Close-up Photographer of the Year rewards intimate views of the natural world — macro photography of insects, plants, fungi, and natural details. It's a growing competition that fills a niche between general nature contests and dedicated macro competitions.
Why enter: Macro and close-up photography is underserved by major competitions. This is the specialist's contest.
What Wins in Nature Competitions
Behaviour Over Beauty
The most celebrated nature photographs show animals doing something — hunting, mating, fighting, nurturing young, interacting with their environment. A technically perfect portrait of a bird on a perch is less compelling than a slightly rougher image of genuine behaviour.
Scientific Accuracy
Nature competition judges include biologists and conservationists alongside photographers. Images that misidentify species in captions, show baited or captive animals without disclosure, or depict scenarios that couldn't occur naturally will be flagged.
Environmental Context
The trend in winning nature images is away from the isolated subject against a blurred background. Judges increasingly reward images that show animals and plants in their habitats, with environmental context that tells a broader ecological story.
Patience and Fieldcraft
Judges can tell the difference between an image captured through hours of patient fieldwork and one shot from a car window at a national park pullout. The former shows understanding of the subject; the latter is a snapshot with good equipment.
Ethics in Nature Photography
Nature photography competitions have become increasingly strict about ethics:
- No baiting or luring. Using food, recordings, or other attractants to bring wildlife into position is generally prohibited.
- No captive animals without disclosure. Game farms and wildlife centres must be declared.
- Minimal disturbance. Images that appear to show a photographer causing stress to wildlife may be disqualified.
- Honest processing. Composites, element removal, and significant manipulation are not permitted in most nature competitions.
These rules exist because nature photography has real-world conservation implications. Images that misrepresent wildlife behaviour can undermine scientific understanding and public trust.
Building a Nature Photography Portfolio
Start locally. Your garden, local park, or nearest nature reserve can yield competition-worthy images with enough dedication. Many winning nature photographs were made within an hour of the photographer's home, not on expensive expeditions to remote locations.
Track conditions and seasons. Return to the same locations repeatedly to understand light, animal activity patterns, and seasonal changes. This knowledge compounds over time and gives you an edge over photographers who visit once and move on.