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Exposure One Awards – Nature Photography Contest 2025 invites striking black-and-white views of the natural world, with a deadline set for December 8. The contest offers a total of $4,000+ in cash prizes plus year-round visibility for the winners, and entry starts at just $15 for students. This edition centers on how monochrome reveals light, texture and form across land, sea and wildlife while keeping a clear category structure that helps each entry compete on its own merits.
Winners receive visibility tools beyond the award itself, including a custom metal trophy, certificates, a published interview, press assets and prominent features on the Exposure One site. If you are scanning the best online photography competitions, this dedicated nature photography contest sits squarely in the tradition of black and white photography contests with a focused monochrome brief.
The Exposure One Awards – Nature Photography Contest 2025 Prizes
The prize package for this competition is extensive, offering significant cash awards and a wide range of promotional benefits. The awards are divided into two distinct divisions: Professional and Non-Professional.
Professional
The total cash prize for this division is $2,500.
- Contest Winners will receive:
- A share of the $2,500 cash prize.
- Personalized Grey Metal Exposure One Trophy.
- Printed & Embossed Winner’s Achievement Certificate.
- Published Winner’s Interview.
- A dedicated feature in an email to a global audience.
- Premier artist placements throughout the Exposure One Website.
- A custom press release about their achievement.
- Prominent feature and showcase in the Winner’s Gallery.
- International press exposure and a public profile in the Artist Directory.
- A digital Winner’s Certificate & Badge.
- The chance to be featured on social media and in the newsletter.
- Category Winners will receive:
- All the benefits of the Contest Winners (except the cash prize and premier website placements), including the personalized trophy.
- Honorable Mentions are eligible for:
- The option to purchase a Color Metal Exposure One Trophy.
- International press exposure, a public artist profile, and a showcase in the Winner’s Gallery.
- A digital Winner’s Certificate & Badge and a chance for social media features.
- Nominees will receive:
- A showcase in the Winner’s Gallery.
- A digital Winner’s Certificate & Badge and a chance for social media features.
- All Entrants have a chance to be featured on Exposure One’s social media and newsletter.
Non-Professional
The total cash prize for this division is $1,500.
- Contest Winners will receive:
- A share of the $1,500 cash prize.
- Personalized Grey Metal Exposure One Trophy.
- Printed & Embossed Winner’s Achievement Certificate.
- Published Winner’s Interview.
- A dedicated feature in an email to a global audience.
- A custom press release about their achievement.
- Prominent feature and showcase in the Winner’s Gallery.
- International press exposure and a public profile in the Artist Directory.
- A digital Winner’s Certificate & Badge.
- The chance to be featured on social media and in the newsletter.
- Category Winners will receive:
- All the benefits of the Contest Winners (except the cash prize), including the personalized trophy.
- Honorable Mentions are eligible for:
- The option to purchase a Color Metal Exposure One Trophy.
- International press exposure, a public artist profile, and a showcase in the Winner’s Gallery.
- A digital Winner’s Certificate & Badge and a chance for social media features.
- Nominees will receive:
- A showcase in the Winner’s Gallery.
- A digital Winner’s Certificate & Badge and a chance for social media features.
Related Photo Contests
The Categories of the Exposure One Awards – Nature Photography Contest 2025
Entries for the Exposure One Awards – Nature Photography Contest 2025 can be submitted in the following categories:
- Abstract
- Aerial
- Animals
- Earth’s Textures
- Humans & Nature
- Land
- Light & Shadow
- Minimalism
- Ocean
- Pattern & Form
- Underwater
- Wild Portraits
- Other
Exposure One Awards – Nature Photography Contest 2025 Dates and Entry Fees
Please take note of the key dates and the detailed, multi-tiered fee structure for this competition.
| Regular Deadline: | September 1 – October 28, 2025 |
| Extended Deadline: | October 29 – December 8, 2025 |
| Winners Announcement: | January 7, 2026 |
The entry fees are divided by entry level and submission type, with a discount for the Regular Deadline period.
Regular Deadline Entry Fees (September 1 – October 28, 2025)
- Professional: $27 (Single Image) | $45 (Series)
- Non-Professional: $22 (Single Image) | $36 (Series)
- Student: $13 (Single Image) | $27 (Series)
Extended Deadline Entry Fees (October 29 – December 8, 2025)
- Professional: $30 (Single Image) | $50 (Series)
- Non-Professional: $25 (Single Image) | $40 (Series)
- Student: $15 (Single Image) | $30 (Series)
Participants should also note that there is a 50% discount for entering an additional category and a 5% back in Reward Dollars on all entries.
How to Enter:
Create and verify an Exposure One account, complete your artist profile, upload your images (single or series) with optional titles and descriptions, then finalize payment to submit.
About the Jury
The panel includes curators and industry leaders from respected institutions and galleries:
- Shana Lopes — Assistant Curator of Photography, SFMOMA
- Susan Ciccotti — Copy Chief, Aperture
- Catherine Couturier — Director, AIPAD Fair & Catherine Couturier Gallery
- Sven Eisenhut — Founding Director, Photo Basel
- Lindsay Dye — Creative Project Manager, Magnum Photos
- Karin Mueller — Visuals Director, Condé Nast Traveller UK
- Holden Luntz — Founder, Holden Luntz Gallery
- Qi Yan — Executive Director, Three Shadows Photography Art Centre
- Courtney Collins — Courtney Collins Fine Art
- Lexi Brown — Associate Director & Artist Liaison, Fraenkel Gallery
- Karen Marks — Director, Howard Greenberg Gallery
- Paris Chong — Gallery Director, Leica Gallery LA
Why Enter Exposure One Awards – Nature Photography Contest 2025?
The value is practical and measurable: a monochrome-only brief, a clear category grid, cash awards, a custom trophy and printable credentials, plus an interview and press support that help extend visibility beyond announcement day. For those comparing with online photography contests, the format suits wildlife, landscape and underwater specialists, minimal B&W stylists and authors exploring pattern and form.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Exposure One Awards – Nature Photography Contest 2025 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
Entrants must be 18+. Entries must be black & white (monotone/sepia acceptable). No watermarks or logos. JPEG or PNG, minimum 1500 px on the long edge and under 10 MB. Single images or series are accepted. Professional, Non-Professional and Student tiers are judged separately, and judging is blind.
Copyright and Image Usage
Photographers retain full copyright and moral rights. The organizer may use winning and selected works to administer and promote the competitions, with credit to the photographer. No exclusivity is required; entries are not sold to third parties. Payments are in USD and fees are non-refundable.
For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
