Global Wildlife Fair International Photo Awards 2025
Theme: Wildlife
The Global Wildlife Fair invites photographers from across the globe to embark on a journey into the world of wildlife through 3 compelling categories. This year’s theme aims to encourage a deeper exploration of the behavior of various wild species, offering insights into their challenges and the delicate balance of coexistence with humans.
This competition is more than an opportunity to showcase photographic talent; it is a platform to spark meaningful thought, dialogue, and action for the preservation of wildlife and the promotion of sustainability. Together, through the lens, we can contribute to a shared vision of conservation and inspire lasting change.
Categories
Faces of the Wild
Capture stunning portraits of mammals and other animals in the wild, emphasizing their unique features. Create and share fine pieces of art showcasing characters that reveal the essence of animals in all their glory.
Wild Instincts
Shine a light on the fascinating behaviors of mammals and other animals in the wild, showcasing their interactions within species and with others. From tender moments to intense struggles for survival, highlight the complex relationships— codependence or competition—that shape life in the wild.
Habitats and Reborn Lands, Climate Impact, Threats, Challenges, and Conservation
As global temperatures rise and human activities reshape the planet, wildlife faces immense challenges—from shifting migration patterns to habitat destruction and human-wildlife conflict. Through powerful imagery, capture the struggles species endure, as well as the conservation efforts offering hope. Showcase the delicate balance between species and their habitats, from thriving ecosystems to rewilded landscapes, and raise awareness about the urgent need for climate action.
Images possess a unique power to captivate, inspire, and inform. As vivid representations of the natural world, they have the potential to transform perspectives, fostering greater eco-consciousness and empathy for the countless beings with whom we share this planet.
Participation Fee
$25 upto 10 photo submissions in any categories
Benefits & Awards for Participants
Awards: Under each category three awards will be given of the following values
1. Gold US $500
2. Silver US $350
3. Bronze US $200
The 'gold winners' will get free wildlife resort accommodation vouchers.
The 1st Global Wildlife Fair Award photobook at a discounted rate.
The winning and a selection of the 'special mention' images will be included in the exhibition of the Global Wildlife Fair (which may be use for promotional ends for future editions of the Global Wildlife Fair on other venues, not limited to India)
Webinar access
Tickets to the fair
Official certificates for all winners
Invite to Networking Dinner (for winners only)
Timeline
The competition is open for submissions from 1st March to 1 September 2025
RAWS will be requested from shortlisted participants in the (3rd week of 9th month), with (7 days) provided to upload them.
Winners will be notified in the 2nd week of October, and awards will be sent out in the fourth week of October 2025.
- Competition Rules
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- The competition is open to anyone of any age.
The Adult Competition is open to individuals that are aged 18 years or above on the 1st of September 2025.
The Youth Competition is open to individuals that are aged 17 years or below on the 1st of September 2025. - The entry fee for the competition is US $25 for the Adult competition. This fee allows you to submit 10 individual photographs to the competition, with a maximum of 3 images per category.
There is no entry fee for the Youth competition. - The payment of the entry fee lets you submit 10 photographs.
- Each participant can submit up to 3 photos in any or more categories.
- The entry fee once paid shall not be refunded.
- Global Wildlife Fair as the organizer holds the right to:
- Amend the rules without prior notice.
- Change the prizes for the winning entries.
- Decide whether the awards ceremony will be an in-person event or carried out online.
- Disqualify any entry based on a breach of rules or unethical practice.
- Photographs that do not adhere to the theme shall be disqualified.
- Camera trap images and drone images are not allowed.
- The organizer is not responsible for legal formalities/permits required for the use of certain gear or the access of certain locations in taking photographs for the competition.
- You are requested to provide a title to your photograph(s) as well as a caption narrating the story behind the shot (maximum 200 words). Kindly mention complete information regarding where the photograph was taken. All captions should be true and accurate. Photographs without these details shall not be accepted.
- Images will only be accepted through our official portal. Images submitted through other modes will not be considered.
- Images that have won any national or international award between July 2024 to 1st October 2025 will not be included in the selection for potential winners.
- Photographs older than 5 years (photographed before January 2020) shall not be accepted.
- You should be the owner of the submitted photograph. Plagiarised or AI-generated photos shall be disqualified.
- The copyright of the image shall remain with you for all uses and purposes. However, by submitting your photo/s to our contest, you give GWF permission to use your images for purposes of promoting current or future GWF photo contests on our website, social media platforms, displays at the fair, and electronic email with proper credit.
- The competition is open to all except employees of Global Wildlife Fair, Asian Adventures, Wildlife Trust of India, Asian Ecotourism Network, and other partners/sponsors. Any persons (and their partners and family members) involved in the judging process can not enter the Competition.
- info@globalwildlifefair.com is the official email for all queries and concerns regarding the competition. Emails regarding submission issues before Sep 15, 2025, shall only be entertained. Kindly do not send your entries via email; they shall only be accepted through the website portal.
- Kindly provide the correct personal details while uploading your entries as the details you provide shall be used for further communications.
- All communications will be sent via info@globalwildlifefair.com. The participants are requested to add this email to their contacts to avoid missing important communications regarding the competition.
- The decision of the Jury shall be final and binding.
- The competition is open to anyone of any age.
- Technical specifications
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- You are requested not to add your name anywhere on the photograph or in the caption to ensure a fair judging process.
- The jury might request you to submit the RAW file during the judging period. You are required to provide the same within 5 days of the request. If in case a RAW file is not available, kindly submit the original JPEG file. The inability to submit the original RAW or JPEG file will result in the disqualification of your entry.
- Minimal cropping and post-processing are permissible. Minimum cleaning work like removal of sensor dust or scratches, removal of chromatic aberration, lens distortion, and vignetting are allowed. Stitching or stacking of images for the sake of panoramas, focus stacking, exposure bracketing, and lengthening exposure is allowed however should be mentioned during the submission of the photograph.
- Noticeable alterations and manipulations to the photograph are not allowed. No AI-generated images are allowed. AI-generated content including generative fill; removal of dirt/pollutants from the background/foreground; removal of animals, people, plants or parts of the same: all qualify as alterations or manipulations which are not allowed.
- Only digital photographs can be submitted. Other art forms, scans, or prints shall not be accepted.
- The image should not have a border, watermark, text, or any other signature/identifiable mark on it.
- Accepted file format: JPEGs
- Recommended image resolution is 72 dpi, however, higher resolutions are also accepted if the image size can be maintained.
- Size: 5 MB or less. Files must have a minimum of 1920 px on the longer side
- Aspect Ratios: 4:3 or 3:2
- Ethical Criteria
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- The subjects in the photograph should be wild and free. Images of captive and restrained animals shall be disqualified unless such a photograph is required in accordance with the theme to convey a message, in which case, it should be explicitly mentioned by the participant in the caption.
- Unethically obtained photographs, photographs of taxidermied animals, photographs of pets, photographs showing trading of animals/animal parts, photographs showing violation of animal or human rights, and photographs obtained after voluntarily disturbing wildlife and vegetation will be disqualified, and the photographer will be barred from all future competitions.
- Images captured through live baiting animals shall be disqualified. If a certain food or scent is involved in the process, the same should be mentioned in the caption. The jury shall prefer images that do not involve any such methods.
- The photographs should not deceive or misinterpret the reality of a place or species. If the jury is unable to authenticate a photograph they hold the right to disqualify it.
- Participants are advised to familiarize themselves with the laws and cultural or religious beliefs regarding certain species and habitats before submitting photographs, to ensure they do not infringe upon them.
JURY 2025
Rafael Armada
Rafael is a professional wildlife photographer and guide from Spain, with over three decades of experience in bird photography. A two-time gold winner in the Bird Photographer of the Year contest and author of the book ‘Portfolio 1: Photographs and Stories of Extraordinary Birds’ by Lynx Nature Books, Rafael has traveled globally in search of the world's most extraordinary birds, and on this occasion, he invites us to travel with him to this fantastic place.