September 2023
Photo Contest

Wildlife Eyes

September 2023
Photo Contest

Wildlife Eyes

Cover Photos: Scarlet Macaw & Crab by Melody Lytle | Macro Lizard by Darrell Gulin

The theme for this month is “Wildlife Eyes.”

Are you up for a challenge? Use your skills and experience to find and photograph wildlife eyes that speak to you. As you may have heard, “eyes are the windows to the soul.”

We are sharing a few examples by our August photo contest judges, Darrell Gulin and Melody Lytle, to inspire you to find photos in your files or motivate you to grab your camera and find some wildlife you can approach and photograph.

Walk or crawl around in your yard or nearby park to find a multi-eyed spider, colorful butterfly, or warty toad. Or use a long lens to get close to a large bird or mammal. Almost all wildlife has eyes; think creatively!


Please remember to size your photos according to the photo contest rules so that they don’t get disqualified.

OFFICIAL RULES:

The “Wildlife Eyes” photo contest opens on September 1, 2023, and closes on September 30, 2023, at 11:59 pm EDT. Winners are to be selected shortly after.

Please read and follow the rules carefully. We have made some changes pertaining to what is allowed and not allowed. Failure to comply with all rules will disqualify your entry. 

  • Only annual or lifetime subscribers of the Journal of Wildlife Photography are eligible to enter.
  • Not a subscriber yet? Subscribe here.
  • You must be the photographer who took the photo and hold all rights to the image.
  • No illustrations or paintings.
  • Limited to one entry per person.
  • Your photo doesn’t have to be new; however, we encourage you to get out and create new, fresh photographs.
  • Animals featured must be wild — no pets or domesticated animals.
  • Content alteration of digital files is not acceptable.
  • Cropping of photographs, noise reduction, sharpening and tonal or color corrections are permitted.
  • Images must not be marked in any way, including a date/time stamps, signatures, logos, or watermarks.
  • 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.
  • This contest is open to members worldwide; however, B&H Photo does not currently ship products to Iran, Sudan, Cuba, Syria, North Korea, and Uganda. Unfortunately, we cannot choose a winner from one of these countries.
  • The Journal of Wildlife Photography reserves the non-exclusive right to publish any entry and/or use any entry in its material during or after the contest without further compensation to the entrant. For the Journal of Wildlife Photography, promotional material shall include without limitation any print or electronic advertising or marketing material. Any image used by the Journal shall carry a credit line of the photographer. Copyright and all other rights remain that of the photographer.

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.
  • All photographic entries must be submitted electronically. Digital files must be at least 1000 pixels and no more than 2000 pixels on the long edge, with resolution set to 72 ppi.
  • Maximum file size is 10 MB.
  • Recommended file format is PNG. Other file formats such as JPG are accepted but may be compressed during upload. After submitting, if the quality of your photo seems diminished, don’t worry; the original file is saved on our server in its original resolution.

Skill Level

  • Beginner: Beginner: Entrant is getting to know the basics of his/her camera and learning fundamental skills such as the basics of exposure (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO), focus, composition, perspective, and depth of field.
  • Advanced: Advanced: Entrant has mastered the beginner’s skills and is working to fully master the use of light in his/her photography.

Prize

  • Winners of both the beginner and advanced categories receive a $250 gift card for B&H Photo!
  • Winning entries are to be featured in a supplementary issue of the Journal of Wildlife Photography specifically for showcasing the beautiful work and stories behind the photographs entered in the contest.

Wildlife Eyes Photo Examples:

Example Photos by Darrell Gulin

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Go Beyond the Technical Stuff

In addition to learning about the technical side of photography, light, and composition, you will also find articles teaching you how to consistently find animals by braiding together their ecology and your photography. 
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Yearly Membership

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  • Instant access to 5+ Years of back issues to the Journal, video library, and 100+ articles.
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