The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 competition is officially open for entries, and whether you’re a professional or just love capturing those perfect wildlife moments, now’s your chance to showcase your work. The contest, run by the Natural History Museum in London, is celebrating its 61st anniversary and continues to be one of the most prestigious wildlife photography competitions globally.
Why Enter?
This competition isn’t just about taking stunning photos; it’s about telling a story through nature. Wildlife photography plays a huge role in raising awareness about environmental issues and conservation efforts, and this contest has categories designed to celebrate that. From Animal Portraits to Under Water and Urban Wildlife, there’s a spot for every kind of nature photographer. Past winners have focused on everything from intimate animal moments to sweeping shots of natural habitats, often sparking global conversation on wildlife protection.
The Essentials: What you need to know if you want to enter?
Entry Dates
Submissions are open from October 14, 2024, and close on December 5, 2024. Don’t wait until the last minute, though – the price to enter jumps in the final week.
Cost
The entry fee is £30 for up to 25 images, and if you delay until the last week, it increases to £35. If you’re aged 18-26 or live in certain regions, you can even enter for free.
Prizes
Cash prizes go up to £10,000, plus the prestige of being showcased in exhibitions worldwide and gaining international recognition.
What You Can Submit
This competition offers a variety of categories, making it easy to find where your work fits best. There are 13 single-image categories, including:
- Animals in Their Environment
- Behavior: Birds
- Oceans: The Bigger Picture
- Natural Artistry
- Wetlands: The Bigger Picture
- Photojournalism
Each category offers a chance to capture a different side of wildlife, whether it’s behavior, habitat, or a close-up that tells a unique story. The best part? Each winner from these categories is eligible for the grand prize title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
For those with a larger body of work, there are multi-image categories, like the Photojournalist Story Award, the Rising Star Award (for entrants aged 18-26), and the Portfolio Award (for photographers 27 and older).
What Happens If You Win?
Winning isn’t just about the cash prize (although £10,000 definitely doesn’t hurt). The competition brings significant exposure, with winning images displayed in international exhibitions, published in respected photography magazines, and featured online. Winning entries from previous years have sparked important conversations about conservation and environmental issues, with images that go beyond beauty and focus on storytelling.
Last year’s winner, Shane Gross, took home the title with his striking image, “The Swarm of Life,” which depicted a school of tadpoles, illustrating the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems.
This competition has a history of drawing attention to important wildlife issues through stunning visuals, making it a valuable platform for photographers to share their perspectives.
Get Started
If you’ve got a collection of wildlife photos waiting to be seen, now is the time to enter. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition isn’t just for professionals; it’s for anyone who wants to make an impact through their love of nature and photography.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Desk Diary 2025
The chosen images form an exhibition which opens in our Museum every October, before touring around the world.
Each calendar week of this sixtieth anniversary edition features one of the overall winning images of previous competitions, with a caption describing where and how it came about. There’s also a handy ribbon bookmark to keep track of what day we’re on.
It’s the perfect gift for nature lovers and budding photographers who are keen to plan the next adventure.
For more details on how to submit your work and to see past winners, head over to the official Wildlife Photographer of the Year website.
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