What is the 2025 Oceania Photo Contest?
The 2025 Oceania Photo Contest is an initiative by The Nature Conservancy Australia (TNC) inviting photographers from Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea to submit images that capture the wonder of nature. The contest aims to celebrate the power of photography to connect people with nature and inspire conservation action.
Who can enter the contest?
The contest is open to residents of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands, aged 18 and above. Both amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to participate.
What are the contest dates?
Entries are open from 1 September to 24 October 2025. Winners will be announced on 19 November 2025.
What are the contest categories?
There are six categories:
- People & Nature
- Climate
- Water
- Lands
- Plants & Fungi
- Wildlife
What prizes are on offer?
There is a total prize pool of $15,000 in gift cards, including a $6,000 Grand Prize for the top photo across all categories.
Is there a fee to enter?
No, entry to the contest is free.
How do I enter the contest?
Entries can be submitted via The Nature Conservancy Australia website: www.natureaustralia.org/photocontest
Who are the judges?
The judging panel includes renowned nature photographers Jarrod Boord, Ben Buckland, and Annette Ruzicka.
What will happen with the winning images?
Winning images will be featured in TNC’s national campaigns, digital platforms, and public exhibitions.
Why is TNC running this contest?
The contest aims to inspire people to protect nature by showcasing the vibrance and vulnerability of Oceania’s wildlife, landscapes, and ecosystems. It builds on the success of last year’s contest and highlights the importance of conservation through visual storytelling.
How are the photos judged?
Three experienced nature photographers will form a panel to judge each photo on its originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit.
Are you worried that AI generated images or highly edited images will be entered?
We have terms and conditions about this. One of the controls included in we request high resolution original files should an entry make it into the final round of editing to be considered for an award or prize of merit, so our panel of judges can discern those issues.