National Wildlife Photo Contest

The 2020 National Wildlife^® Photo Contest is Closed.

The National Wildlife^® Photo Contest, which began more than four decades ago, celebrates the power of photography to advance conservation and connect both photographers and viewers with wildlife and the outdoors. 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 choose 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 2020 contest will be published in the December-January 2021 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 2020.

Visit photocontest.nwf.org to see the public gallery!

View the winning photos from the 48^th National Wildlife Photo Contest

The National Wildlife Photo Contest, which began more than four 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, standouts from the more than 23,000 we received in our 2019 photo contest.

See National Wildlife Photo Contest photography on exhibit now

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 June 2020. See more information or check out our virtual exhibit.

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.