International Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition

International Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition arrives with a clear focus: nature photography presented not only as visual craft, but also as a way of engaging with conservation. Organized by Arcadian Gallery in Cumberland, Maryland, this juried call combines cash awards, a gallery exhibition, and an online presentation. The deadline is May 15, 2026, and the competition offers a total of $5,000 in prize money, plus a separate $500 conservation donation tied to one of the awards.

Entries are considered across wildlife, flora, aquatic life, landscapes, and conservation storytelling, with selected photographs shown in a professionally curated exhibition at Arcadian Gallery from September 4 to November 21, 2026. For photographers browsing photography contests with a defined curatorial setting, real exhibition visibility, and a nature-centered brief, this call also fits clearly within broader nature photography competition opportunities.

Entry starts at $35 for three images, with additional images priced at $5 each, up to a maximum of 20 submissions. The International Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition is open to photographers worldwide aged 18 and over, including film, digital, and smartphone-based work that meets the technical and verification requirements.

Prizes

The awards mix direct cash prizes with exhibition exposure and public-facing opportunities. In addition to the physical show in Cumberland, selected work will also appear in an online exhibition.

• Best of Show: $2,000.
• Category winners: $500 each in Wildlife, Flora, Aquatic Life, and Landscapes.
• Conservation Storytelling Award: $500 to the photographer, plus $500 donated to a conservation organization chosen by the award winner.
• People’s Choice Award: $500, selected by exhibition visitors.
• Approximately 75 to 100 images are expected to be accepted for the exhibition, with multiple accepted entries possible for a single photographer.

Beyond the cash awards, the exhibition itself is a central part of the opportunity. Accepted images are included in both the in-person show and the online presentation, and all exhibited works are offered for sale. The gallery also notes that 10% of its commission from exhibition sales will be donated to a conservation organization chosen by the juror, adding a further conservation dimension to the project. For photographers specifically searching for opportunities that combine cash prizes with exhibition, that combination is a meaningful part of the call.

Categories

The International Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition has five defined categories, and each one points to a different way of approaching the natural world.

• Wildlife: wild animals in natural settings.
• Flora: plants in natural settings.
• Aquatic Life: aquatic life and underwater scenes.
• Landscapes: mountains, forests, rivers, deserts, coastlines, seascapes, and atmospheric natural scenes.
• Conservation Storytelling: work addressing threatened species, endangered habitats, the human-wildlife interface, restoration, and protection efforts.

That category mix gives the contest a broad nature framework while still keeping a strong editorial direction. It is not simply about visual beauty: the inclusion of conservation storytelling makes space for documentary-minded work connected to environmental realities.

Dates and Entry Fees

The International Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition 2026 schedule is already set out clearly, from submission through exhibition.

Entry fees:

• $35 for the first three images.
• Each additional image costs $5 (maximum of 20 images per photographer).

How to Enter

Entries are submitted online through CaFÉ. Applicants need to upload their images and the requested information, including titles and retail prices, complete the submission materials, and pay the entry fee. Entry files must be JPEGs in sRGB with a 5 MB maximum for the jurying stage, and submitted images should not include signatures, watermarks, or decorative borders.

About the Jury

The International Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition is judged by a single juror: Brian Skerry. The organizers state that the juror’s decisions are final, and that entries will be evaluated on photographic merit, originality, and alignment with the category themes.

Skerry is widely known for his long association with National Geographic and for work centered on marine wildlife, underwater photography, and visual storytelling connected to conservation. That background is especially relevant here because the contest positions nature photography not just as subject matter, but as a field tied to environmental awareness and public engagement.

Why Enter International Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition?

This International Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition brings together several elements that photographers often look for separately. There is prize money, a juried selection process, an in-person gallery exhibition, online exposure, and a theme that is specific without being narrow. The physical exhibition at Arcadian Gallery gives the competition a real-world endpoint beyond digital recognition, while the conservation framing adds a clear curatorial identity.

It is also an international call with room for different approaches to nature-based work, from wildlife and flora to broader environmental narratives. For photographers exploring best photography competitions to enter, this contest offers a factual mix of visibility, category-based recognition, and exhibition opportunity grounded in a gallery context rather than a purely online format.

Rules and Copyright

This section about the rules and image rights of the International Nature Photography Competition & Exhibition has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.

Rules

The competition is open to photographers worldwide who are 18 or older. Digital, film, and smartphone captures are accepted, provided the work meets the technical requirements and, if selected, can be verified with an original capture file. AI-generated images are not eligible.

The rules allow standard photographic adjustments such as cropping, exposure and color correction, moderate dodge and burn, dust-spot removal, noise reduction, and sharpening, as long as they do not alter the reality of the scene. What is not allowed includes adding, removing, moving, or replacing subjects or scene elements, fabricated composites, invented-detail enhancement, and submission files with watermarks or decorative borders.

HDR, panoramas, and focus stacking are only permitted in Landscapes, Conservation Storytelling, and Aquatic Life, and must be disclosed. The organizers also reserve the right to request original capture files and a brief explanation of processing steps. Entries may be disqualified if acceptable verification cannot be provided.

There is also an ethical dimension to eligibility. Images may be disqualified if they suggest baiting, harassment, unsafe proximity, habitat disturbance, or illegal activity. Captive, restrained, handled, staged, or baited animal photographs are generally not eligible, with a limited exception for clearly disclosed conservation or animal welfare documentation.

Copyright and Image Usage

The rights language is relatively limited in scope. Photographers grant the gallery a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use submitted images for promoting the competition. The organizer states that images will be credited to the photographer where practical.

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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.