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Nominal entry · 2026 · verified

The Nature Photography Contest 2026

The Nature Photography Contest thenaturephotocontest.com ↗

Closes Nov 15, 2026 · D − 85
Top prize $1.5K grand prize
Fee Nominal from 10 EUR
AI policy No AI rendering denoise / sharpen ok
Categories 5 5 single · 0 portfolio

Worth entering? $1.5K top prize against 10 EUR per entry. The jury read and the rights terms below are what decide it — not the prize math. Jury read ↓ · Rights & disqualifiers ↓

Submit-Safe · before you pay the entry fee Read the fine print

Read the fine print first — The Nature Photography Contest 2026 has 3 hard disqualifiers and demanding rights terms.

What this contest takes

Standard terms — you keep copyright and full control; the licence is limited to promoting the contest.

  • Non-exclusive licence to use entered images to promote the contest, with credit.
  • Duration: Promotional use around the contest cycle.
  • You keep your copyright
  • Credited when used

What disqualifies you

No AI rendering, no composites, no stacked scenes — the image must be true to the moment captured.

  • Copyright ownership Entrant must be the photographer and copyright holder. “Images must be the entrant's own work.”
  • Ai generation Images must be 100% photographic in origin; AI-generated and digital-art images are not accepted. Finalists may be asked to supply the RAW file for verification. “Images must be 100% photographic in origin; digital art images will not be accepted.”
Closes Nov 15, 2026 · D−85 From 10 EUR per image Upload spec: Files: JPGMin 1200px long edgeUnder 10 MBsRGB colour profileCaption requiredNo watermarks
Check your photo against these exact rules — free → No account · reads the editing line, the AI clause and the file spec · rules human-verified
№ 02 · The editorial read

What this jury looks for

An international nature contest across ten categories, judged on authenticity and natural-history value. Requires a 100% photographic origin and may ask finalists for the RAW file. Rewards the true, well-seen wild moment over the heavily-constructed image. Stated priorities: authenticity > natural_history_value > light_and_moment. Looks f…

The full editorial read continues with past-winner pattern, fee-to-prize value, rights translated, and three comparable competitions. Studio reads the rest.

See Studio — €11/mo → Or one-shot read for €14 →

Categories

Birds

Single

Wild birds in their environment.

Wildlife

Single

Wild animal behaviour and presence.

Landscape

Single

Natural landscapes.

Macro

Single

Close-up natural subjects.

Underwater

Single

Marine and freshwater life.

F Format requirements 1 spec

tnpc_standard

  • File types: jpg
  • Min long edge: 1200px
  • Min size: 0.5 MB
  • Max size: 10.0 MB
  • Color profile: sRGB
  • No watermarks
  • Caption required (max 500 chars)
E Eligibility 2 rules
  • Entrant must be the photographer and copyright holder. hard

    “Images must be the entrant's own work.”

  • Images must be 100% photographic in origin; AI-generated and digital-art images are not accepted. Finalists may be asked to supply the RAW file for verification. hard

    “Images must be 100% photographic in origin; digital art images will not be accepted.”

Jury context

An international nature contest across ten categories, judged on authenticity and natural-history value. Requires a 100% photographic origin and may ask finalists for the RAW file. Rewards the true, well-seen wild moment over the heavily-constructed image.

Priorities: authenticity natural history value light and moment composition conservation register

Tone: wild truthful patient habitat behaviour

Avoid: generative composited baited over processed staged

Prizes

Cash prizes across the overall and category winners; finalists published in the annual collection. A tree is planted per entrant.

Publication

R Rights & licensing what you grant the organizer
What you grant
Non-exclusive licence to use entered images to promote the contest, with credit.
Duration
Promotional use around the contest cycle.
Exclusivity
none
Attribution
Required
Copyright retained by photographer
Yes

Before you enter — quick answers

Is The Nature Photography Contest 2026 free to enter?
The Nature Photography Contest 2026 is not free: 10 EUR. Check the organizer's page for per-category pricing.
Are AI-generated images allowed in The Nature Photography Contest 2026?
No. The Nature Photography Contest 2026 requires biological and factual fidelity: AI rendering or generated content is not allowed, and the scene must be true to what was photographed.
When is the The Nature Photography Contest 2026 deadline?
The Nature Photography Contest 2026 closes on Nov 15, 2026 (in 85 days).
How do I know if my photo is eligible for The Nature Photography Contest 2026?
Read your photograph against The Nature Photography Contest 2026's published rules — the editing line, the AI clause, and the file requirements — free and without an account with WinPhoto's eligibility check. It tells you whether your image is eligible before you pay the entry fee.