PHOTOGRAPHY
Sentosa Nature Photography Competition (Youth)
INTRODUCTION
Sentosa Nature Photography Competition (Youth category) is a collaboration between Sentosa Development Corporation, Nikon Singapore, Safra Content Creator Club and Earth In Focus Singapore Nature Film Festival.
Bridging art and science, this competition seeks to celebrate the beauty of the natural world while inspiring deeper stewardship of our shared environment in Sentosa, Singapore. From stories of the Living Land to illustrate humans and nature coexist in harmony, to Living Being to illustrate the coexistence of humans and other living creatures. We welcome compelling stories that capture the richness of nature in our backyard, Sentosa. We look forward to seeing your submissions.
Sentosa Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 Competition (Youth category) will take place in Sentosa on Sunday, 28th June, beginning at 09:00 AM (SGT). Registration will start at 08:15 AM (SGT). The winner will be announced on Sunday, 28th June, 2026 at 17:00 PM (SGT).
THEMATIC CATEGORIES
Living Land
This category highlights landscapes and spaces where nature and human activity exist in balance. Images may include coastal scenes, parks, green corridors, urban greenery, or agricultural landscapes that reflect thoughtful stewardship and sustainable living. Show how built environments and natural spaces can complement one another to create places where both people and nature thrive.
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Living Being
Focus on the relationship between people and wildlife, whether in urban or natural settings. This may include nature co-existence within the city, or everyday encounters that reveal how biodiversity lives alongside us. Images should emphasize respect, connection, even conflict and the shared spaces between humans and other living beings.
COMPETITION RULES
Enter
Registration to enter the competition MUST be done through the Earth In Focus website. Registration to join the competition will close on Wednesday, 24 June, 2359h (SGT).
There will be three participant categories:
Solo : Any youth below the age of 21 years old (as of 1st Jan 2026)
Team : Any groups of youth below the age of 21 years old (as of 1st Jan 2026), maximum 3 per team.
Parent-Child: Child must be below the age of 21 years old (as of 1st Jan 2026), Parents must be the legal parent of the child.
All participants MUST also sign up for an account on Klick.sg, and upload their photos through the platform with the hashtag #SNPY2026 on the day of the competition. Maximum 3 entries per participant only.
Note that the name registered on the participation form should match the name that you are using to register your Klick account. If you are joining as a team, please register your team’s name on the Klick account, and for the Parent-Child team, please register your child’s name.
Participation Fee
There is a USD8 charge for each person participating in the competition. E.g. A team of 3 will be required to pay USD24, and a Parent-Child group will be required to pay USD16.
Criteria
All entries must be taken on the island of Sentosa on Sunday, 28th June 2026 from 09:00 AM (SGT) onwards and submitted through Klick.sg by the cut off time of 14:00 PM (SGT).
Photos taken on a camera will be accepted into the camera category and photos taken on a mobile phone will be accepted only in the mobile phone category.
Eligibility
The Sentosa Nature Photographer of the Year Competition (Youth category) is open to all youths and children in Singapore below the age of 21 years old (as of 1st Jan 2026). Parent-Child teams are also eligible to participate so long as your child is below the age of 21 years old.
​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, Terms & Conditions
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 Sentosa on Sunday, 28th June 2026, 09:00 AM (SGT) onwards and submitted no later than Sunday, 28th June 2026, 14:00 PM (SGT) through Klick.sg .
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: Livingland_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_Livingland_Forests.jpg 2. Image Captioning: You may include in the image caption any description of behaviour pictured and/or background story and species name if known. If the subject is captive, restrained, deceased, or taxidermy, you must disclose that in the caption. You MUST include the hashtag #SNPY2026 as part of your caption. 3. Image Properties and Specifications: Entries must be submitted as digital files uploaded through Klick.sg platform. Please adhere to our requirements with regards to image properties and specifications for the camera category. • 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) for the camera category. 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 Sentosa Nature 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 @sentosa @nikonsingapore @safracontentcreatorclub @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 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 Earth In Focus Singapore Nature Film Festival (i.e. 30 Nov 2026): 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.

JUDGES



EXHIBITION
Shortlisted finalists may 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. Sentosa Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 (Youth Category - Living Land)
This most prestigious award will be awarded to the youth photographer/team/parent-child whose photo stands out above the rest in technical skill, storytelling, and creativity.
Prize (Solo): $500 (Winner), $200 (1st Runner-Up), $100 (2nd Runner-Up)
Prize (Team): $500 (Winner), $200 (1st Runner-Up), $100 (2nd Runner-Up)
Prize (Parent/Child): $500 (Winner), $200 (1st Runner-Up), $100 (2nd Runner-Up)
2. Sentosa Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 (Youth Category - Living Being)
This most prestigious award will be awarded to the youth photographer/team/parent-child whose photo stands out above the rest in technical skill, storytelling, and creativity.
Prize (Solo): $500 (Winner), $200 (1st Runner-Up), $100 (2nd Runner-Up)
Prize (Team): $500 (Winner), $200 (1st Runner-Up), $100 (2nd Runner-Up)
Prize (Parent/Child): $500 (Winner), $200 (1st Runner-Up), $100 (2nd Runner-Up)
3. Sentosa Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 (Youth Mobile Phone Category - Living Land)
This most prestigious award will be awarded to the youth photographer/team/parent-child whose photo stands out above the rest in technical skill, storytelling, and creativity.
Prize (Solo): $500 (Winner), $200 (1st Runner-Up), $100 (2nd Runner-Up)
Prize (Parent/Child): $500 (Winner), $200 (1st Runner-Up), $100 (2nd Runner-Up)
4. Sentosa Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 (Youth Mobile Phone Category - Living Being)
This most prestigious award will be awarded to the youth photographer/team/parent-child whose photo stands out above the rest in technical skill, storytelling, and creativity.
Prize (Solo): $500 (Winner), $200 (1st Runner-Up), $100 (2nd Runner-Up)
Prize (Parent/Child): $500 (Winner), $200 (1st Runner-Up), $100 (2nd Runner-Up)
Note:​
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Winners will be announced in Sentosa on Sunday, 28 June 2026, at 17:00 PM.
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A winner from the camera category will be selected and crowned as the Earth In Focus Young Singapore Nature Photographer of the Year 2026 at the Earth In Focus Awards Ceremony on Saturday, 17 November 2026, 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
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The prizes will be presented to the winning photographers at the prize giving ceremony on Sunday, 28th June and Saturday, 7th November.
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Participants are expected to arrange their own travel to the competition 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 may be printed and exhibited physically before, during and after the festival for a month or more at various locations around Singapore to be determined.