Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Entry information
Image enquiries
Digital rules
Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Entry information

Closing dates for entries - 8 March 2010

How do I submit my images? You can enter online at http://www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto

How much is the entry Fee? £20 (Adult competition)
It is free to enter the Young competition

How do I pay my entry fee? Payment is made online when you register to enter and you will need a valid credit or debit card.

When will I know if I have been successful? All photographers with pictures reaching the Final round of judging, will be contacted by email during the first week of May 2010 to request their RAW file (eg *.NEF, *.CR2, *.CRW) or original transparency, plus detailed picture information and technical details. All successful photographers will be contacted by 30th June. All other entrants will receive email feedback in June.

You will be emailed from either wildphoto@nhm.ac.uk or nhm@nhm.pmailuk.com so please ensure that these addresses are not blocked by your email security settings or restrictions placed by their Internet service provider.

Image enquiries

Can I enter digital images? Yes, please submit JPEG files only - 1400 pixels on the longest dimension, for projection purposes. Please see the competition rules for further information.

Can I send in scans? Yes, scans of transparencies (all formats) can be entered - 1400 pixels on the longest dimension, for projection purposes. We suggest using a professional drum scanner or equivalent, or a high-end desktop scanner for making sufficiently high quality scans.

What formats do you NOT accept? We do not accept slides, medium or large format transparencies. Please refer to the competition rules for further guidance.

Why do you no longer accept slides or transparencies? We request digital images and/or scans of transparencies, so the judges can view all pictures the same way.

What file size do you require? For the initial submission, images should be 1400 pixels on the longest dimension, for projection purposes. Images must have been taken on a sufficiently high resolution camera - at least 10 million pixels - on the highest setting.

If my digital image is successful, what file size is required for reproduction (book, exhibition etc)? A minimum of 30MB (without interpolation).

Why do we request RAW files and original transparencies for images that reach the final round of judging? To check the original alongside the submitted image, to ensure all pictures being considered comply with the competition rules.

How many images can I enter? Adults can enter a maximum of 20 different pictures. Young entrants can submit a range of up to 10 images.

Why is there a limit on the number of images that can be entered? To encourage entrants to edit their pictures carefully to select those which represent their best work and enter them in the most appropriate categories.

Can I enter as many categories as I like? Yes, within the 20 image limit, but please take care in editing your work and make sure that your images are suitable and relevant to the category. Pictures entered into obviously the wrong category will be discarded ie a mammal in the bird category, or a portrait in a behaviour category.

Can I enter the same photograph in more than one category? No

Can somebody advise me on which category to submit my pictures to? No, you must decide which category you wish to enter a photograph in. The competition office cannot advise on this. Pictures entered into obviously the wrong category will be discarded ie a mammal in the bird category, or a portrait in a behaviour category.

What subjects can I enter? Only pictures of wild animals and plants and landscapes are eligible. Images of animal models or any other animal being exploited for profit may not be entered. See rule 8 for more information.

Can I enter pictures of captive animals? Images of captive animals (animals that do not live a free and wild existence) are not eligible. Only pictures of wild animals and plants and landscapes are permitted. See Rule 8 for more information.

How do I label my images? Full picture details (species, where, when and how the picture was taken) must be in the IPTC field (File>File Info in Photoshop).

What is a series shot? A series shot is one from a consecutive series of pictures taken within seconds of each other, usually using the camera’s high speed frame setting, and which are virtually identical. Only one image from a series is allowed per category.

Can I enter a picture that has already been placed in another competition? No. A picture that has won a prize (winner, runner-up or commended) in another competition, which receives more than 500 images, at the time of entry is not eligible.

Can I enter a picture that has already been published? Yes

Can I enter someone else's pictures? No. You must be the sole author and owner of the copyright for all images entered.

If I send you my original transparency when requested before the Final judging, when can I expect to get it back? If your picture is successful we will need to hold on to it until the exhibition launch in October 2010 for reproduction purposes. If you are not successful the transparency will be returned to you by August 2010.

Digital rules

What forms of adjustments are acceptable and why? Digital adjustments are only acceptable if limited to minor cleaning work (ie removing dust spots), levels, curves, colour, saturation and contrast work. This kind of work is comparable to what would be deemed as acceptable traditional film processing techniques. The aim is to achieve a true representation of a natural form, behaviour or phenomenon – what was captured at the time of the shot being taken must be maintained.

Can I add or remove anything from the picture? No. Adding or removing animals, parts of animals, plants, distractions, people etc into/from the image is not allowed.

Can I sharpen my picture? Yes

Is framing/cropping allowed? Yes, but if successful, a high res file (at least 30MB) must be supplied for reproduction purposes.

Is stitching allowed? Stitched images are only permitted in the Wild Places category.

Can I submit Composites? Multiple exposures? Multiple channels? Sandwich shots? Double exposures? No, none of these are allowed.

How do I change the embedded colour profile (colour space)? Using Photoshop, you can change the embedded colour profile to Adobe RGB 98 by going to the Menu bar, then Image/Mode/Convert to Profile

Colour profiling Colour profiling/correcting an image should be carried out on a calibrated monitor using Abode RBG 98 colour space. This is to ensure the judges are seeing the same as you on your screen.

Additional Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year FAQs

Until what age can I enter the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year? You must be 17 years or under, on the closing date - 8 March 2010.

Can I enter pictures into the Adult competition? No.