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October 2025

Wildlife Photography Contest

Theme "Warm Colors"

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SORRY! Entry into this photo contest is now closed. Please check back soon for our next photo contest.
Photo by Daniel Cadieux

The theme for the October 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest is “Warm Colors”

October 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest: Warm Colors

Warmth isn’t just a feeling — it’s a palette. For our October 2025 photo contest, we’re inviting wildlife photographers around the world to capture the beauty of warm colors in nature. From golden-hour glow to fiery autumn tones, this contest is all about showcasing the hues that set wildlife and landscapes ablaze.

This month, it’s about translating color into emotion. Show us how you use warm tones — natural light, seasonal backdrops, or dramatic skies — to transform your wildlife photography into storytelling that connects deeply with viewers.

What We’re Looking For

  • Wildlife portraits bathed in golden or red light
  • Seasonal frames where autumn foliage creates warmth and contrast
  • Animals set against sunrise and sunset skies
  • Subtle warm tones used to emphasize intimacy, emotion, or mood

Important Guidelines

  • Your image must feature wildlife
  • No excessive editing — keep the scene true to life
  • Focus on authenticity: natural behavior, natural settings, and ethical practices

Contest Details

  • Opens: October 1, 2025
  • Closes: October 31, 2025 at midnight (Pacific Time)
  • Eligibility: Open worldwide to all wildlife photographers

Why Enter?
The Journal of Wildlife Photography (JoWP) contests are judged blind by professional wildlife photographers — no algorithms, no popularity voting. Your work is evaluated purely on its storytelling, technique, and emotional impact. Winning images are featured globally, bringing your vision to an audience of thousands.

Warm colors ignite connection. Will your entry spark the winning frame?

Submit your entry today at the Journal of Wildlife Photography and join a global community of passionate wildlife storytellers.

Why Enter The JoWP Photo Contest?

Win Cash

Elevate your photography game and seize the opportunity to not only showcase your talent but also pocket some serious cash rewards.

Every month, the Journal of Wildlife Photography (JoWP) hosts new photo contests where the winners in each skill level will take home $500..

With JoWP, every submission could be your ticket to some cold hard cash!

Get Published

When you clinch victory in our thrilling photo contests, your winning masterpiece will be immortalized in the prestigious pages of the next issue of the Journal of Wildlife Photography!

Imagine the thrill of seeing your work showcased for all to admire, alongside the finest talent in the field. With each issue reaching eager readers hungry for inspiration, your photography will gain unparalleled exposure and recognition.

Keep Your Photo Rights

At the Journal of Wildlife Photography, we firmly believe in honoring your artistic autonomy. Rest assured, we will not lay claim to the copyright, ownership, or any other rights to your captivating images.

By entrusting us with your photographic masterpieces, you grant JoWP permission to amplify your talent across various platforms. Picture this: your work showcased proudly on our website, our social media channels, and even within the esteemed pages of the JoWP magazine, featuring our esteemed contest winners and runners-up.

Only compete against other wildlife photographers of your skill level.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Great Chances to Win

With a thriving community of over 14,000 passionate members, the Journal of Wildlife Photography offers you an unparalleled opportunity to shine. Despite this vast pool of talent, our contests typically see an average of only 500 photo submissions per category. This means that your chances of standing out and clinching the coveted title are higher than ever before!

World Renowned Judges

We bring in some of the top wildlife photographers in the world to judge our photo contests.

Every month, our esteemed panel of judges meticulously sifts through a plethora of breathtaking submissions. With an unwavering commitment to impartiality, each judge selects their favorites solely based on the sheer brilliance captured within the frame—without any prior knowledge of the entrants.

What does this mean for you? Absolute fairness and transparency. Your talent speaks for itself, and our judges ensure that every image is evaluated on its own merit, guaranteeing unbiased results that showcase the true essence of wildlife photography.

Meet Some of the Winners Who Transformed Their Photography Through Our Contest!

Join Now and You’ll Also Receive These Bonuses!

BONUS #1:

Monthly Live Webinar Trainings

Learn from Award-Winning Photographers in our Live Monthly Trainings.

As a member, you’ll get free monthly 90-minute trainings by award-winning professional wildlife photographers like Simon d’Entremount, Isaac Grant, Greg Basco and many more who dive deep into both beginner and intermediate topics. Directly following the trainings, the speaker will open up the floor for 30-minutes of Q&A. You’ll get instant access to all new and past trainings with your membership.

(Value $197.00/month)

Today: Included FREE

BONUS #2:

Monthly Live Photo Contest Image Critiques

Learn how to improve your photo contest entries.

We’ll choose 4 to 5 non-winning photos and provide detailed insights on how they could be improved and possibly win next time. Directly following the critique, we will open up the floor for 15-minutes of Q&A. You’ll get instant access to all new and past critiques with your membership.

(Value $197.00/month)

Today: Included FREE

BONUS #3:

Digital Magazine

Workshop-Level Education in an Easy-to-Read Quarterly Publication.

In 2019, the Journal of Wildlife Photography was created to bring wildlife photographers workshop-level training into the pages of a digital publication. With columns on conservation, macro photography, bird photography, animal behavior and habitats, underwater photography, DSLR and Mirrorless Autofocus systems, light and composition, and so much more.

(Value $97.00/year)

Today: Included FREE

BONUS #4:

Social Community

Share Your Photos and Get “Real-Time” Feedback From Our Private Online Community.

Connect with other wildlife photographers, share your photos, and learn from award-winning professionals through live virtual workshops, training, and seminars. Receive personalized feedback from your peers and get valuable insights from image critiques by working professionals. 

(Value $97.00/year)

Today: Included FREE

BONUS #5:

Article Library

In-depth Articles on Wildlife Ecology, Shooting Tips, Field Techniques, and More.

Explore topics such as animal behavior, habitat management, outdoor photography, and shooting skills, among others. Each article is carefully researched and written in an engaging style, making it easy to follow and understand. You’ll get instant access to all new and past articles with your membership.

(Value $97.00/year)

Today: Included FREE

BONUS #6:

Monthly Photo Contests

Every month, JOWP hosts themed photo contests with cash prizes of $500.

These contests feature diverse themes that celebrate the beauty and diversity of wildlife photography, inviting photographers of all levels to participate. What sets these contests apart is the enticing prize awaiting the winners: a $500 prize will be awarded to the winners in each skill level. This not only recognizes the talent and dedication of the winning photographer but also provides an additional incentive for participants to push their boundaries and strive for excellence in their craft. Join us each month as we embark on new photographic adventures and celebrate the captivating world of wildlife through the lens.

(Value $120.00/year)

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Wildlife Photography Contest Official Rules

Please read and follow the rules carefully. Failure to comply with all rules will disqualify your entry.

Official Rules:

  • You must be a member of JOWP to enter.
  • Members can purchase more entries here: Addition entry credits.
  • 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.
  • Entries are accepted worldwide.

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 1500 pixels and no more than 2000 pixels on the long edge, with resolution set to 72 ppi.
  • Accepted file formats: jpg or png.
  • Maximum file size is 10 MB.
  • 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).

Choosing a Skill Level

  • Beginner: Enter this skill level if you have started photography (any genre) in the past 12 months. You are still learning about correct exposure and composition and have not yet mastered manual exposure.
  • Intermediate: Enter this skill level if you have learned how to take your camera out of Program Mode and use other modes to control the camera’s ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. You have begun developing your sense of style by working from different angles and using composition, lighting, and color to produce photographs that stand out from a beginner’s work.
  • Advanced: Enter this skill level if you have mastered the controls of your cameras and you photograph quickly and with ease. You recognize strong compositions, seek unusual perspectives, and use lighting techniques to elevate your work to a higher level than what an intermediate photographer would produce. You produce unusual, dramatic work with impact that leaves viewers with a sense of awe and wonder.

Prizes

  • Beginner: $500
  • Intermediate: $500
  • Advanced: $500
  • All prizes will be paid out 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.