Expanded categories offer more opportunities to win, while helping to preserve nature.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced its annual Global Photo Contest now is open for submissions, giving Illinois photographers and wildlife a chance in the spotlight. The competition is open to all, with the group accepting entries through September 29. By entering your most captivating photos of nature, you can help amplify the message that protecting and restoring it is a priority.
While last year’s competition broke records for global participation, with more than 100,000 entries from a total of 196 countries and territories, the 2023 rendition of this celebrated event is set to be the biggest ever. For the first time in the contest’s history, the number of award categories has doubled, from six to a whopping 12. The expansion will give photographers the freedom to better define their submissions – and provide more opportunities to win.
In 2022, Chinese photographer Li Ping took the grand prize for his winning shot featuring a drone’s eye view of a lonely highway bordered on each side by gullies extending outward in the shape of a tree.
This year’s 12 categories are Oceans, People and Nature, Plants and Fungi, Freshwater, Lands, Mammals, Climate, Aerials, Insects and Arachnids, Underwater Life, Birds, plus Reptiles and Amphibians. Submissions will be assessed by a prestigious panel of judges, including award-winning nature photographer Frans Lanting, Dehli-based photojournalist Smita Sharma, and wildlife filmmaker and photographer Morgan “Mo” Heim. Together this panel will select a first and second place winner for each category, plus honorable mentions in all 12 categories. The contest will award $5,000 for the overall grand-prize winner.
In need of inspiration? Explore TNC preserves and partner sites across the state from Nachusa Grasslands and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in the north, moving southward to Emiquon, then down to the Cache River Wetlands. TNC has helped protect more than 100 sites throughout Illinois. Photographers of all skill levels are encouraged to enter.
Visit nature.org/photocontest for more information on contest rules, photo specifications, and how to enter. Winners will be announced on November 9. To view all the 2022 winning photos, please visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/photo-contest/2022-winners/.