Wildlife Photography Contest

2024 Wildlife Photography Contest and Online Auction

September 22 - November 1

Thank you!

Our 2024 Wildlife Photography Contest and Online Silent Auction are now closed. Thank you to everyone who supported us by submitting photos and bidding on auction items! Thank you to our judges, who volunteered countless hours of their time reviewing every photo.

The top 12 photos will be featured in our 2025 calendar, which you can pre-order here!

Contest Judges

Nic McPhee

Nic McPhee has been an avid photographer since the 70s, annoying his mother as a child by burning through rolls of film exploring the light and shadows generated by a gooseneck lamp. Nic's photos on Flickr have received over 5 million views, and his photos have been used in on-line publications by National Geographic, the BBC, the Smithsonian Institution, and Wikipedia. But he still takes too many pictures of lamps.

Alex Troutman

Alex Troutman is a wildlife biologist. He has several years of experience in the field, working with various Wildlife species. Alex shares wildlife facts and photos on social media as N8ture AL. In his free time Alex enjoys using his passion for nature to encourage youth to enjoy the outdoors.

He understands what it is like to grow up without “wildlife role models “ who look like you. He dedicates time to fulfilling that representation for future generations of Black or POCs (people of color) scientists, endeavoring to instill similar passion by leading groups on nature hikes and through public speaking engagements.

Alex earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master degrees from Georgia Southern University.

Rebekah Kehm

Rebekah Kehm is a veteran and aviation professional based in Savannah, Georgia. With a deep passion for photography, she captures the beauty of both people and nature, believing that her work can create joy and foster connections. Drawing from her experiences and surroundings, she uses her photography to showcase the bond between humanity and nature.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Rebekah is a strong advocate for equity and access in the conservation field, emphasizing the need for inclusive practices in environmental stewardship. Through her military service, her career, and her involvement with the Wildlife Research Alliance, she is dedicated to creating a positive impact and fostering a more equitable future for all.

Contest Rules

*note: contest rules have been amended as of 24 September, 2024 to clarify that the term wildlife refers to animals.

Originality and Copyright

All photographs submitted must be original works taken by the entrant.
By entering the contest, participants confirm that they are the sole creators and copyright owners of their submitted images.
Entries must not infringe on the rights of any other photographer, artist, or individual, and must not contain any copyrighted material owned by third parties unless the entrant has obtained permission.
Any entry found to violate these terms will be disqualified from the contest.

Eligibility

Open to all amateur and professional photographers ages 18 and up.
- Amateur photographers are those who made less than 50% of their total income in the previous year from photography.
- Professional photographers are those who made at least 50% of their total income in the previous year from photography.
Photographers ages 13-17 may enter with the permission of a parent or guardian.
Entrants may not enter more than one category (amateur, professional, or youth), but each entrant can submit up to ten (10) photographs.
No employee or board member of the Wildlife Research Alliance, Inc. may participate in this contest.
No family members of the judges may participate in this contest.

Entry Fees

There is a $20 entry fee per photograph for amateur and professional entrants. All proceeds support our conservation and DEI initiatives.
Youth entrants may enter for free.
Students and those experiencing financial hardship may use discount code STUDENT for 25% off their entry fee.
Entry fees are non-refundable.

Submission Guidelines

Each entrant may submit up to ten (10) photographs.
Photographs must be submitted between 12:00am EST on September 22, 2024, and 11:59pm EST on November 1, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Photographs must be in digital format (JPEG or PNG) and must be no larger than 25MB
Photographs must depict wildlife (animals) in natural habitat without the presence of human beings. If photographs are taken at a zoo or other facility, they must not contain indicative structures such as fences, troughs, barricades, or non-natural enrichment items (e.g., balls, food dishes, cardboard, etc.).
Photos may be of any species, and can be a single individual or multiple, including multiple species.
Photos do not have to be recent to qualify.
Photos must not be produced or altered using Artificial Intelligence. Minimal post-processing (such as color correction) is allowed. No composite or heavily manipulated images may be submitted. Entrants may be asked to submit the original photograph for verification.
Black and white photos are eligible for entry.

Usage Rights

By entering the contest, participants grant the Wildlife Research Alliance, Inc. the right to use submitted photographs for promotional and fundraising purposes. Photographers will be credited whenever their work is used.

Ethical Guidelines

Photographers must adhere to all local, national, and international laws regarding wildlife and natural areas. This includes obtaining necessary permits for accessing certain locations or photographing certain species.
Entrants must avoid causing any harm or distress to animals. No feeding, baiting, or any other forms of manipulation to attract animals for photography are allowed.
Do not disturb nesting sites, dens, or any other critical habitats to capture a photograph. The well-being of the subject must always come first.
Practice Leave No Trace principles. Ensure that all activities related to photographing wildlife do not degrade or pollute the environment.
Avoid using flash photography if it might cause distress to the animal or disrupt its natural behavior, especially at night.
Maintain a safe and respectful distance from wildlife at all times. Use appropriate lenses to capture close-up shots without intruding on the animal’s space.

Judging

The panel of judges will consist of experienced wildlife photographers and conservationists.
Photographs will be judged on originality and creativity, technical quality, and impact and storytelling.
Judges' decisions are final and binding.
Entries will remain anonymous to ensure fair, unbiased judging.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded for the top photograph in each category (amateur, professional, youth), as well as one people's choice winner to be selected from all entries.
Winners will be notified via email by November 15, 2024.
The top 12 photographs will be published in the Wildlife Research Alliance's 2025 calendar with credit to the photographers. Selected. photographers may submit a short bio and website to be included with their photo in the calendar.
- In the event that we do not receive 12 qualified entries, entrants will have the opportunity to submit additional photos, free of charge, to be published in the calendar.