PHOTOGRAPHY
Earth in Focus Nature Photographer of the Year
CATEGORIES
To participate, Photographers must enter an image/images into the respective categories. The same image cannot be used across multiple categories. Judges reserve the right to switch images to categories that they deem appropriate.
1. Animal Behaviour
Capture the fascinating actions and interactions of animals in their natural world. From courtship rituals to hunting strategies, showcase the diverse range of behaviors that define their lives. Images should tell a story and reveal the unique characteristics of the species.
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2. Animal Portraits
Celebrate the individual beauty and personality of animals. These portraits should capture the essence of the subject, whether it's the regal gaze of a lion or the playful curiosity of a monkey. Focus on detail, expression, and connection with the viewer.
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3. Conservation
Highlight the importance of protecting our planet's wildlife and their habitats. Images in this category should raise awareness about conservation issues, showcase the challenges facing animals, or celebrate the successes of conservation efforts. Powerful storytelling and emotional impact are key.
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4. Creative
Unleash your artistic vision and explore innovative ways to photograph animals and nature. This category encourages experimentation with techniques like camera trapping, long exposures, abstract compositions, unusual perspectives, or creative use of light and shadow. Push the boundaries of traditional nature photography.
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5. Animals in their habitat
Showcase animals as integral parts of their environment. Images should depict the relationship between the animal and its surroundings, highlighting the beauty and fragility of their ecosystems.
6. Naturescapes
Capture the grandeur and beauty of natural landscapes. From sweeping vistas to the intimate details of plants and fungi, these images should evoke a sense of wonder and inspire appreciation for the natural world, or serve as a call to action for the preservation of habitats and the natural world.
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7. Photojournalism
Using a series of up to 5 images, convey a comprehensive narrative focused on wildlife and nature stories. The images will be judged both individually and collectively on their aesthetic and storytelling ability. A good photojournalistic work should showcase its narrative by revealing context, details, mood, atmosphere, and tension. A strong narrative should not just focus on nature, but also the human efforts and stewardship devoted to protecting and restoring it.
COMPETITION RULES
Earth in Focus Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year returns for its 2026 edition. Bridging art and science on a single platform, the competition seeks to celebrate the beauty of the natural world while inspiring deeper stewardship of our shared environments. From stories of human–nature coexistence, to habitat restoration and efforts addressing biodiversity loss, to camera trap photos of elusive wildlife, we welcome compelling stories from the land, air, and sea that capture the richness of our planet. We look forward to seeing your submissions.
Earth in Focus Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 Competition begins at 12:00 AM (SGT) on 15th April, 2026, and closes at 11:59 PM (SGT) on 15th July, 2026.
Finalists will be notified latest by early-September 2026.
Enter
All entries are to be submitted through our Earth In Focus website. To avoid uploading delays, DO NOT WAIT until the final days of the contest to enter. The large number of entrants trying to upload their photos just before the deadline may overwhelm servers and prevent you from completing your entry.
Submission Fee
USD 5 per submission (Early bird from 15th April to 15th May 2026).
USD 10 per submission. USD 30 for 5 submissions (Regular from 16th May to 15th July 2026)
Submission fees are strictly non-refundable.
Eligibility
The Earth in Focus Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year Award 2026 competition will be expanded to welcome entries from across the globe. The competition is open to professional and amateur photographers globally unless otherwise stated.
Entries by photographers under the age of 21 (as of 1st April 2026) are eligible for the Young Photographer of the Year Award.
​By participating, you accept all terms and conditions, and you warrant that you meet all eligibility requirements. The Participant warrants that their entry is original and does not infringe on any third party’s rights. If a third party is involved, the Participant is responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions from the third party and/or the third party’s property if it appears in the photo.
Rules & Guidelines
Before submitting your entries, please ensure your photographs are technically compliant
with the image editing guidelines below. We expect all participants to document the natural world in a way that is both creative, truthful and ethical.
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All submitted photos need to be shot within the last 3 years (i.e. July 2023 onwards).
1. File Naming: Please adhere to the naming convention to ensure ease of interpretation. Incorrect file names may affect how your photo is judged. Replace all spaces with underscores, and DO NOT include your name in any file names. • Naming convention: category_title.jpg • Example: Naturescapes_Forests.jpg Photos submitted to the mobile phone category must adhere to the following naming convention to ensure that it is properly recognised and judged accordingly • Naming convention: Mobile_category_title.jpg • Example: Mobile_Naturescapes_Forests.jpg 2. Image Captioning: Images must be submitted with the following caption information encoded into the metadata • Description of the behaviour pictured and the background story • Location • Species name, if known • If the subject is captive, restrained, deceased, or taxidermy, the photo caption must disclose that information, please include details. 3. Image Properties and Specifications: Entries must be submitted as digital files uploaded through the EIF entry platform. Photographs from prior years are eligible. Images that have won any other competitions in the last year are not eligible. Please adhere to our requirements with regards to image properties and specifications • Images are to be submitted as JPG or JPEG files in Adobe RGB or sRGB • DO NOT include your name in the caption or on the image itself. Images containing watermarks or any features allowing it to be identifiable to a photographer will not be considered. • Keep intact any EXIF details (e.g. camera, lens, exposure etc). • Images should be a minimum of 1920 px on the long edge and max file size of 5MB For proof of authenticity: • Original digital camera RAW files (e.g. CR2, NEF, ARW, ORF, etc.) will be requested if your image is selected for the final judging round. • DNG files are acceptable only if that is the native recording format of the camera. • Digital images captured as JPEG are allowed, providing the original un-retouched JPEG is available for inspection. For printing in all media and for possible inclusion in an exhibition: • Should your image be selected as a finalist or winner, a full resolution TIFF file will be requested • This should be an 8-bit or higher file at 300dpi 4. Rules for editing and use of AI: Editing has always been part and parcel of photography since the analog era. While edited images are allowed and in some instances encouraged, it must be done in a manner that preserves the photographic and journalistic integrity of the scenes being depicted, and should hence be done in a naturalistic manner. Adjustments that are allowed: • Removal of sensor dust spots, backscatter in underwater images, chromatic aberration, and background noise • Adjustments to: levels, curves, color, saturation, contrast work, shadow and highlights, sharpening, dodging, burning, toning, neutral density gradients and removing of lens vignetting • Colour grading and calibration that is done in a naturalistic manner • Cropping is permissible in moderation and as long as a suitable high-res TIFF file can be supplied for printing a large exhibition display if requested Black and white conversion Focus-stacking is allowed for images in all categories. All images used in the stack must be made available for review if requested • Adjustments that are not allowed • Composites • Removing elements from the scene • Use of the cloning, stamping, and healing brush tools (except for dust/backscatter removal) • Use of generative fill • Multiple exposures that are not a part of a focus-stacked image • HDR composites • The use of artistic digital filters and effects which do not show the scene in its original naturalistic manner Use of AI – Artificial Intelligence is a tool meant to assist and push the boundaries of your craft, not to substitute creativity or technical skill. As such it is only permissible to a limited extent in post processing adjustments • AI denoise is allowed • AI mask selection is allowed • Generative AI is NOT ALLOWED Should any dispute arise in the competition, or with the implementation/interpretation of these rules and guidelines, the Judges' decisions will be final and no appeal will be entertained.
Character of Ethics for Participants
By participating in the Earth In Focus Film and/or Photography Competition, I commit myself to the following code of ethics. Working in the natural environment, I will aim to use my skill sets to bring education and awareness during my encounters to help advocate for its preservation. • Using my skill sets and abilities, Using my skill sets and abilities, I will attempt to faithfully reproduce the beauty and majesty of the natural world by encouraging others to be engaged in its protection. • Using my platform, my voice and through my actions, I will document challenges faced by the natural world, and help to raise awareness as a call to action. • I will not stress, endanger or put any flora or fauna in a disadvantaged situation for the sake of documenting it even if it does not contribute to a good image / outcome. • I will not manipulate the surroundings or the environment by touching or provocation. I will choose to leave it or document it as it is. • I will aim to contribute time to document and tell stories to support local conservation efforts in and around my own region. • I will consider the consequences of my films and/or images to ensure that its delivery will carry across the appropriate messages to the audience. • I will take utmost effort to research the subject matter before documenting them, especially in the case of wildlife to respect their boundaries, behavioural patterns and how they will react. I understand that this will ensure my own safety and avoid situations that can be potentially dangerous for both me and the subject matter. • I will lead by example to build a better planetary future. e.g. refusing single-use plastics where possible and encouraging others to do the same, making informed consumption choices in a polite and respectful way. • I will contribute where I can in dialogue to those keen to learn and to inspire next generations. If my images are used, I will commit to a fair price for commercial purposes so that these images with an impact can continue to tell important stories for the preservation of our natural world. • I will help to communicate the activities and take part in promoting Earth In Focus Singapore Nature Film Festival and its competition. • Where I am able to, I will participate in the Earth In Focus Singapore Nature Film Festival and spread the word on my own platforms, and tag @earthinfocus.co and encourage others to join the festivities throughout the year. • I will commit to finding constructive solutions when challenged and understand the power of compromise, diplomacy and peaceful resolutions to obtain a common goal for conservation of our natural world.
Terms & Conditions
• The Overall Earth In Focus Photographer of the Year award will be picked from the Category Winners, where they will only be awarded the grand prize (and not the category prize). The other awards can be (but are not necessarily) picked from the category winner. With the exception of the People’s Choice Award and the Category Winners, the awards are mutually exclusive, so the winner of the Ocean Photographer of the Year Award cannot win the Young Photographer of the Year Award. • The copyright of the images remains with the respective photographers. • By entering the Competition, entrants grant the Organiser and the sponsors a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the submitted images for the following purposes for one year from the end of the 2026 film festival: promoting the Competition, website and social media, publication in a competition book or magazine, exhibitions, and educational materials. • The Organiser and sponsors will credit the photographer whenever an image is used. Entrants warrant that they have obtained all necessary permissions from any identifiable individuals or locations featured in their images. • Following the conclusion of the 2026 film festival, a digital copy of the finalist and winning works will be kept for archiving purposes. Any use or publication of these images beyond one year after the festival will require prior written consent from the creator.
JURY
Fraser Morton
Kaushiik Subramaniam
Shivang Mehta
EXHIBITION
Shortlisted finalists will receive the distinguished opportunity to have their photographs produced in large-format print and exhibited publicly in Sentosa, alongside additional showcase locations to be announced. This is a rare and prestigious platform offering selected photographers the chance to present their work at scale, engage diverse audiences, and be part of a highly visible public exhibition experience that few have access to. Final selection of exhibited works will be at the discretion of the organising team, based on curatorial direction and overall showcase considerations.
AWARDS
1. Earth in Focus Nature Photographer of the Year 2026
This most prestigious award will be awarded to the photographer whose photo stands out above the rest in technical skill, storytelling, and creativity. This will be picked from the category winners.
Prize: USD 1,500, S$300 voucher from Photosphere SG, a trophy,
a certificate and a digital laurel
(Any shipping costs for prizes will be borne by the winners.)
2. Earth in Focus Runner Up Photographer of the Year 2026
This award is awarded to the photographer whose photo demonstrates remarkable vision, technical skill, and creativity, standing just behind the top award in overall distinction and narrative strength. This will be picked from the category winners.
Prize: Prize: S$150 voucher from Photosphere SG, a certificate and a digital laurel
(Any shipping costs for prizes will be borne by the winners.)
3. Earth in Focus Photojournalist of the Year 2026
This is awarded to the photojournalist who not only displays outstanding technical image-making skill, but also unparalleled narrative sensitivity.
Prize: USD 500, a trophy, a certificate and a digital laurel
(Any shipping costs for prizes will be borne by the winners.)
4. Earth in Focus Young Nature Photographer of the Year 2026
This award is open to any photographer below the age of 21 (exclusive) as of 1st April 2026.
Prize: USD500, S$300 voucher from Photosphere SG, a trophy and a certificate and a digital laurel
(Any shipping costs for prizes will be borne by the winners.)
5. Earth in Focus Young Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year 2026
This award is in conjunction with the Earth In Focus National Youth Photography Competition in June 2026 in collaboration with Sentosa. This runs as a separate competition to our main competition.
Prize: A trophy, a certificate, a digital laurel and prizes to be announced
(Any shipping costs for prizes will be borne by the winners.)
6. Earth in Focus Individual 2026 Category Winners
This award is given to the top photo in each category: Animal Behaviour, Animal Portraits, Conservation, Creative, Animals in their Habitat, Naturescapes, Photojournalism.
Prize: S$200 voucher from Photosphere SG, a certificate and a digital laurel
(Any shipping costs for prizes will be borne by the winners.)
6. Earth in Focus People’s Choice Photographer of the Year 2026
This award is given to the photo with the highest number of votes. Voting will take place through the Earth in Focus website from 01 Oct - 31 Oct 2026 2359h (SGT).
Prize: A certificate and a digital laurel
(Any shipping costs for prizes will be borne by the winners.)
Note:​
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Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony held in Singapore on 07/11/2026.
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1st & 2nd Runner Up of each of the Category Winners will receive a digital official nomination laurel and a digital certificate.
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The prizes will be presented to the winning photographers at the ceremony.
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Prizes from Photosphere SG :
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Only redeemable on www.photospheresg.com.
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Based on full retail prices (not after discount).
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Overseas shipment will be paid by winner.
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Winners are expected to arrange their own travel and accommodation to the festival at their own expense.
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Any shipping cost of prizes will be borne by the winner
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Shortlisted finalist photographs will be printed and exhibited physically before, during and after the festival for a month or more at various locations around Singapore to be determined.