The Nature Photography Contest 2026

The Nature Photography Contest is an international competition for professional and amateur photographers who work outdoors. Its ten categories cover landscapes, wildlife, macro photography and more, and the best photograph of the year wins €1,000. The entry fee is €10 and the deadline is 15 November 2026. A tree is planted for each participant, in a country chosen by the winner.

The contest is a good, low-cost option for nature photographers who want an international showcase without the high fees of larger awards.

Categories

The contest has ten categories, covering landscapes, wildlife, macro photography and other areas of nature photography. The full list and category descriptions are on the official website.

Who Can Enter the Nature Photography Contest?

Professional and amateur photographers from anywhere in the world. It is particularly relevant to:

• Landscape and wildlife photographers
• Macro and close-up photographers
• Hobbyists looking for an affordable international competition

Entry Fees

€10.

What Do Winners Receive?

• Best photograph of the year: €1,000
• Category winners: €100 each
• Best photographer of the year: a trophy
• A tree planted for each participant, in a country chosen by the winner

Submission Requirements

Submit your images through the official website, choosing a category for each. Check the rules for the number of images allowed and the editing limits; nature competitions usually ask for realistic edits and no composites.

Why Enter?

A low entry fee and a broad set of categories make this an easy competition to try. The tree-planting commitment also connects your photography with a small conservation outcome.

Tips for Nature Photography Competitions

Judges see many sunsets, birds and flowers, so look for what makes your image different: unusual light, behaviour, a fresh composition or a story about the place. Sharpness and exposure matter, but emotion and originality matter more. Choose the category where your image is strongest, and keep edits natural. Always put the welfare of wildlife and habitats first: ethical practice is expected in nature photography.

How to Choose Your Images

Look through your best work of the past year and shortlist images that are technically clean at full size. Then ask what each image says: is there a clear subject, a sense of place, a moment that will not happen again? Avoid near-duplicates; one strong frame is better than three similar ones. If you have a strong macro or abstract image, these categories often have fewer entries than landscape and wildlife.

Editing for Nature Competitions

Most nature competitions allow standard adjustments such as exposure, contrast, white balance, cropping and noise reduction, but not adding or removing elements, composites or heavy manipulation. Keep your original files in case the organisers ask for them. A natural, honest edit is also more convincing to judges who see thousands of images.

After the Contest

Whether you win or not, entering helps you build an edit of your best work. Reuse that selection for other competitions, your website and social media, and note which images judges responded to.

If you are new to competitions, this is a sensible place to start: the fee is low, the categories are broad, and the deadline gives you time to choose your best images from the past year.

Things to Consider

• Fee: €10.
• Ten categories: choose where your image fits best.
• Natural edits: check the rules before processing.
• Wildlife welfare: do not disturb animals for a photo.
• Deadline: 15 November 2026.

Enter the Competition

Ready to enter your nature photos?

Enter The Nature Photography Contest

For the full rules, categories and entry form, visit the official website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 28, 2026