Don't Miss These 5 Amazing Nature & Wildlife Photo Contests

If you have a camera and enjoy any aspect of the great outdoors, be it animals, oceans, deserts, gnarled tree branches, mushrooms, whatever, you should seriously consider entering some of your photos in one (or all) of these photo contests. Most are annual, so if you don't get to it this year, keep it in mind for next. Not only does that give you a great goal to work towards - you'll have a chance to see what the pros think about your work, and maybe win one of the many nice prizes.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition Held by BBC Wildlife Magazine and the National History Museum in London, this prestigious competition is now in its 45th year. They welcome pros, amateurs and youths to enter in the 9 main (3 for youths) and 3 special categories. The cost to enter is 20/3 images, and the jury picks one winner and one runner-up in each category. The winners in the adult categories are awarded 500, and the runners-up 250.

The youth group (for those under 18) is divided into three categories: 10 years and younger, 11-14 years, and 15-17 years. Here they are on the look out for photos of any wild animals, plants, or landscapes. It's free to enter, and you may submit up to 10 photos. The winners and runners up in each category receive 250 and 100, and the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year gets 500 and a day out with a renowned wildlife photographer.

There are also three special awards: the Eric Hosking, for photographers aged 18-26, where you submit a 10-image portfolio; the Gerald Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife, where the subject in your picture needs to be on the 2008 IUCN Red List (critically endangered); and the One Earth Award, which aims to highlight conservation. The winners in the special awards receive 1,000 each.

The prize of all prizes, The Wildlife Photographer of the Year, is awarded to the single image the jury finds most striking and memorable of all category winners. The award is presented at a special ceremony at the National History Museum in London, where the winner is presented with a check for 10,000. All winning and commended images will also be part of an exhibit at the museum, which then tours all over the world. The 2009 deadline is March 27.

Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards Named in memory of photographer and conservation advocate Windland Smith Rice, this annual contest, held by Nature's Best Magazine and the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History, is open to amateurs, pros and youths (under 18). The 16 categories include some that you don't see in every competition: People In Nature, Small World Spectaculars, Zoos & Aquariums, Creative Digital, and Camera Club, where your club enter the contest as a group. The Grand Prize winner, category winners, and "Highly Honored Images" receive cash prizes and their photo(s) included in an exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. For an entry fee of $25 you may submit up to 20 photos, and the deadline is May 4, 2009.

National Wildlife Magazine This annual contest welcomes pros, amateurs and youths to enter their photos (up to 20 images) in any or all of the 7 categories: Mammals, Birds, Other Wildlife, Backyard Habitats, People and Nature, Landscapes and Plant Life, and Global Warming and Wildlife. It's $15 to enter (for all 20 images) and that also includes a year's subscription to National Wildlife, the deadline is July 20 2009, and prizes include two Grand Prizes of $5,000 each (one for pros and one for amateurs), and 15 category winner prizes (7 pro, 7 amateur, 1 youth) of $1,000 each.

The Great Outdoors Photo Contest Sponsored by Photo District News and National Geographic, this contest is open to everyone (except residents of Arizona, New Jersey, and Vermont) and the categories are: "Scenes of the Natural World", "Parks & Safaris", "Beaches", "Underwater", "Islands", "Plants", "Animals", "Insects & Gardens", and "Outdoor Sports & Activities". With so much to choose from, you're bound to find at least one category that fits your style. For amateurs, it is $12/image or photo essay to enter (a photo essay consists of up to six images that convey a story around a particular theme, and you can submit as many photos and photo essays as you like. Prizes include gift certificates, a five-night stay at the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya Hotel in Mexico, camera equipment, and more. The deadline is April 20, 2009, but for an extra $10/image, you can enter until May 4.

he EuroNatur-Foundation's "Nature Treasures in Europe" This contest is all about European landscapes, plants and animals. There is no cost to enter, and you may submit up to 5 photos before the March 31st deadline. Among the prizes are trips for 2 to Spain and Germany, and the winning photos will be exhibited at Schloss Wolfstein in Freyung (Bavaria) in addition to printed in several online and offline publications.

About the Author

DeeDee Dobson encourages everyone to enter their photos in contests. On her blog, she talks about gorgeous pink digital cameras and the many different options available.
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