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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. There is a submission fee of USD 5 per submission or USD 20 for 5 submissions. 

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 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.

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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.

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7. Oceans

Photographs that capture the ocean’s splendors, from life in the ocean to ecosystems. 
Images should influence perspectives, and make one consider our relationship to the ocean, and how we can protect it.

COMPETITION RULES

Earth in Focus Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year 2025 Competition begins at 12:00 AM (SGT) on 1st July, 2025, and closes at 11:59 PM (SGT) on 31st July, 2025.

Winners will be notified latest by the mid-September 2025. 

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. USD 20 for 5 submissions.

Submission fees are strictly non-refundable.

Eligibility

The Earth in Focus Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year Award 2025 competition will be expanded to welcome entries from across the globe. The competition is open to professional and amateur photographers globally unless otherwise stated.

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Entries by photographers under the age of 21 (as of 31 July 2025) are eligible for the Young Photographer of the Year Award.

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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. 

 

Photographs can be shot anywhere in the world but must be shot within the last 1 year (i.e. July 2024 onwards).

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 1 year (i.e. July 2024 onwards).

1. File Naming Naming convention: category_title.jpg » Replace spaces with underscores Example: Naturescapes_Forests.jpg » DO NOT include your name in any file names. 2. Image Captioning Images should have caption information submitted with the following: » 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. Please note: » 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). 3. Image 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. For judging purposes submitted images must meet the following qualifications: » Submitted as JPG or JPEG files in Adobe RGB or sRGB » Images should be a minimum of 1920 px on the long edge and max file size of 5MB » No borders, watermarks, or signatures are allowed. Your image will be immediately disqualified if these elements are included. 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: » A full-res uncropped image (preferably TIFF) will be requested if your image is selected as a finalist or winner. This should be an 8-bit or higher file at 300 dpi. * 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 » 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 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, 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 Earth In Focus Photographer of the Year award will be picked from the Category Winners, where he/she 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 2025 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.

AWARDS

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1. Winner of Earth in Focus Nature Photographer of the Year 2025

This most prestigious award will be awarded to the photo that stands out above the rest in technical skill, storytelling, and creativity. This will be picked from the category winners.

2. Winner of Earth in Focus Young Nature Photographer of the Year 2025

This award is open to any photographer below the age of 21 (exclusive) as of 31 July 2025.

3. Winner of Earth in Focus Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year 2025

This award is open to any photographer whose photo was taken in Singapore.

4. Winner of Earth in Focus Women in Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

A special award awarded to the top female photographer in Singapore.

5. Winner of Earth in Focus Oceans Photographer of the Year 2025

This award is open to any photographer whose photo is primarily ocean themed, or features a marine animal as the main subject.

6. Earth In Focus People's Choice Award 2025 (Photography)

This award will be offered to the most popular photo amongst the finalists. Finalists for the competition will be notified and their images will be displayed on our website. A voting system (with registration and email verification) will be used to select the most popular photo. Finalists will be encouraged to share their link and photo on social media.

7. Earth In Focus Nature Photography 2025 Category Winners

Animal behaviour, Animal Portraits, Conservation, Creative,

Animals in their habitat, Naturescapes

  • ​The Winner of the first 5 categories will be awarded prizes (to be announced) + a trophy + a certificate + a digital laurel

  • 1st & 2nd Runner Up of each of the first 5 categories, and the Winner of the People's Choice Award and Category Winners will receive a digital official nomination laurel and a certificate. 

  • We will also have giveaway prizes (to be announced) for sharing / tagging / commenting on our announcements. 

  • Shortlisted finalist photographs will be exhibited physically before, during and after the festival for a month or more at various locations around Singapore to be determined.

  • Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony held in Singapore on Saturday, 1 November 2025. The prizes + a trophy + a certificate with laurel will be presented to the winning photographer at the ceremony. Any postage/shipping costs related to the prizes are to be borne by the winners

  • Winners are expected to arrange their own travel and accommodation to the festival at their own expense.

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