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ATTENTION: Canon Enthusiasts.

Win the Ultimate Wildlife Photography Setup

This summer, we’re giving away a Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens (or your choice of similar-priced lens) and a Canon EOS R5 Mark II camera body – a dream setup for any wildlife photographer.

Submit your best Wildlife & Water images for your chance to win this unmatched kit worth over $17,500!

Contest Theme: Wildlife and Water

Water brings life to every ecosystem. It’s where animals drink, hunt, bathe, migrate, and play. This contest celebrates photographs that show the essential, beautiful, or dramatic connection between wildlife and water.
Some ideas to inspire your entry: A bear swiping salmon from a river’s surface. Waterbirds skimming lakes or marshes. Frogs, reptiles, or amphibians emerging from ponds. Mammals crossing streams or drinking at dawn. Dramatic splashes or reflections that tell a story. No matter how grand or intimate, we want to see your unique vision.

Contest Details:

  • First Place: Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM Lens (or similar) plus Canon EOS R5 Mark II camera body.
  • Second Place: $1,000 cash.
  • Third Place: $500 cash.
  • Opens: July 1, 2025.
  • Closes: September 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST.
Click Here to Read the Official Rules

What Does a “Wildlife and Water” Look Like?

Think dynamic connection, extreme detail, and strong composition – images that make the viewer feel immersed in the moment. From the intense gaze of a heron as it spears a fish, to the shimmering droplets flying from a bear’s fur, these photos pull the viewer into the scene.

Whether it’s a tight portrait of an otter with dripping whiskers or the textured ripples surrounding a swimming crocodile, capture that sense of closeness and the living energy of water.

Photo by Georgina Steytler
Photo by Georgina Steytler
Photo by Peter Brannon
What Do Winning Images Look Like?
Past winners stood out for their clarity, originality, and emotional impact. Whether it was a rare moment of behavior or a striking composition, each photo told a story in a single frame—and left a lasting impression on the judges.
"Sunset Ascend" By: Mike Rigney
"Antarctic Reverie" By: Jeff Bullied
"Close Encounter" By Heather Kiesel
Meet Krista Shofshall
The last time we gave away a lens like this was back in 2020—and Krista Shofshall took home the prize. We don’t run contests like this often, which is why this one is limited, competitive, and special.
Krista Shofshall
Judged by Experts. No Bias. No Algorithms.
Your image will be reviewed by an experienced panel of professional wildlife photographers—no AI scoring, no popularity contests. Every entry is judged blind, so your work stands on its own merit.
Panel Judges

We’re honored to welcome 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year panel judge Andy Parkinson as one of our esteemed Summer Photo Contest judges.

Bill Maynard is an award-winning wildlife photographer and founder of Coolwildlife.com, renowned for his emotionally powerful, technically masterful images and trusted field-tested guidance that elevate photographers worldwide.
Daniel Cadieux is an acclaimed Canadian bird photographer whose lifelong passion for nature and decades of field experience bring stunning, intimate images of wildlife to enthusiasts worldwide through dancadphotography.com.
Alan Murphy is an award-winning wildlife photographer and renowned educator known for his signature style of beautifully perched birds in elegant natural settings, inspiring thousands through his workshops, publications, and acclaimed imagery.
Get The Recognition You Deserve
Winning images will be featured in the Journal of Wildlife Photography and shared with our global community of dedicated nature photographers. You’ll gain exposure among thousands of fellow shooters—and earn a reputation boost that can open new doors.
Meet Some More of our past Winners
Want to know what it’s like to win? Watch past winners share their experiences—from entering the contest to seeing their names at the top. It’s a great way to get a feel for what this opportunity really means.
We will never harvest or Steal your images
You retain full rights to your image. We’ll never steal, harvest, sell, or use your photo outside of showcasing and celebrating the contest winners and runners-up. Your work remains your own—always.
Attention Journal Members:
This contest is not part of your membership. It is separate and apart from our monthly contests that are included in your membership. If you’d like to participate, you’ll have to purchase contest credits below.
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Summer Photo Contest Rules

The theme for the Summer Photo Contest is “Wildlife and Water”.

Water brings life to every ecosystem. It’s where animals drink, hunt, bathe, migrate, and play. This contest celebrates photographs that show the essential, beautiful, or dramatic connection between wildlife and water.

Some ideas to inspire your entry: A bear swiping salmon from a river’s surface. Waterbirds skimming lakes or marshes. Frogs, reptiles, or amphibians emerging from ponds. Mammals crossing streams or drinking at dawn. Dramatic splashes or reflections that tell a story. No matter how grand or intimate, we want to see your unique vision.

Important:

Your image must feature wildlife.

No excessive editing—keep the scene true to life.

Aim for authenticity: The behavior should be naturally observed, not staged.

Contest begins July 1, 2025 and ends September 30, 2025 at midnight PST.

Good luck!

Official Rules:

  • You must be the photographer who took the photo and hold all rights to the image.
  • No illustrations, paintings, or AI generated photos allowed.
  • ALL finalists will be required to submit the RAW/Original file within 5 days of the request from the judges.
  • Your photo doesn’t have to be new; however, we encourage you to get out and create new, fresh photographs.
  • Animals must be wild and free, unrestrained, and not domesticated or living in captivity.
  • Content alteration of digital files is not acceptable. This means no cloning (except dust spots).
  • Moderate cropping of photographs is allowed.
  • Modest leveling of horizon lines is allowed.
  • Sharpening, exposure and tonal or color corrections are permitted.
  • Modest dodging and burning are permitted.
  • Selective noise reduction on the background and/or the subject is permitted.
  • Images must NOT have a border, watermark, signature, logo or any other identifiable data.
  • By entering the contest, entrants agree that their images have been taken following our ethical wildlife photography guidelines.
  • Entrants under 18 years of age require the permission of a parent or guardian. By entering the contest, entrants under 18 years of age agree that they have obtained permission to enter from a parent or guardian.
  • The Journal of Wildlife Photography will NOT retain copyright, ownership, or any other rights to your images, however, by submitting your photo/s to our contest, you give JoWP permission to use your images for purposes of promoting current or future photo contests via journalofwildlifephotography.com, JoWP.com, our social media platforms, the JoWP magazine featuring contest winners/runners-up and electronic email.
  • Contacting the judges directly about an image submitted to the contest is not allowed during or after the contest.
  • Images that have won in previous international or national contests are not allowed.

Submitting a photo:

  • For the best possible experience, we recommend using Google Chrome. Other browsers will work; however, some people have had some issues uploading.
  • Accepted file formats: jpg or png.
  • Maximum file size is 10 MB.
  • All photographic entries must be submitted electronically. Digital files must be at least 1500 pixels and no more than 2000 pixels on the long edge, with resolution set to 72 ppi.
  • You are expected to give your photo a short title (maximum five words), include a brief caption (maximum 50 words), and name the specific location where you photographed your entry (backyard, “X” City Park, “X” Nature Center, and the city, state/province, and country).

Prizes:

  • 1st place winner receive a Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens (or similar) and a Canon EOS R5 Mark II camera body
  • 2nd place winner receives $1,000 cash (Paid via PayPal)
  • 3rd place winner receives $500 cash (Paid via PayPal)
  • Winning entries are to be featured in the following issue of the Journal of Wildlife Photography showcasing the beautiful work and stories behind the photographs.
  • We will annouce the winners mid October 2025 to give everyone time to get their images together.
  • We will annouce the winners mid Prizes will be shipped and paid out within 7 days of announcing the winners. 2025 to give everyone time to get their images together.

Photo Contest Terms and Conditions

By submitting a photo to a Journal of Wildlife Photography photo contest, you agree to the following:

Eligibility and Conduct

  • You must be the original creator of the image submitted.
  • Images must depict wild, free-roaming animals in natural environments.
  • No staged, baited, captive, or domesticated animals allowed.
  • Contacting judges about your entry is strictly prohibited.

Entry Limitations

  • You may enter up to the number of images allowed per contest.
  • RAW or unedited files must be submitted upon request for finalist verification.
  • Photos must follow the published technical specifications (file size, format, resolution, etc.).

Judging

  • Entries are judged anonymously based on artistic merit, technical excellence, composition, and relevance to the contest theme.
  • All judging decisions are final and binding.
  • By entering, you agree to accept the results of the judging without appeal or dispute.

Non-Refundable Items

All photo contest credit purchases are final and non-refundable. No refunds will be issued for disqualified, withdrawn, incomplete, or late photo contest submissions. Refunds may only be issued in cases of duplicate payment or verified platform error, and are subject to Company review.
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