The National Wildlife® Photo Contest, which began five decades ago, celebrates the power of photography to advance conservation and connect both photographers and viewers with wildlife and the outdoors. The most compelling nature images can help protect wildlife in profound ways.
Every person who entered not only honored their own work, but also helped support the conservation mission of the National Wildlife Federation, which is dedicated to saving wildlife species and their habitats. Photographers retain rights to their work. Those who chose to donate some of their images share joint ownership with NWF, and further help us advance our conservation mission. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's contest. We sincerely appreciate your contribution and we’re glad you’re a part of this growing family of talented, dedicated people!
A selection of the winning photographs and honorable mentions from the 2021 contest will be published in the December 2021–January 2022 issue of National Wildlife magazine. All winning images and honorable mentions will also be published on the National Wildlife Federation’s website. NWF anticipates notifying winners by early October 2021. To receive notification about the National Wildlife Photo Contest, you can sign up for more information here. You can further support our mission by becoming a member of the National Wildlife Federation, which entitles you to receive National Wildlife magazine as a benefit of membership. For more information on how to join and get the magazine, click here.
In the 2021 photo contest, the following nine categories were open for entry: Birds, Mammals, Baby Animals, Other Wildlife, Landscapes & Plants, People in Nature, Mobile, Young Nature Photographers (for nature photographers age 13-17) and a new Portfolio category.
Winners will receive cash prizes. This year—in honor of our 50th anniversary—the Grand Prize winner will be honored with our Nature’s Witness Award, a cash prize of $5,000 and an SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens (valued at $1,399) from Tamron, a proud supporter of the 2021 National Wildlife Photo Contest. The winner of our new portfolio category will be awarded $750. In each of the eight subject categories, first place wins $500 and second place wins $250.
The Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest seeks to illustrate the faces of Garden for Wildlife through striking, colorful images showcasing the impact of habitat gardens on wildlife and people–in urban, suburban, and rural settings, and on land, in the air, and in water. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's contest. We sincerely appreciate your contribution and we’re glad you’re a part of this growing family of talented, dedicated people! Visit gfwphotocontest.nwf.org to see the public gallery.
The National Wildlife Photo Contest, which began nearly five decades ago, celebrates the power of nature photography. These compelling images—made ethically in the wild—can inspire people to care about the creatures that share our planet and act on their behalf. For wildlife photographers, documenting the lives of animals is a passionate mission—revealing what’s often unseen and igniting human compassion for the natural world we’re all bound to protect. You’ll feel that bond when you gaze at these glorious winning images and honorable mentions, standouts from the from the more than 29,000 we received in our 2020 photo contest. With special thanks to Tamron, proud supporter of the 2020 National Wildlife Photo Contest.
The National Wildlife Federation and the American Association for the Advancement of Science are proud to present “Nature’s Witness™,” an exhibition of 50 powerful wildlife photographs chosen to inspire conservation. The exhibit will run from Nov. 1, 2019 through 2020 (TBA). See more information or check out our virtual exhibit.
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