Nature and wildlife is one of the most popular subjects among photographers, and if you enjoy spending time outdoors with a camera, chances are you have a large number of great photos just sitting around. Why not see how they stack up against the competition in one (or all) of these contests? Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition Held by BBC Wildlife Magazine and the National History Museum in London, this prestigious competition is now in its 45th year. They welcome pros, amateurs and youths to enter in the 9 main (3 for youths) and 3 special categories. The cost to enter is 20/3 images, and the jury picks one winner and one runner-up in each category. The winners in the adult categories are awarded 500, and the runners-up 250. The three youth categories - 10 years and younger, 11-14 years, and 15-17 years - are free to enter, and you can submit up to 10 photos of landscapes, plants and wild animals. Here also, one winner and one runner-up are selected from each category, and are awarded 250 and 100 respectively. The winner of the grand prize, the " Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year" receives 500 and the opportunity to spend a day shooting with a well-known wildlife photographer. In the three special awards, the requirements are a bit more specific. For The Gerard Durrell Award for Endangered Wildlife award, you need to submit photos of species listed as critically endangered, vulnerable or near-threatened on the 2008 IUCN Red List. The Eric Hosking Award is open to photographers aged 18-26, and participants are required to enter a 10-image portfolio. The One Earth Award focuses on conservation, and they are looking for images that encourages respect for nature. The winner of each category is awarded 1,000. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year winner gets 10,000, presented at a ceremony at the National History Museum in London. Deadline for 2009 is March 27, but if you don't make it, don't worry. Remember, it is an annual event, so you always have next year. Nature's Best Photography Would you like to see your work at the Smithsonian? Entering this contest may make that happen! There are 16 categories: "Wildlife", of course, but also "People in nature", "Weather", "Art in nature", and an interesting one that I haven't seen elsewhere: "Camera Club", where a group of people can submit up to 20 photos (only 3 per person though). There is also a Youth Category for those under the age of 18. After going through several rounds of judging, category winners, a Grand Prize winner, and "Highly Honored Images" are selected. Prizes include cash and your photo(s) on exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. The cost to enter is $25/submission (each submission can be up to 20 images), and the deadline is May 4, 2009. National Wildlife's 2009 Photo Contest Open to everyone over the age of 17, this annual competition is looking for photos of mammals, birds, people & nature, backyard habitats, landscapes & plant life, other wildlife and global warming & wildlife. Pros, amateurs and youths are judged separately. The winner of each category is awarded $1,000, and two Grand Prize winners receive $5,000 each. You can enter up to 20 images for $15, and that also gives you a year's subscription to National Wildlife Magazine. The deadline for 2009 is July 20. The Great Outdoors Photo Contest Sponsored by Photo District News and National Geographic, this contest is open to everyone (except residents of Arizona, New Jersey, and Vermont) and the categories are: "Scenes of the Natural World", "Parks & Safaris", "Beaches", "Underwater", "Islands", "Plants", "Animals", "Insects & Gardens", and "Outdoor Sports & Activities". With so much to choose from, you're bound to find at least one category that fits your style. For amateurs, it's $12/image or photo essay to enter (a photo essay consists of up to six images that convey a story around a particular theme, and you can submit as many photos and photo essays as you like. Prizes include gift certificates, a five-night stay at the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya Hotel in Mexico, camera equipment, and more. The deadline is April 20, 2009, but for an extra $10/image, you can enter until May 4. he EuroNatur-Foundation's "Nature Treasures in Europe" This contest is all about European landscapes, plants and animals. There is no cost to enter, and you may submit up to 5 photos before the March 31st deadline. Among the prizes are trips for 2 to Spain and Germany, and the winning photos will be exhibited at Schloss Wolfstein in Freyung (Bavaria) as well as printed in several online and offline publications.
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